Presenting a vivid picture of the current world-wide effort to promote literacy, the author discusses the problems faced, the procedures followed, the ends sought.

Stressing the increasing interest in reading today throughout the world, the author points out the recognized importance of world-wide literacy and the increasing demands made on readers in all countries. The conditions which make world literacy imperative, and the role of reading in the lives of adults everywhere are reviewed.

An analysis of records of eye-movements in reading reveals that the basic attitudes and skills involved in reading are similar the world over, independent of differences in language and culture. Review of the teaching of reading reveals that both meaning and word recognition should be emphasized from the beginning. The author next lays out programs for teaching both children and adults to read. Finally, he discusses the lessons to be learned about the teaching of reading from this world wide study.