The Benefits of Reading 100 Books a Year
An average American reads about 4 books per year. For many billionaires that number is closer to 50. Whether old and semi-retired like Warren Buffet or young and brazenly on the march-like Elon Musk, almost every super successful person reads way more than average. What explains this phenomenon?
If you read what these people say on the topic, you will spot a common thread: All of them attribute at least a portion of their success to reading.
Books are one of the oldest forms of passing on knowledge but they are far more than that. They change your brain by increasing connectivity, help you detox from the constant stimulation of social media, and of course introduce ideas that may improve your life. Whether fiction or nonfiction, reading has been shown to lower the chances of dementia, increase vocabulary and help build stronger relationships. In fact, reading has so many benefits it may be the ultimate cure for a world that is coming close to losing touch with reality.
But in addition to all the health and psychological benefits, if you make reading a priority, as I have, it will almost certainly change your life.
What I experienced after reading roughly 2 books a week for a few months is that my brain began to work in ways I couldn’t have predicted. It became like a sponge, constantly soaking up new sources of valuable knowledge. I became addicted to learning and almost couldn’t help myself — everything became more interesting. New ideas appeared in my head as if by osmosis. I became better at both my job and at other financially rewarding tasks such as investing and collecting. Thus in a way, reading did make me richer — quite literally.
Today, knowledge is increasing exponentially. In my industry (digital marketing) the amount of knowledge is probably doubling daily. Even if you are in a more established industry, chances are pretty good that if you could teach your brain to gather more knowledge faster, you would move up the ladder faster as well. Beneficial reading doesn’t just include industry-specific reading. A book on leadership can help you resolve interpersonal conflict. A book on great companies can help you suggest a better strategy in the next meeting. And new connections in your brain can create other completely unpredictable but positive results in your life.
What should you read? You have to challenge yourself if you want to get the benefits. Musk famously loves Asimov — one of the best science fiction writers of all time, and my favorite too. Otherwise, I tend to focus on business and popular science books, and the kind of fiction that wins the Pulitzer rather than tops the bestseller lists. It is a reasonable guess that easy-to-read fiction (i.e. romance novels and spy thrillers) are probably less helpful than the mind-bending fiction that challenges your perception of the world.
Of course, reading has a cost. And for most people, the seemingly insurmountable obstacle appears to be time. How do you get the time to read more, and how does anyone find the time to read 100 books per year?
Consider this: An average person reads 200 to 250 words per minute or about 13,500 words per hour. Hence, it would take less than 7 hours to read an average book (90,000 words). If you were to read one hour, every day for a year, you’d read 52 books a year. Considering that an average person spends 2.5 hours a day on social media, and 52 books a year sounds pretty realistic. In addition, an average American drives about one hour per day, and an average audiobook is about 11 hours long (it takes more time to say a word than read it on a page). This could add another 33 books a year. If you spend any additional time doing housework or waiting for your children during activities, this reading time can add up quickly as well.
While reading so many books may sound like an expensive proposition, it doesn’t have to be. Libraries are widely available and convenient. Many libraries use Libby, an app that allows you to download library books to your kindle, and even listen to audiobooks for free on your phone. There are paid options too, like Amazon Unlimited, Scribed, and Audible. Goodreads can help you keep track and find new topics. I only buy a few books per year, mostly relying on my library and Libby.
Once upon a time, reading was a major source of entertainment for anybody who could afford books. With bookstores vanishing and attention spans waning, one way to strengthen our creative minds and cognitive skills is to read a book — or even a hundred. It’s a tall order and might require less time on TikTok. But books may be the cure for our collective malaise brought upon by a pandemic and polarization.
It might not make you a billionaire, but I promise it will spark your curiosity and make you a richer person.
Viktoria Altman is a Brooklyn-based digital marketer and public speaker.
