10 ways to read more books

Reading more books doesn’t require a rigid schedule; it requires designing a routine that keeps pleasure intact while lowering the friction of choosing what to read next. The core strategy is simple: read every day in small amounts—one or two pages counts—then use deliberate tactics to prevent boredom, decision fatigue, and the sense that reading has become an obligation.

A major lever is switching genres dramatically. Dense classics can be rewarding but also heavy and long, which often leads to fatigue and abandonment. The workaround is to alternate with lighter reads—self-help, short romance, or other easier-to-digest options—so the momentum doesn’t stall. That same “keep it moving” logic shows up in the idea of a “blind date with a book,” where books arrive wrapped so the reader chooses by topic or genre online but discovers the title only after unwrapping. The surprise element reduces the pressure of picking the “right” book and can steer readers toward categories they wouldn’t normally select.

Accountability also plays a central role. Buddy reading—such as pairing up with a friend for a month-long book—creates a built-in deadline and discussion, which can generate insights and introduce books outside the reader’s usual preferences. Book clubs offer a similar effect at scale, providing recommendations, reviews, and conversations whether in-person or online. For readers who want structure without losing fun, reading challenges can add momentum: the O.W.L. challenge ties reading to Hogwarts O.W.L. exam subjects, while readathons set an intensive, often “unattainable” goal that turns difficulty into entertainment.

Several tactics focus on removing choice paralysis. A yearly reading list—often 12 books, one per month—sets a theme for the year and makes reflection easier, while still allowing flexibility in how the list is paced (by quarter, season, or semester). When selection feels stuck, the advice is to invent a ridiculous selection rule, like buying a book with a golden cover, which can unexpectedly open doors to new genres. Swapping books with friends adds both novelty and accountability, with one key constraint: each person must choose a book the other hasn’t read.

Finally, readers can outsource selection to recognition and community. Picking award-winning books—Pulitzer, Hugo, Nobel, or Goodreads yearly choice awards—turns “what should I read?” into “what has already been validated?” And treating reading as a full-fledged hobby helps lock in consistency: joining forums, tracking books in a Goodreads account, setting personal reading challenges, updating progress regularly, and writing reviews (even if they aren’t all public yet). The throughline is that small, repeated actions build a routine that sustains curiosity and keeps pages turning.