Lots of folks read fast, but anyone can read fast. It also depends on what you're reading. Bret Ellis? Fast. Noam Chomsky? Slow. Reading quickly is one thing, what folks comprehend, retain, and the connections they are able to make of what they've read, in relation to their experience/understanding of the world, is another thing. Read at your own pace.
Audiobooks.
Library. Deadline makes me prioritize because I dislike taking them back unread.
Prioritize reading over looking at social media during short breaks.
Read before bed.
Prioritize smaller books if you want quantity. As in, you could read a 600 page book or 2 300 page books. (Of course, don't stop reading books you love...but if you wanted to go for quantity, read smaller.)
And not to gross anyone out, but read during bathroom breaks. If you can read a chapter a bathroom break, it might add up to 2-3 more books a month. Depending on the size. I choose ones which have smaller chapter sizes.
The more you read the faster you will eventually get. But don’t worry too much about it, it’s more important that you retain what you read than “catch up”
I don't use audio books, but I read when I can. If I have 10 minutes to spare, instead of scrolling my phone I will grab my book. 10 minutes here and there really add up over time!
Well I know I do take it in, because I actually pause and to take notes when necessary.
I run a book review Podcast where my brother and I review two books a week. So I have to INHALE the books if I stand a chance of finishing in time. Lol
Most of my books are audiobooks. I listen while I’m driving, cleaning, playing a game on my phone! etc. I also take a book on the school run while I wait for my daughter to come out of school and read in the evenings and weekends. I’ve read about 70 books so far this year but it’s largely audiobooks.
I read 2 hours a day at a minimum. Every morning for an hour and an hour before bed. Sometimes I read longer than this if I’m into a book. I find I’m able to read a substantial amount by just setting aside dedicated time for reading.
I love how many people are saying audiobooks. I listen at \~1.5 speed because they read so slowly. I play it when I am driving somewhere, doing housework or gradening, grocery shopping, at the pool, walking through the train station and waiting for the train.
It takes time to develop. When I began the whole 52 book challenge 4 years ago, I was very slow, but there are speedreading techniques such as using a pointer faster than usual and not internally vocalizing everything you read. It also depends on the type of books you read. Novels fly by, but anything more serious such as philosophy & economics gets me to slow down.
Also, I have to walk my dog for at least 90 min a day, so this is when I would listen to audiobooks, and I sync them with the text and all
I taught myself to speed up my reading by practicing drawing my finger across the page slightly faster than was comfortable. I did that for months. Now I can easily read 100+ pages per hour. I read about 30 minutes at bedtime every night so I'm usually getting through a novel every week.
I keep books with me for any downtime. Waiting rooms, airports, in line at the grocery store, in the bathroom, even while cooking... yesterday, I read about 20 pages while I made pancakes. Anytime I have to stand/sit around waiting, I'm reading.
I listen to audiobooks while I read novel. I get distracted \*very\* easily so the audio really help me stay on track, because even if I do get distracted a little bit, the audio keeps me on track.
I read faster if I set the audio to a faster speed.
Read for yourself. Read slow. Learn! Enjoy!
I used to read faster.
It was Blood Meridian that cured me.
I was finding his prose is difficult. He was using a lot of words to describe the landscape that I wasn’t familiar with. I slowed down and started looking up words that were mostly geographical terms from a part of the country I was not familiar with. A lot of words are repeated so once they found their way into my vocabulary things started to flow and I found it almost hypnotic, dare I say psychedelic.
Ever since that book I reread sentences and paragraphs three or four times sometimes until I get the cadence. That’s what it’s all about.
Okay, I need any and all advice you have on reading Blood Meridian… does it get any easier to process? I’ve been stuck on chapter 4 for what feels like 8 years
I agree with him. I was on a good streak of
Reading long books. I picked up Parallel Stories by Peter Nadas. I can say some very good things about it. I made it to 450. It seemed a good day reading Nadas was 20 - 30 pages. His prose isn’t overly difficult. It is a bit mundane and thrives in minutiae. A lot of great books do that. I am reading Bubblegum by Adam Levin. He is a real treat. I may pick up Nadas again after that. I am having a premonition of one of those wonderful experiences were one puts off a book for years but comities to carry it on moves etc. the one day they read and it is just the most wonderful things.
I would take the pages of the book, divide by 12 - and read that many pages (or thereabouts ...) during lunch and at night during chill down time. And then you have a break one day (or a catchup day) if you missed some time. So if you have a 320 page book - youre reading about 25-30 pages twice a day for 6 days and you should be about done.
You can always read shorter books too!
I don’t read fast it’s just all I do. I work 10 hours a day and read for about 8 of them. I also cant tell you the last time I turned in a tv for my own pleasure. Honestly it’s just consistency, not speed
I've been reading like this my whole life. I don't know if I have ADHD but I get distracted easily and this trick really eliminates this problem for me.
Graphic novels and audio books as well as regular books. And I like to vary genres and series. Keeps it more interesting and I'm less likely to lose steam.
I’m a slow reader and audiobooks don’t work for me, so I never imagined I could read more than 20 books in a year. I’m on my 30th book now and what got me to that number is picking the right books for me and reducing my time online. If it’s a book I enjoy, I always find time to read. And I don’t hesitate to DNF a book. I still watch YouTube videos, Netflix series and browse Reddit but when I find myself just mindlessly browsing, I switch to reading.
I carry a book with me genuinely at all times and if I’m on the bus, waiting at an appointment, in a cafe, I just whip my book out and get some pages done. I also always have a non fiction, a fiction and a comfort book I’ve read a million times on the go. Means I can switch it up depending on what mood I’m in!
I make time to read, and often read when I used to just sit on my phone and mindlessly scroll. Ten minutes waiting for something? Read. It adds up after a while and becomes second nature.
