diff --git a/code/__DEFINES/misc_defines.dm b/code/__DEFINES/misc_defines.dm
index fc5b7201621..c00ef2c4d1d 100644
--- a/code/__DEFINES/misc_defines.dm
+++ b/code/__DEFINES/misc_defines.dm
@@ -558,3 +558,13 @@
 #define RQ_NONEW_MESSAGES 0 	// RQ_NONEWMESSAGES = no new message
 #define RQ_NORMALPRIORITY 1		// RQ_NORMALPRIORITY = normal priority
 #define RQ_HIGHPRIORITY 2		// RQ_HIGHPRIORITY = high priority
+
+/**
+ * Reading books can help with brain damage!
+ * These are seperate times so that a user gains more benefits by reading more books,
+ * but also cant infinitely switch between 1000 books.
+ */
+/// The amount of time needed to pass to let a single book be read again for brain benefits
+#define BRAIN_DAMAGE_BOOK_TIME 45 SECONDS
+/// The amount of time a mob needs to wait between any book reading
+#define BRAIN_DAMAGE_MOB_TIME 10 SECONDS
diff --git a/code/__DEFINES/status_effects.dm b/code/__DEFINES/status_effects.dm
index 9bafd69f603..add6fb00ba9 100644
--- a/code/__DEFINES/status_effects.dm
+++ b/code/__DEFINES/status_effects.dm
@@ -102,6 +102,8 @@
 
 #define STATUS_EFFECT_CRYO_BEAM /datum/status_effect/cryo_beam //Chills target, freezes reagents in their blood, breaks if sight is lost.
 
+#define STATUS_BOOKWYRM /datum/status_effect/bookwyrm
+
 //#define STATUS_EFFECT_NECROPOLIS_CURSE /datum/status_effect/necropolis_curse
 //#define CURSE_BLINDING	1 //makes the edges of the target's screen obscured
 //#define CURSE_SPAWNING	2 //spawns creatures that attack the target only
diff --git a/code/datums/status_effects/buffs.dm b/code/datums/status_effects/buffs.dm
index 940f2561442..954e264ee99 100644
--- a/code/datums/status_effects/buffs.dm
+++ b/code/datums/status_effects/buffs.dm
@@ -736,3 +736,7 @@
 /datum/status_effect/rev_protection/on_remove()
 	UnregisterSignal(owner, COMSIG_HUMAN_ATTACKED)
 	. = ..()
+
+/datum/status_effect/bookwyrm
+	duration = BRAIN_DAMAGE_MOB_TIME
+	alert_type = null
diff --git a/code/modules/library/book.dm b/code/modules/library/book.dm
index 0325cdd39c1..a796ad9773a 100644
--- a/code/modules/library/book.dm
+++ b/code/modules/library/book.dm
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@
 	var/carved = FALSE
 	///Item that is stored inside the book
 	var/obj/item/store
+	/// Cooldown for brain damage loss when reading
+	COOLDOWN_DECLARE(brain_damage_cooldown)
 
 /obj/item/book/Initialize(mapload, datum/cachedbook/CB, _copyright = FALSE, _protected = FALSE)
 	. = ..()
@@ -137,6 +139,16 @@
 	if(!can_read(user))
 		return
 
+	if(isliving(user))
+		var/mob/living/L = user
+		// Books can be read every BRAIN_DAMAGE_BOOK_TIME, and has a minumum delay of BRAIN_DAMAGE_MOB_TIME between seperate book reads.
+		if(!L.has_status_effect(STATUS_BOOKWYRM) && COOLDOWN_FINISHED(src, brain_damage_cooldown))
+			if(prob(10))
+				to_chat(L, "<span class='notice'>You feel a bit smarter!</span>")
+			L.adjustBrainLoss(-1)
+			COOLDOWN_START(src, brain_damage_cooldown, BRAIN_DAMAGE_BOOK_TIME)
+			L.apply_status_effect(STATUS_BOOKWYRM)
+
 	show_content(user) //where all the magic happens
 	onclose(user, "book")