Super Readers Share Their Best Tips to Read More Books

Miranda Reads

See Miranda's Year in Books

How many books did you expect to read in 2019?

My reading goal for this year was 240 books.

What advice do you have for people who want to read more in 2020?

Audiobooks! More specifically—free audiobooks. As someone who loves to read, it can be hard to find the time—especially once I enrolled in graduate school. The first few months were so jarring—I loved the academic challenge and the rigorous coursework, but all of my free time was suddenly gone. And as someone who used to average a book every two days, I really missed reading.

My local librarian came up with the solution. She told me to try downloading audiobooks (or ebooks) from my state's digital library. My state had thousands of books available in their digital format, ready to be downloaded right to my phone! I was hooked—speeding my way through The Raven Boys, Harry Potter, Michelle Obama's Becoming, and so many more.

Now, whenever I'm in the car, doing chores about the house, walking from place to place, etc., I always have a book playing. I've laughed and cried my way though (no exaggeration) hundreds of audiobooks within the last few years and will likely go through hundreds more in the future.

Roughly 60 percent of the books I read are audiobooks and the best part is I never have to shift my schedule or try to squeeze in more reading time when the book is really good. I just continue working on my instrument, taking data or editing my figures—all while finding out if Mia will survive the Nevernight Chronicles (don't tell me—I have six hours of the audiobook remaining!).





Melanie Parker/Meltotheany

See Melanie Parker/Meltotheany's Year in Books

How many books did you expect to read in 2019?

100

What advice do you have for people who want to read more in 2020?

I know it’s cliché, but my greatest advice for reading more is just to make time for reading. I don’t go anywhere without a book, whether that is a physical book, my iPad, or an audiobook on my iPhone. Reading before bed is also just a part of my nightly routine now, and I really cherish that downtime and look forward to it each day!

Also, never forget your love for reading. I think sometimes we get so caught up with numbers (and reviews) that it’s easy to forget how amazing it is to escape into stories and then be able to share that experience with friends here on Goodreads!





Jennifer Tar Heel Reader

See Jennifer Tar Heel Reader's Year in Books

How many books did you expect to read in 2019?

I expect to read 250 books this year

What advice do you have for people who want to read more in 2020?

I take a book, my Kindle, and the Kindle app on my phone with me everywhere, and I read any chance I get. I’ve also recently gotten back into audiobooks and have the libro.fm app on my phone to sneak in audiobooks on my commute or during household chores.

Lastly, I watch very little TV. The less TV I watch, the more I read, and the more I read, the more relaxed I am!





Jessica

See Jessica's Year in Books

How many books did you expect to read in 2019?

I am on track for hitting 365 books read for my second year in a row. While there are many contributing factors in my personal life that allow me to read as much as I do (which may not be applicable to other readers), it really can be summed up in one statement—I read what I enjoy.

What advice do you have for people who want to read more in 2020?

This may seem like common sense, but I cannot stress how important it is to read books that interest you. I can get through 400 pages of fantasy in a day, but 75 pages on socioeconomic growth would take me weeks to read.

Additionally, if you aren’t enjoying a book, don’t force yourself to finish it. It’s not quitting or a failure to set a book aside if you hate it. Duds happen. So rather than struggling, wouldn’t you rather be spending that time reading something you do enjoy? Once I personally accepted that it’s okay to not finish a book, my reading experience improved significantly.

In short, read what you love and love what you read. Do this and, if you’re anything like me, you will be reading more books than you can probably manage.





Kai

See Kai's Year in Books

How many books did you expect to read in 2019?

Since I've already reached my goal of 75 books this year, I might try and aim for the big 100. It's ambitious, but I might just make it.

What advice do you have for people who want to read more in 2020?

Here are a few things that totally count as reading:

1. Audiobooks

2. Graphic Novels

3. Fanfiction

4. And yes, even picture books. 100 percent valid.

Still, there are a few things that help me read more. I try not to read more than two books at a time. Granted, I usually fail at doing that. One book for pleasure and one for pain—often something I have to read for class. And then there's a third option: a buddy read, a poetry collection that I will pick up occasionally, or a graphic novel that simply reads much quicker.

And while we're at it: comics and graphic novels do read themselves much faster than novels. And YA reads itself faster than adult fiction. And 300 pages take much less time than any George R.R. Martin book ever. If on the last day of the year you're one book away from making the finish line, Rupi Kaur is your woman. Or Dean Atta. Even the Rainbow Fish.

