This paper mainly studies the value and role of reading in social development from the perspectives of sociology and cultural studies, as well as how to leverage various social forces to jointly promote the construction of a reading-oriented society. The article first argues for the social characteristics of reading. It is proposed that reading is not just an isolated behavior of individuals, and the socialization of reading promotes the overall transition of reading from individuals to social systems. From the perspective of the value and role of reading in social development, reading plays an important supporting role in the development of human civilization system, politics, economy, culture, and personal life. From the perspective of the role of reading in the construction of human civilization, the socialization of reading is reflected in human textual reading, as well as the rational thinking and intuitive cognitive abilities developed based on reading, which have promoted the development process of the entire human society. From the perspective of the role of reading in the political development of human society, reading has promoted the improvement of citizens' cultural and political qualities in modern society, forming the ideological foundation of modern political systems. Reading, as a fundamental condition for everyone's survival and development, has therefore become a political right of citizens in modern society; From the perspective of the role of reading in the development of human society and economy, reading promotes the enhancement of people's learning and innovation abilities, injects strong impetus into economic development, and thus becomes the foundation for the development of personal professional abilities in modern society, forming a knowledge engine for the economic development of enterprises, cities, and countries; From the perspective of the role of reading in cultural development, reading promotes the prosperity and development of culture, and as a result, reading has become the core spiritual force of a nation and a country, and the spiritual source of self-reliance among the world's nations. From the perspective of the relationship between reading and personal happiness, reading promotes the generation of human happiness and spiritual abilities, and can provide us with value and meaning in life. Based on the analysis of the status and role of reading in social development, the article further proposes that building a bookish society requires the collective participation of the entire society. It is necessary to elevate national reading to a national strategy, strategically layout at the national level, and provide strong policy support for national reading; It is necessary to incorporate the cultivation of reading ability into the main axis of education, so that reading can enter the classroom, curriculum, and textbooks, forming a campus with a scholarly atmosphere; It is necessary to promote urban civilization through community reading and rural revitalization through rural reading, fully leveraging the important role of reading in promoting urban and rural economic and social development; We should provide targeted reading services for key reading groups, promote social equity by providing reading services to the elderly and disabled, and drive innovation and competitiveness through enterprise reading. Building a bookish city to promote cultural and economic synergy and empowerment. The article concludes that human civilization is transitioning from industrial civilization to information civilization and intelligent civilization. With the evolution of human society towards intelligent civilization, reading technology, reading products, reading methods, and reading experiences also need to constantly evolve in order to make reading for all adapt to the new future of intelligent society.Starting from the history and reality of human social development, this article discusses the important role of reading in the development of human society, and elaborates on how to further leverage the role of reading to promote healthy social development. The article mainly elaborates on viewpoints and uses quotes from relevant experts to support their arguments.