University of Kwazulu-Natal

10 Ways To Read More Books Than You Ve Ever Read Before

Bonisiwe Shabane
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10 ways to read more books than you ve ever read before

People are often shocked when they find out I read 70 books every year. And these aren’t “beach reads” either. I read a lot of business and leadership books, as well as philosophy, psychology, classic literature, and biographies. (Here were my highlights from last year.) Naturally, the question people tend to ask me is, “How do you read so much?” There are many answers to that question.

The simplest is that I make time for it, and you can make time for it too. But here are 10 specific tactics I’ve used to read more: “This is the main question, with what activity one’s leisure is filled.” -Aristotle People are often shocked when they find out I read seventy books every year. And these aren’t “beach reads” either. I read a lot of business and leadership books, as well as philosophy, psychology, classic literature, and modern fiction.

Here’s my full list of books from last year. Naturally, the question people tend to ask me is, “How do you read so much?” There are many answers to that question. The simplest is that I make time for it, and you can make time for it too. But here are ten specific tactics I’ve used to read more: “This is the main question, with what activity one’s leisure is filled.” -Aristotle

This article has been updated to include more money-saving tips. Read on, bookworms! A good book can take you anywhere you want to go, teach you things you didn’t realize you should know, and show you what life is like for all kinds of people. Do you want to travel to Greece? Try your hand at hiking the Pacific Crest Trail? Leave Earth behind to embark on an intergalactic adventure?

You can. Books are magical. But these days, they’re also expensive as hell. I read a lot (I average more than a book a week, sometimes reading as many as three), and if I were to buy every title that has caught my attention at full price,... I’ve always been a coupon-cutting penny pincher, so when I realized that my favorite hobby could also be my financial downfall, I quickly started researching ways to read more while spending less. Nowadays, I never spend more than $20 a month on newly released books—that’s roughly six books for less than the full retail price of one brand-new hardcover.

That said, you should always try to support your local independent booksellers and favorite authors when you have the room in your budget (more on this below). “Paying full price for hardcover books pays writers better and also covers costs associated with editing, design, marketing, and author tours,” says Karen Maeda Allman, who coordinates author events at Elliott Bay Book Company,... “We love when [readers] pre-order books from us; it’s a vote for your author’s book and a chance for these books to make it onto The New York Times Bestseller List.” Though the books... But we know that not everyone can afford to buy every book they’d like to read at full price—and we know we're not the only ones looking to feed our book habit on the... Recycle Read Repeat, a used book subscription service, is proof of that: after going viral on TikTok, the small business, which curates monthly book boxes for subscribers using previously owned titles, was overwhelmed by... If you're interested, you can add yourself to the waitlist to be notified when the service starts accepting new subscriptions again—but in the meantime, if you’re itching to read more each month for less...

People are often shocked when they find out I read seventy books every year. And these aren’t “beach reads” either. I read a lot of business and leadership books, as well as philosophy, psychology, classic literature, and modern fiction. Here’s my full list of books from last year. Naturally, the question people tend to ask me is, “How do you read so much?” There are many answers to that question.

The simplest is that I make time for it, and you can make time for it too. But here are ten specific tactics I’ve used to read more: “This is the main question, with what activity one’s leisure is filled.” — Aristotle So many books, so little time! With these simple tips from BookTokkers, librarians and other literary experts, you can read more books without completely rearranging your life. Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature.

We may earn a commission from your purchases.Learn more. While we all know the benefits of reading, the reality is that life gets hectic. There’s a reason “read more” is such a common New Year’s resolution. As work piles on top of chores and social and family responsibilities, reading for pleasure can often take a backseat. When I was an English major in college, I happily read two books a week, but when I was at my first full-time job, I was lucky if I was able to read two... It was only once I realized how much I missed being engrossed in a juicy page-turner that I decided to readjust my approach and learn how to read more without taking time away from...

We talked to big-time book lovers—book reviewers, librarians, book influencers on social media and Reader’s Digest Book Club members—to gather their tried-and-true tips for reading more books. From finding the best books for your taste and schedule to selecting shorter books for your limited attention span, this attainable, sustainable and judgment-free advice will get you to read every day. Join the free Reader’s Digest Book Club for great reads, monthly discussions, author Q&As and a community of book lovers. I would like to preface this blog post by saying that when it comes to reading, quality should come before quantity. By quality, I don’t mean that one should only read classics. What I mean is that books should be enjoyed at one’s own pace and reading shouldn’t be a competition.

