Learn Turkish: Kitap okumak zihinsel gelişim sağlamaktadır. - Reading a book provides mental development.

It is formed by adding the relational suffix -sel to the noun zihin (mind). This suffix turns a noun into an adjective that means 'related to' or 'pertaining to' that noun. Therefore, zihinsel means 'mental' or 'cognitive'.

Why is the verb written as sağlamaktadır instead of the everyday continuous form sağlıyor?

The suffix combination -makta (formal continuous) plus -dır (factual/assertive) is used to state objective facts and general truths in a formal, written, or academic register. While sağlıyor would be understood, sağlamaktadır gives the sentence an encyclopedic or scientific tone.

If this is about reading books in general, why isn't it kitaplar okumak?

In Turkish, bare singular nouns are often used to represent a general class or category. When talking about the general activity of reading, Turkish uses the singular kitap okumak. Saying kitaplar okumak sounds unnatural here because the focus is on the action itself, not on multiple individual books.

What is the root of the word gelişim?

It comes from the verb gelişmek (to develop, to progress). The suffix -im is attached to the verb stem to derive a noun, turning the action of developing into the concept of 'development'.