How to Read More Books: 12 Strategies That Actually Work
To read more books: read a little every day rather than in occasional binges, always carry a book (or an app), quit books you dislike, use audiobooks for dead time, set a realistic annual goal, and track your progress so momentum is visible. Reading 20 pages a day alone gets most people to 24 to 30 books a year.
Reading more is less about finding huge blocks of time and more about removing friction and adding consistency. These 12 strategies are the ones that reliably move the needle, drawn from habit research and the routines of heavy readers.
1. Read a little every day
Consistency beats intensity. Twenty pages a day is over 7,000 pages a year, or roughly 24 to 30 books, without a single marathon session. See the full math in how many books you can read in a year.
2. Always carry a book
The readers who finish the most books are the ones who always have one within reach, whether a paperback in a bag or an ebook and audiobook on their phone. Waiting rooms, commutes, and lines turn into pages.
3. Quit books you do not enjoy
Life is too short for a boring book. Abandoning a book you dislike is not failure; it protects your momentum and frees you for one you will actually finish.
4. Use audiobooks for dead time
Commutes, chores, and workouts are hours you can read with your ears. Audiobooks absolutely count, and they can double your reading time. More on that in do audiobooks count as reading.
5. Set a realistic annual goal
A goal you will exceed motivates far better than one you abandon in February. Learn how to pick the right number in how to set a reading goal for the year.
6. Track your reading
What gets measured gets managed. Seeing a weekly total climb and a streak grow creates a feedback loop that pulls you back to the book. Here is how to track your reading.
The other six, quickly
- Habit-stack reading onto an existing routine like morning coffee or bedtime.
- Keep a "want to read" list so you never finish a book without a next one queued.
- Read more than one book at once (a serious one and a fun one) to always have a match for your mood.
- Cut phone time; the hours are already there, just spent elsewhere.
- Join or start a book club for built-in accountability and deadlines.
- Make it social: racing friends on a leaderboard turns reading into a habit you keep.
Key takeaways
- Daily consistency beats occasional binges.
- Remove friction: carry a book, use audiobooks, quit bad ones.
- Set a goal you will exceed and track your progress.
- Accountability, especially social, keeps you going.
Frequently asked questions
How can I read more books with no time?
You likely have more reading time than you think, hidden in commutes, waiting, and phone scrolling. Carry a book or app, use audiobooks for dead time, and read just 20 pages a day, which adds up to two dozen or more books a year.
How do I read more without getting distracted?
Reduce friction for reading and add friction for your phone: keep a book nearby, put the phone in another room, and stack reading onto an existing daily routine so you do not rely on willpower.
Is it better to read one book at a time or several?
Either works. Reading several at once (for example one serious and one fun) lets you always match your mood, which can help you read more. The best approach is whichever keeps you turning pages.
Does rereading count?
Yes. Rereading builds the habit and often deepens understanding. If your goal is a book count, most readers count rereads.
How many books a year is a good goal?
For most people, 12 to 24 books a year is a strong, achievable goal. Start where you are and raise it once the habit feels automatic.
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