I originally wrote this five years ago, at the start of 2017. A lot about my own reading habits and perspective have changed since then, and while most of what I wrote still applies, I’ve updated the article to focus more on supporting independent bookshops and libraries, rather than Amazon. I still use my Kindle for ebooks, but I do my best now to purchase books through my local independent bookstore (shout out to Tattered Cover), as well as Bookshop.org, and I use Libro.fm for audiobooks rather than Audible. Rather than buying all new books, I also now purchase used books as often as I can, especially if I’m looking for something classic or older (I’ve developed a bit of an obsession with finding great vintage editions). In addition, I have begun using The StoryGraph as an alternative to Goodreads (which is owned by Amazon).
If you’re looking to read more, I hope you find some suggestions here that you can incorporate into your life and use to build a reading habit. More importantly, I hope these suggestions help you discover a love for reading.
(Heads up that this article contains affiliate links to my shop on Bookshop.org. Thanks for your support.)
“The trick is to teach yourself to read in small sips as well as long swallows.” This idea from Stephen King’s memoir On Writing really stuck with me. I realized that even if you don’t always have hours to spend reading, there are always free moments that could be spent reading if you learn to recognize them and take advantage of them. Think of all the time you normally spend browsing Twitter or Instagram, or maybe checking your email or Slack, while standing in lines, sitting in waiting rooms, or maybe sitting on a bus or train. Start carrying a book (or e-reader or an app on your phone) with you, and during those brief moments, read instead. I often read on my phone when I don’t have a book handy, and I’ve found the trick to making it a habit is to keep your e-reader app front and center on your phone and hide or delete other time-consuming apps like social media. A little bit of reading here and there adds up.
Reread your favorites. Rereading an old favorite is one of my favorite ways to get back into reading after a bit of a break, because reading a book I know I love helps remind me why I love reading in the first place and makes me feel more inspired to keep reading after I’m done. I also love revisiting old favorites because matter how many times I’ve read a book, I always find something new in it. Each and every experience reading the same book is different in some way, because I’m never the same person I was the last time I read it.
Commit to reading every day. Whether you read three hundred pages or just three pages, try to read some amount every single day. Sometimes it feels like I’m never going to get to the end of a book, even when I’m really enjoying it. I find this is especially the case with nonfiction, because there’s not a plot carrying you along. However, I’ve learned that if I just keep reading a few pages at a time, eventually I’ll get there, and often when I’m least suspecting it, I’ll get into a groove and fly through several chapters.
Invest in an e-reader. Of course, nothing can replace the feeling of holding a printed book, but e-readers can make reading much more convenient. They are generally lighter and smaller than a physical book, so they are easier to carry around, and they allow you to carry an entire library with you everywhere, and download new books instantly. You can even check out ebooks from your library through the Libby app, and use the Send to Kindle option to read them on a Kindle e-reader. Calibre is also a great free, open source software you can download to manage your ebook collection and convert ebooks into the correct file format based on your e-reader.
Listen to audiobooks. Audiobooks are great to listen to while driving, running, walking, cooking, cleaning, or doing any sort of mindless or repetitive task. I personally love to listen to audio versions of books I’ve already read since I don’t have to focus as much to keep up with what’s going on, and having a narrator or multiple actors reading the different characters adds a new element to a familiar story. For audiobooks, Libro.fm is a great alternative to Audible where your membership supports an independent bookstore of your choice. The Libby app supports borrowing audiobooks as well.
Have a few books on rotation. This approach is not for everyone, but I often read a few different books at a time, usually in a variety of genres. That way, depending on what I’m in the mood for, I have a lot of options I can choose from. For example, at the moment I’m in the middle of a book of short stories (which I’m listening to on audio), a novel, and a couple of nonfiction books about completely different subjects. It might take a little longer for me to finish a book, but I like to read based on my mood and focus level, so this method works well for me.
Talk about it. Tell others about what you’re reading, and find out what they’re reading. Whether through social media, a virtual or IRL book club, or even just with your close friends and family, sharing what you read with others or reading something as a group can make reading an even more enjoyable experience, and finding others who like the same kinds of books as you means you’ll always have someone to get recommendations from or talk with about a book you’ve both read.
Keep a reading log. Visualizing your progress on your reading goal by keeping track of the books you’ve read can make a big difference in inspiring you to keep reading. The StoryGraph is a great alternative to Goodreads to keep track of books you want to read, progress on books you’re currently reading, and books you’ve read. I no longer set a goal for how many books I want to read each year, because I prefer to read by mood and go with the flow, but I still keep track of what I’m reading and enjoy looking back at the end of the year or even years later to remember what I’ve read.
Use the library. Reading a lot doesn’t have to be expensive or require more bookshelf space in your home. You can borrow books, ebooks and audiobooks for free from your local library. As I’ve mentioned, the Libby app is a great option to borrow ebooks or audiobooks from your library for free, but it’s also nice to read a paper book sometimes, and borrowing from the library is a great way to do so without spending money.
Read what you like. Don’t read bestsellers or classics just because they are bestsellers or classics. Read what interests you and what gets you excited about reading, and don’t feel like you have to finish every book you start. Based on my experience, I believe that the right books find us at the right time. You can always come back to a book later if you’re not in the mood for it right now, and if you don’t end up coming back to it, no worries; there’s plenty of others out there to read instead. If you aren’t enjoying reading, you’re simply not going to continue the habit. Reading should be something you enjoy; there’s a book or genre out there for everyone.