University of Kwazulu-Natal

How To Read Over 100 Books In A Year Or Less Bookspace

Bonisiwe Shabane
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how to read over 100 books in a year or less bookspace

As the end of the year approaches, many of us begin writing down our New Year’s resolutions. Among these goals, reading more books often makes the list—but it’s also one of the hardest to accomplish. Why do so many people struggle to reach their reading targets? Let’s break it down and discover practical strategies to help you read over 100 books in just one year. The first reason we fail to meet our reading goals is that the goal itself can feel overwhelming. For my 2024 resolution, I ambitiously decided to read 100 books.

It sounded impossible at first, but I made it happen by breaking the goal into smaller steps. I began by setting a much smaller target: just 10 books. Achieving this felt manageable and gave me the motivation to set another goal of 10 books—and then another. By focusing on incremental progress instead of the big picture, I was able to maintain my momentum and end the year with over 100 books under my belt. A common mistake when setting a reading goal is sticking to one genre, author, or type of book. To keep things exciting and avoid burnout, explore different genres and styles.

Don’t limit yourself to bestsellers or the works of a single writer—give lesser-known books a chance, too. You’d be surprised how much variety can make reading feel like an adventure rather than a chore. This article was co-authored by Grant Faulkner, MA. Grant Faulkner is the Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and the co-founder of 100 Word Story, a literary magazine. Grant has published two books on writing and has been published in The New York Times and Writer’s Digest. He co-hosts Write-minded, a weekly podcast on writing and publishing, and has a M.A.

in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. This article has been viewed 65,434 times. One hundred books in a year may seem like an impossible accomplishment. Where will you find the time? If you really examine your daily life and your schedule, you’ll probably find that you actually have quite a bit of time that is spent on activities that can easily be turned into reading... If you truly have a passion for reading and want to achieve the goal of at least 100 books in a year, you can definitely do it.

"Audiobooks are a great option if you want to read more classics. Shakespeare’s plays, for example, are meant to be performed or read aloud, so audiobooks truly enhance the experience. Hearing the narrator’s tone of voice and emotional performance also makes the language easier to comprehend and more accessible for a modern audience." I love holding a book in my hand. I love going to the bookstore. I love going to Half-Price Books.

And I never thought I would enjoy reading on a Kindle. I actually vividly remember a friend a couple of years ago coming home from a business trip, reading her Kindle nonstop on the plane. I was like, what is happening? How is she doing this? This is amazing. And that planted the seed for me with the Kindle.

I got one for free a couple of years ago and never even opened it. I almost gave it away so many times, but I kept it. So finally, one day I opened it up, charged it, and thought I'd just see what this was all about. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it. And honestly, at first I was still reading a lot of physical books and Kindle, going back and forth. But once I went all in on the Kindle, my reading upped its game like crazy.

I’ll be honest, I used to think reading 100 books a year was only possible for people who had endless free time, no jobs, and definitely no Netflix account. But a few years ago, I challenged myself to try, and surprisingly, I actually managed to pull it off. It wasn’t about speed reading or skipping sleep, it was about building smart habits, staying consistent, and knowing how to enjoy the process. If you’ve ever dreamed of hitting that magical number, here’s exactly how to do it without burning out. Before diving into the “how,” let’s talk about the “why.” For me, it wasn’t about bragging rights, it was about growth. Reading this much changed the way I thought, expanded my vocabulary, gave me new perspectives, and honestly, made me more creative.

And let’s face it, if you read 100 books, you’re basically carrying a mini-university in your head. When I first saw “100 books a year,” it felt impossible. But then I did the math: That’s it. Suddenly, it didn’t feel so scary. It’s not about racing, it’s about steady progress.

Reading 100 books a year sounds like a fantasy for anyone juggling a 9-to-5 job, family commitments, and a social life. But what if I told you it’s not only possible but achievable without sacrificing sleep or sanity? As someone who went from struggling to finish 10 books a year to consistently hitting the 100-book mark, I’ve learned that the secret lies in strategy, not speed. This guide shares the exact system I use to read voraciously while keeping my career and personal life intact. Before diving into tactics, it’s crucial to reframe how you think about reading:

Somebody once asked Warren Buffett about his secret to success. Buffett simply pointed to a stack of books and said: “Read 500 pages like this every day. That’s how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest. All of you can do it, but I guarantee not many of you will.”

Early in his career, Buffett would actually read 800 pages a day, not 500. Even now, he still reads for about 8 hours a day. How does he do it? Easy. He makes reading a priority in his life. And you know what?

He’s not the only one. Check out my complete list of 100 books read in 2018 (including my Top 10 and Bottom 10) At the beginning of 2018, I decided that I was going to read 100 books in a year and post all of the book reviews on my Instagram account. Reading 100 books in a year might sound like an insurmountable challenge at first. You might be picturing endless nights buried in books, sacrificing sleep, and turning down social events just to make it through. But with the right approach, it’s a goal that’s not only achievable but can be a deeply enriching experience.

Let’s dive into the strategies that will help you reach this ambitious target while still enjoying the process. Before you dive into this journey, it’s important to understand your motivation. Why do you want to read 100 books? Maybe you’re looking to expand your knowledge, improve your focus, or simply enjoy more stories. Whatever your reason, keeping it front and center will help you stay motivated. Once your motivation is clear, it’s time to break down the numbers.

Reading 100 books in a year means finishing roughly two books per week. That might sound daunting, but when you break it down further, it’s much more manageable. If you can dedicate about 30 minutes to an hour each day to reading, you’re well on your way.

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