How many geniuses do you know who don't read books? The written word stimulates the mind in a way like no other and can captivate even the most dull of imaginations, inspiring creative thoughts  subtly widening the imagination. Books have been around for quite a while, carrying knowledge through the ages and inspiring new genearations of intelligent masterminds.

Today there is such a wide veriety of books to choose from that it's highly unlikely that you won't find something new to interest you. The human brain responds to new information by expanding conections and establishing new pathways which link what you already know to what you've just learned, well that's what the scientists say anyway. Even if you are reading on a subject in which you are considered an expert, the brain always finds something new to expand on and enables you to learn something from every book you read.

If you are already an avid bookworm, try reading somehting new or exploring a new genre. The brain responds much more constructively to new material than to anything boring or repetitive. If you enjoy indulging in ficiton stories, why not read non-fiction instead? Books are the source of immense knowledge, however if you limit your library to factual books you won't benefit nearly as much as you would if you read the occasional novel. The key concept here is that new reading material stimulates the brain in a highly constructive way and builds on your imagination as well as creativity. General knowledge does not make you a genius, but there is evidence to suggest that reading can increase your IQ score quite significantly, either from the new information you take in, or from the creative thinking that reading inspires. To make full use of the time you set aside for reading, it is important to always be on the look out for something that you find interesting, as well as something you wouldn't normally read. Just a hint of new material here and there can really be worthwile. While you shouldn't expect results instantly, picking up a book every now and then, or at least on a more regular basis, can help you to improve your creative thinking, iq, and maybe you'll learn a few things in the process. All I can say is practice, persitst, have fun and you'll soon be reaping the benefits.

To make the most of the time you set aside for reading, practicing several speed reading techniques can be very beneficial, and I would suggest visiting the Speed Reading section of this website for more information and some exercises you can try out.