Some people read faster than others, some have more time or are just capable of staying concentrated for longer. Having said that, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to read more. If you’ve found yourself in a reading slump or would like to read more books for any other reason, this blog post is for you. Let’s get into the tips. Obviously, I don’t mean that literally – you probably need it. But do leave it outside the room in which you’re about to read or at least so far you can’t reach it while sitting or lying down.

The fact that you won’t be able to grab it and scroll will probably make you read more pages. If you’re finding yourself standing up and going for your phone, delete social media apps for a few hours (or days, it’ll probably do you good) or get a blocking app (I’m using Stay... If you’re in a reading slump, classics, very deep or complicated and depressing books probably aren’t your friends. I understand that they might’ve been sitting on your nightstand for months or even years, but it won’t hurt them to stay there a bit longer. Reach for your favorite genre instead – for a light summer romance or an exciting thriller or that new sci-fi novel everyone’s talking about. A fast-paced plot and simple language are your best choice right now.

Many people find time to read before bed, but for some, mornings or lunchtime might work better. If you’re an evening reader, go to bed a bit earlier and read a little – even if it’s just ten minutes. I know this seems silly, but it might motivate you to actually read because this is what you’re timing yourself for. Looking for easy ways to start reading more books? Learn how to read more books for fun and self-improvement this year! Despite being an English major in college, there was a period of about 10 years in my life where I hardly read at all.

My kids were babies and toddlers. I was starting a business. We were fixing up our house and then moving to another one. And life seemed to be moving at warp speed. But in 2019, I decided I wanted to start reading again. I found my groove and ended up reading 62 books that year.

Then when the pandemic hit and suddenly I found myself with a lot more time on my hands, I read 200 books in 2020 alone! Though I haven’t kept up that pace, I’ve continued to read about 100 books per year since then. And I have learned lots of strategies for working in more reading time. Last Updated: October 7, 2025 Fact Checked This article was co-authored by Tristen Bonacci, MEd and by wikiHow staff writer, Luke Smith, MFA. Tristen Bonacci is an English Teacher with more than 20 years of experience.

Tristen has taught in both the United States and overseas. She specializes in teaching in a secondary education environment and sharing wisdom with others, no matter the environment. Tristen holds a BA in English Literature from The University of Colorado and an MEd from The University of Phoenix. There are 20 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 152,940 times.

Looking to elevate your reading goals? Or maybe you want to get into reading but don’t know where to begin. It’s a big, wide world of books out there just waiting for you, and we’re here to help you sink your teeth into its pages! We talked to English teachers, education coaches and researchers, and library specialists to help you find your reading motivation and make reading fun. English teacher Tristen Bonacci, MEd, says to “read every single day” to build the habit, even if you’re only reading a little bit. Also check out these tips:

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People Are Often Shocked When They Find Out I Read

People are often shocked when they find out I read 70 books every year. And these aren’t “beach reads” either. I read a lot of business and leadership books, as well as philosophy, psychology, classic literature, and biographies. (Here were my highlights from last year.) Naturally, the question people tend to ask me is, “How do you read so much?” There are many answers to that question.

The Simplest Is That I Make Time For It, And

The simplest is that I make time for it, and you can make time for it too. But here are 10 specific tactics I’ve used to read more: “This is the main question, with what activity one’s leisure is filled.” -Aristotle People are often shocked when they find out I read seventy books every year. And these aren’t “beach reads” either. I read a lot of business and leadership books, as well as philosophy...

Here’s My Full List Of Books From Last Year. Naturally,

Here’s my full list of books from last year. Naturally, the question people tend to ask me is, “How do you read so much?” There are many answers to that question. The simplest is that I make time for it, and you can make time for it too. But here are ten specific tactics I’ve used to read more: “This is the main question, with what activity one’s leisure is filled.” -Aristotle

This Article Has Been Updated To Include More Money-saving Tips.

This article has been updated to include more money-saving tips. Read on, bookworms! A good book can take you anywhere you want to go, teach you things you didn’t realize you should know, and show you what life is like for all kinds of people. Do you want to travel to Greece? Try your hand at hiking the Pacific Crest Trail? Leave Earth behind to embark on an intergalactic adventure?

You Can. Books Are Magical. But These Days, They’re Also

You can. Books are magical. But these days, they’re also expensive as hell. I read a lot (I average more than a book a week, sometimes reading as many as three), and if I were to buy every title that has caught my attention at full price,... I’ve always been a coupon-cutting penny pincher, so when I realized that my favorite hobby could also be my financial downfall, I quickly started researching ...