How Many Books Should One Read in a Year?
A Quora user recently asked, “How many books should one read in a year?” Here is my answer.
I understand the concern from other Quora users that setting a challenging, unrealistic reading goal can discourage people and makes them quit early on. However, you will never know if you can read one book per week unless you try, so why not give it a whirl? The worst that happens is you don't meet your goal. That could still be a positive. Let's say you try to read a book each week and end up reading one every two weeks. That's still 26 books in one year, more than you probably realized you could complete. Even if you read 20 books in one year, you are still reading much more than the average person.
Speaking from personal experience, setting the goal of reading 52 books in 52 weeks in November of 2013 was a life-changing experience. When I decided to try, I was almost positive I would fail. I am not a fast reader. I am not as well read as many other people. But I read a very inspiring article by Breather CEO Julien Smith and decided to try what seemed like an impossible task at the time.
Sometimes it is good to push ourselves towards an impossible goal.
I knew if I wanted to have a snowball's chance in hell of reading at such a rapid clip, I needed to put some systems in place.
- I signed up for an Audible account. This was a very important part of reaching my goal. I spend at least 1 hour of every weekday driving, often more if I have to run an errand on my way home from work. Five hours per week of reading adds up quick. It was essential to helping me stay on track. Doing this also helped me develop an appreciation for audiobooks, which are amazing. A good audiobook can add an extra layer of depth to an already great book.
2) I beefed up my Kindle collection. Sorry book purists, I love physical books as well, but having a large collection of books on my phone makes it so that I can read anywhere at any time as long as I have my phone with me. This means grocery lines, the RMV, and waiting rooms are now prime locations for reading. I realize I could always carry around a paperback, but having books on my phone is an extra layer of book security.
3) I went on countless library book binges. Countless. Sometimes I would come home with 12 new books, knowing there was no way I could possibly read all of them. But it made it so that I always had a book on hand that I couldn't wait to read.
4) I woke up earlier on weekends. Sure, use your weekends to socialize, relax, and rest, but try to wake up a bit earlier. Even 45 minutes will make a difference if you use the time for reading.
5) I cut back on TV and movies. This is a hard one for me because I am a Celtics basketball and film junkie. I also love binge watching a great show as much as the next person. But I forced myself to prioritize and cut back. I refuse to channel surf anymore. If I'm sitting in front of my TV now, it's because I really want to watch something.
These are just suggestions, everyone's system will likely be different. I think the most important thing is to make it so that books are always available and frequent reading becomes a way of life. After using the systems mentioned above, I read 53 books in 52 weeks. I am so grateful for the experience and am pushing myself to beat 53 books this year.
Some people mentioned in their answers that reading a large number of books in a year could just be a reason for someone to brag. This is true — you have to make sure you are reading to appreciate the experience of reading the books first and foremost. Bragging about how many books you read is like being someone who name drops where they went to college all the time. You don't want to be that person.
When I first set out on my goal, beyond my wife and a few close friends, I didn't tell anyone. I didn't update those who knew about my goal on my progress unless they asked. I try to be casual and laid back when talking about books with other people. I don't force recommendations down their throats. Outside of my writing, I avoid making suggestions unless someone asks. I want to read as often as possible to learn as much as possible. I am not looking for bragging rights or validation.
If you are looking for some more valuable insights on how to read more, you should check out Claire Diaz-Ortiz. She has several great articles on the process of reading. I'd recommend starting here -> How I Read 200 Books a Year.
I'd like to conclude with my favorite quote from the Julien Smith article, which inspired me to get started.
"All the world’s wisdom is contained in books – most of it is not on the internet or known by people in your social group, so this can really help you expand, if you let it. So start today.” -Julien Smith
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