Why is reading important?

Reading is, by far, the most important skill for anyone living in the modern world to master. Anyone who can’t read is at a huge disadvantage in life. Almost every profession requires the ability to read.  Also, without the ability to read, Learning would be nearly impossible. Recording discoveries and previous knowledge would serve no purpose if nobody could read.  Our society would be forced to portray our history through oral tradition, a technique used by ancient and under developed cultures. Computers and technology would become useless, and society would only have limited means of communications. The amounts of knowledge lost by illiteracy would be tremendous.

 Reading is not only needed in the process of learning. It is also necessary for living a safe existence. Whether reading a stop sign or the Constitution, the ability to communicate through writing keeps us united and safe. If we couldn’t read, how could we live under a common set of laws? There would be no government or order; our lives would be complete chaos. In order to exist, advanced society requires everyone to have at least a basic comprehension of language.