Something else that helps me is to go all Marie Kondo on books that don't bring me joy. It's boring? Bye. Can't connect? Sashay away. It's problematic? Well...I'll probably finish it just so I can write a scathing review. But feel free to throw it out with the trash.

A few last words: Don't forget that reading should be fun. Fast readers usually a) have a lot of free time b) work in publishing c) study literature or d) have a devilish talent to devour books in mere hours.

Don't put yourself under pressure just to lose the joy of reading. Breathe, pick up that book you've been dying to read, and forget the world around you. That's all that matters.





Sam Shove

See Sam Shove's Year in Books

How many books did you expect to read in 2019?

I'm probably going to manage 250 books this year but normally average between 175 and 200, depending on what I read.

What advice do you have for people who want to read more in 2020?

For me, I find reading more than one book at a time helps me read more. I make sure the books I'm reading are from different genres so I always have something to read that suits my mood and alternatives for when I hit a slow spot in one book. For example, at the moment I'm reading a fantasy novel and a crime thriller and will probably be starting a non-fiction that I picked up on the weekend this evening. It seems counterintuitive but seems to work for me.





Chaima

See Chaima's Year in Books

How many books did you expect to read in 2019?

I'm hoping to read 200 books this year I've read 173 so far, and quite reassuringly, Goodreads tells me that I'm 7 books ahead of schedule!

What advice do you have for people who want to read more in 2020?

Keep a book on you all the time. Sometimes, right before you leave the house, you’ll halt on the threshold and hear a voice saying, “Maybe you don’t need to take a book with you to the grocery store...” That’s the devil talking. Always have a book on deck. Trust me, I learned that lesson the hard way, but you don’t have to!

It’s okay to DNF a book. It’s okay to be picky about how you spend your reading time. I used to feel so bad about not finishing books, but I learned that once you find yourself crawling across every sentence with the peak of each hard-won page unveiling yet another page beyond, the words floating under your gaze, incomprehensible, and the boredom of it all almost bleeding your brain front to back—it’s time to stop. Give it to a friend or move onto the next title—but don’t read books you don’t enjoy.

Also, don’t shy away from reading books concurrently. I love to mix up multiple books from different genres across multiple mediums (happily switching between physical copies, e-books and audiobooks), or juggle both required reading and pleasure reading. This really helped me—someone with ADHD who has the attention span of a commercial break—plow through my TBR pile faster.

Join the Goodreads’ Reading Challenge! I am fortunate enough to be surrounded by a community dedicated to books, filled with those who feel just as giddy with enthusiasm as I do about setting reading goals, who will encourage you and remind you that “you got this!” and also help stir your motivation when you see how much they’re reading. It’s a really fun challenge, but it also helps you hold yourself accountable because Goodreads lets you know if you’re ahead, behind, or right on track to meet the reading goal you set.

Last but not least, you can’t just find time for reading, you have to determinedly carve out time in your schedule to read. Setting a dedicated reading time will help make reading a habit, and ensure that you’re reading at least an hour every day. I like to read in the mornings, so I wake up a little bit earlier and set aside 20-30 minutes to read my book—it’s a great way to start your day!—or sometimes at night, when I can’t marshal my tired eyes to the task of squinting at the pages after a particularly wearying day, nothing gladdens my heart more than listening to an audiobook while cocooned in a warm blanket.

I also claw hungrily at any spare moment to read—you’d be amazed at the number of intervals throughout the day in which you can pursue the joy of reading!



Lola

See Lola's Year in Books

How many books did you expect to read in 2019?

I am hoping to read 200 books even if I set my Goodreads goal to 220.

What advice do you have for people who want to read more in 2020?

If you want to read more, try to read between tasks or events happening in your daily life. Like if you need to take a 15-minute bus ride to get to your workplace and back, read then! If after washing the dishes for 30 minutes you need to sit down and relax for 5 minutes, read then! If you're attending a salsa class and you're feeling awkward while waiting for the class to start, read then! You might fall off your chair discovering how many opportunities to read you actually have…and then read while getting back on your feet.





Emily Fox

See Emily Fox's Year in Books

How many books did you expect to read in 2019?

Hoping to make it to 100 (but 90 would be nice!)

What advice do you have for people who want to read more in 2020?

Audiobooks! They're a lifesaver for whenever life gets crazy. I can listen to one in the shower, on the bus, while cleaning, cooking, walking, getting ready... Even when I don't have time to sit down and read, I end up finishing a couple books a month that way.