In "In Defense of Literacy," Berry explains that we live in a country where everyone has the privilege of having an education, that it is ridiculous that we have to defend literacy and yet we continue to have to do it. Literacy is the ability to read and write. As well as the ability to think critically. If we didn't have the ability to think critically, reading and writing would just be skills, to move words. Anyone who has ever read and written knows that this is not true. As Berry says, we need literacy, it is a necessity, not an ornament. People don't realize how carelessly we use our words. They may start out with one meaning, but if we're not careful enough they can become something completely different than what we intended them to be. What I learned from Berry's essay is to appreciate having an education, and not just appreciate it, but use it more. We need to speak up and teach others to do so. Speak our language in enough detail and effectively to be able to tell the truth about our world. And the only way is to know the literature. There are many definitions of critical thinking. Many people see it as a specific way of managing information. And others see it as a specific set of skills and abilities. People interested in political and social change see it as a challenge and as an alternative to the generally accepted beliefs and values ​​of the power structure. Critical thinking is the process of examining, analyzing, questioning, and challenging situations, problems, and information of all types. Without thinking critically, you only look at the surface of things. It means not taking what you hear or read and believing it, but using your critical power about what you agree with and what you disagree with...... middle of paper... and looking reality show that reading a book. We would rather learn how a celebrity lives than learn something that will actually be useful to us. Literacy is critical to an individual's success. It's more than a basic reading skill, but a test of how we use written information to function in society. Strong literacy skills are closely linked to the likelihood of having a good, well-paying job. Literacy is usually defined as the ability to read, understand and use information. But the term has taken on a broader meaning, meaning a range of knowledge, skills, and abilities related to reading, math, science, and more. This reflects the widespread and profound changes that have occurred in technology and the organization of work over the last quarter of a century. Having strong literacy skills is more important than some might think.