Every time you read, your brain changes — literally.
According to researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, learning to read reshapes the brain’s wiring, enhancing how we think, perceive, and connect with the world around us.

Reading activates a powerful network of brain regions involved in visual recognition, memory, language, and prediction. It strengthens working memory, boosts our ability to categorize ideas, and even improves how we process visual and spatial information. These aren’t just reading skills — they’re thinking skills that extend into every part of life.

But beyond biology, the act of reading transforms society itself.
As UNESCO notes, nearly 15% of the world’s population remains illiterate, limiting their participation in informed decision-making and public discourse. Psychologist José Morais of the University of Brussels argues that literacy is the foundation of critical thinking and democracy — empowering individuals to question, reason, and engage.

In short: reading doesn’t just make you smarter. It makes society stronger.

Source: Huettig, F. et al. (2018). The effects of literacy on cognition and brain functioning. Max Planck Society.