Improve at the ability to read, understand, and digest higher literature.

I am in complete agreement with you that 99% of books are crap. It's the 1% that you hopefully want to get around to reading, and those are typically not the easiest reads.

Eh, 99% of “literature” that I’ve read also wasn’t worth reading, and didn’t leave me with any lasting impact.

Unfortunately that last 1% has been so impactful that it’s still worth seeking it out.