A reading apparatus for assisting a person to read or view reading material, including from a lying down position, with the reading apparatus including in a lying down position. The reading apparatus comprises: an optical system including a tray for supporting the reading material, a reflecting mirror and an imaging mirror, said tray, said reflecting mirror and said imaging mirror being mechanically intercoupled in a manner that enables them to be positioned at predetermined, respective angles relative to each other, to enable the reading material located on said tray to be viewed by viewing an image formed by said imaging mirror. A support is configured to enable the optical system to be positioned in front of the person. The tray, the reflecting mirror and the imaging mirror can be folded onto each other.