1925年兩名中國男子站在擺滿雕版的書架前。PHOTOGRAPH BY DR. JOSEPH F. ROCK, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CREATIVE一名波斯的托缽僧正在朗讀《古蘭經》給另外兩位同胞聽。PHOTOGRAPH BY HAROLD WESTON, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CREATIVE美國企業號航空母艦的設計是讓每個鋪位都有獨立的照明燈,有人想安睡時可不受閱讀燈光打擾。PHOTOGRAPH BY THOMAS J. ABERCROMBIE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CREATIVE加拿大魁北克的修女。一位在默念經書,另一位在祈禱。PHOTOGRAPH BY JAMES L. STANFIELD, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CREATIVE俄羅斯一位母親在給女孩講童話故事。PHOTOGRAPH BY LYNN JOHNSON, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CREATIVE迦納當地的老師授課中。PHOTOGRAPH BY LYNN JOHNSON, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CREATIVE佛羅倫斯餐館的讀報女子。PHOTOGRAPH BY JODY COBB, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CREATIVE加州一名老奶奶正在閱讀,周圍掛滿她在園藝競賽中得名的緞帶。PHOTOGRAPH BY RANDY OLSON, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CREATIVE伊拉克女子在列車上讀經書。PHOTOGRAPH BY LYNSEY ADDARIO, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CREATIVE中國女大生正在大聲朗讀英文課本內容。PHOTOGRAPH BY ANASTASIA TAYLOR-LIND, VII奈及利亞的伴娘們正在教堂外研讀婚禮手冊。ED KASHI