There cannot be complex thinking without reading. Ancient Greek philosophers established the basis of civilization in great part because of their ability to write cogently and build on the knowledge accumulated by their predecessors. Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) spent thousands of hours reading, especially works by authors from Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. He read them in their original Latin, or in Latin translations from Greek. The reason why Montaigne knew many quotations by heart is because he had read those old books over and over again. He was particularly fond of Plutarch (46-120 AD) as a source of historical anecdotes, and of Seneca (4 BC-65 AD) and Marcus Aurelius (121-180 AD) as sources of ethical insights. Why is reading important? Montaigne gives strong reasons in favour of reading as a method for acquiring knowledge and developing one’s thinking abilities. I agree with Montaigne that conversation and observation could also deliver those benefits, but far more slowly. Reading is the quintessential accelerator of learning and wisdom. Montaigne was well aware of the fact that, when it comes to developing one’s capacity for abstract thinking, there is no substitute for reading. In addition, he noted that reading helps people place themselves in somebody else’s shoes and become more tolerant, benevolent, and empathic. I must however clarify that Montaigne was reading almost exclusively philosophical and historical works. In his essays, I find relatively few references to theological, fictional, medical and scientific works. Those formed a small part of Montaigne’s library because they did not interest him. Montaigne engaged in reading to extract practical lessons from biographical and historical sources. He viewed history as a raw material that one must turn into philosophical insights. In every biography he read, he was looking for principles or teachings that he put into practice in his own life, that is, in the sixteenth century. Today’s reader of Montaigne’s works can ascertain the vast efforts deployed to draw those philosophical insights; there are dozens of references to Socrates (469-399 BC), Alexander the Great (356-323 BC), Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) and other key historical figures to illustrate lessons drawn from their good and bad choices. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/michel-de-montaigne-and-the-importance-of-reading/