You want to read more books. Everyone wants to read more books. But between work, phones, streaming, and the general exhaustion of modern life, the average American reads fewer than five books a year — and most of us have a towering “to read” pile that only grows. If you’re asking what is the best way to read more books in a year, I’ve gone from reading 6 books a year to 40+ using systems that don’t require more willpower — just better design. Reading more isn’t about discipline; it’s about removing friction.
Here’s the math that changed my thinking: 40 books a year sounds impossible until you realize it’s just 20–30 minutes a day. The average book takes 6–8 hours to read; 30 minutes daily gets you through a book every two weeks — 26 books a year. Bump it to 45 minutes (one less sitcom episode), and you’re at 40. You don’t need more time; you need to redirect time you’re already spending. Let’s build the system.
What Is the Best Way to Read More Books in a Year? Design Your Environment
Always have a book within reach
The single most effective reading habit is also the simplest: never be without a book. Keep one on your nightstand, one in your bag, the e-book app on your phone’s home screen, an audiobook queued for the car. Every waiting room, every line, every commute becomes potential reading time — but only if the book is already there. I read 30% of my books in stolen 10-minute increments: waiting for appointments, standing in lines, the minutes before a meeting starts. These fragments add up to whole books.
Replace the phone, don’t just add the book. The average person spends 3–4 hours daily on their phone — you’re not short on time, you’re short on intention. Move social apps off your home screen and put your reading app where Instagram used to be. Charge your phone outside the bedroom and keep a physical book on the nightstand instead. I’m not saying abandon your phone; I’m saying make reading the path of least resistance in the moments you’d otherwise scroll.
Embrace all three formats
Physical books, e-books, and audiobooks aren’t competitors — they’re a team that covers different situations. Audiobooks were my biggest breakthrough: commuting, exercising, cooking, cleaning, walking the dog — I “read” 15+ books a year during time that couldn’t be used for visual reading. E-books are perfect for travel, bedtime (backlit, one-handed), and instant gratification (library e-books download in seconds). Physical books remain the most focused, distraction-free experience — no notifications, better retention for many readers.
Drop the format snobbery entirely. Audiobooks count as reading (neuroscience confirms comprehension is equivalent for most material). DNFing (did not finish) is a skill, not a failure — life’s too short for books you don’t enjoy, and quitting a bad book frees time for three good ones. My rule: 50 pages (or 2 hours of audio) to earn a fair chance, then guilt-free abandonment. My reading volume tripled when I stopped finishing books out of obligation.
The Systems That Actually Work
Set a process goal, not an outcome goal
“Read 50 books this year” is an outcome goal — motivating in January, crushing by March when you’re behind. “Read 20 minutes every morning” is a process goal — entirely within your control, every single day. Process goals build streaks; streaks build identity (“I’m a reader”); identity sustains the habit when motivation fades. I track daily reading time, not annual book count, and the count takes care of itself.
Join or start a book club
Social accountability is the most powerful reading motivator I know. A monthly book club gives you deadlines, discussion that deepens every book, and exposure to books you’d never choose yourself (some of my favorites were club picks I would have skipped). No local club? Online communities (r/books, Goodreads groups, Discord servers) work just as well. Telling someone you’ll have read the book by Tuesday is remarkably effective.
Use the library aggressively
The public library is the greatest reading hack in America and it’s free. Beyond physical books: Libby/OverDrive for e-books and audiobooks (your library card gives you thousands of titles instantly), Hoopla for no-waitlist borrowing, interlibrary loan for anything your branch lacks. Place holds on popular titles and let the queue manage your reading list — books arrive just as you finish the last one, creating a self-sustaining pipeline. I haven’t paid for a book in years, and I read more than ever.
Track and celebrate
Goodreads, StoryGraph, or a simple notebook — tracking creates a satisfying visual record that motivates continuation. Set an annual challenge (Goodreads’ yearly challenge is the classic), write one-sentence reviews (future you will thank present you), and keep a “favorites” shelf. Seeing 30 books on your “read this year” shelf in October is powerful fuel for November and December. StoryGraph’s stats and mood tracking are excellent if you want data on your reading life.
Choosing Books You’ll Actually Finish
The secret to reading more is reading books you can’t put down — which means getting better at choosing. Sample before committing (read the first chapter via library or preview). Follow the “rule of the trusted recommender” — find 2–3 people whose taste matches yours and read what they love. Read award shortlists in genres you enjoy. And alternate between challenging and fun — a dense history followed by a propulsive thriller keeps momentum without burnout.
Reread favorites without guilt. Rereading is faster (you know the plot, so you read for pleasure), deeply satisfying, and counts. Some of my annual total is beloved rereads, and I regret none of it. The psychology of rewatching applies to books too — familiar stories comfort and restore.
Pair reading with podcast discovery for your audio hours and book club tips for social reading. For inspiration on reading’s benefits, the Wikipedia article on reading covers the cognitive research.
So what is the best way to read more books in a year? Always have a book within reach, embrace audiobooks for dead time, set daily process goals instead of annual targets, use the library’s free pipeline, quit bad books ruthlessly, and join a book club for accountability. Twenty to thirty minutes a day — redirected from scrolling, not added to your schedule — gets you to 25–40 books a year. The time is already there. The books are waiting.
