Reading allows me to detach from mental overdrive, so that Silence and Peace can come in, both of which are the source of all well-conceived solutions. And as you said, we learn to pay attention to details by observing from the outside as the reader instead of being directly involved in the story.

I read a lot, and I prefer reading books as books instead of reading them on a computer or Ipad, because holding a book in my hands contributes strongly to my reading experience, degree of detachment from my surroundings, and overall focus on the occupation itself..:)