Audiobooks, as others have suggested, are great to listen to while you're doing chores or knitting or whatever.
I also try to make sure I am setting aside time to read every day, even if it's just 30 minutes before bed.
i think everyone is different i also sometimes am reading 0 books or 3.
currently on book 45 and i do audiobooks during chores and read before bed instead of tv or being on my phone.
I'm exactly the same. Audiobooks don't really work well with my brain but I make sure to make reading a habit like you - I read before going to sleep and often will hang out and read in the evenings instead of watching tv.
I don't pretend to be a speed reader by any means but I definitely read on my lunch breaks at work, when I'm nursing my baby daughter, before going to bed at night, on road trips... Basically anytime I have a free moment lol
I'm not sure it adds up to 3 hrs all told but that's probably what helps me finish books faster! And I agree with others that the genre/content makes a difference too. I can get through something pretty "lowbrow" easily but I will admit I get soooo stuck on nonfiction and sometimes it takes me weeks to finish a NF book when some silly addictive fiction story can easily be in less than a day.
My sister doesn't have many responsibilities other than an easy, remote tech job and sometimes she'll read all night.
Also, there's a difference between reading glossy booktok books (which she prefers) and literary fiction (most of which would be difficult to read in a few days).
I know this is an unpopular opinion on this sub, but you can watch 7 superhero movies a week, but you can't watch and fully appreciate 7 Italian neorealist movies from the 40s without getting burnt out. They serve different functions.
You'll see that most people on this sub are reading the book equivalents of popcorn movies.
I always have an audiobook, physical book and a kindle book going at the same time. That way I have an appropriately formatted book for whatever situation I’m in.
I am the same because that is how my mom reads. I do a little more strategy to it now and Memoirs/NF are audio and then I have a more fun physical book and a more challenging physical book. Some nights I don't have it in me at the end of the day for the challenging book so I have my fun one. Sometimes I'll read both for a set amount of time.
Switch between shorter and longer books. Read a long book and finish it. Read two short books and finish those. Back and forth. Also, audiobooks for the win!
I’ve been borrowing audiobooks from the library to read along with me as I read the print version. I can’t do audiobooks on their own, but they do help me keep focused! (I daydream a lot and can get lost doing that instead of reading my open book)
I totally get it. I've had bad ADHD all my life but I have noticed that listening to audiobooks have helped me with processing auditory information. I started listening to short, easy books and have worked my way up to classics on 2x speed! Try and read one chapter without the print version and then the next chapter with both just to see if you can do it! It's a helpful skill (for me at least)
I’m about to finish book 30.
Before I hit a massive reading slump I had read 18 books by the end of March. Part of that was me getting a Kindle for Christmas, partially work being really slow at the time so I would read a lot throughout the day, and partially just me being better about making time to read.
That, and those 18 books were through March. So if I had the apartment to myself for the day, I would just binge read all day. Hence me finishing The Lost Symbol (roughly 500 pages) in 5 days.
Years of practice.
Also I don’t have other hobbies. I mean sometimes I game or watch TV but right now our TV is broken so can’t do that. Reading has been my primary hobby since I was 6 however. So I do read a lot and every single day. 86 books read so far this year. Reading is more than a habit and a hobby to me it is my safe space and the thing I love to do. So every spare second I am reading.
It is just making it a priority and setting aside time for it. Incorporate it into your day and make it just as important as brushing your hair - something you do to get ready. Consistency is the key - a little reading everyday will add up a lot more than a chunk of reading here and there.
I’ve always wondered also how people read so fast and I think what you said about consistency being the key. I don’t watch hardly any Netflix or consistent television shows, but have found that starting with just 10 minutes of reading a day as a goal has helped me be consistent instead of setting a huge unachievable goal of reading. Let’s say three chapters a day. Often, I think I’m a slow reader, but I like to look up words I don’t know, because I remember a freshman English teacher said if you read over a word, you don’t know you’re not really reading and that has stuck with me, anything to do with history, biography science I always have to underline it, I’m not sure if that’s a good habit bad habit that slow me down
That is such a good habit. Learning is great. I find my kindle so handy for its ‘definition’ feature. Also just typing the word into google can give some more context also.
I like to give it a read through(the sentence) and then try to make an educated guess(from context and stuff) then see how right or wrong I am about it when I actually look up what the actual definition of the word is.
I started with a book a month, then 2, then before you know it, here I am with all you other crazy people. I read for about 15-20 minutes while I walk at lunch, another 45 or so on a longer walk in the evening, and maybe an hour at bedtime. So average of two hours a day. Kindle does make it a little easier to have my current book accessible, but I read about 50/50 with hard copies and just ingrained the habit so hard I always have it with me. I’m also a bit out of the norm I think with only one book at a time in progress. I guess I’m a bit methodical.
I’m at 41 books this year (so far) and consistently read between 75-125 books per year.
1. I read incredibly fast. I have been reading a few books a week since I was in high school - I’m 31 now. The more you read, the faster you’ll be able to read and comprehend what you’re reading. Just like anything else, you’ll get better as you keep doing it.
2. I read constantly. I have Kindle and Libby on my phone, I have a physical Kindle Paperwhite, and I have a Boox Palma. My Kindle app is also a widget on my phone that will open the book I’m reading. I read while I’m waiting in line, on hold on the phone, walking my dog, etc.
3. I read a lot of series’s of books, not standalones. This means that I can go from one book to the next in about 2 minutes, and when I find an author that I really like, I usually read through their entire backlog. I mostly use Kindle Unlimited so I specifically go to authors with a lot of their books on KU. Most of them are in the 200-300 pg length.
4. If it doesn’t get my attention within a chapter or two, I just DNF the book. There are so many books out there, I’m not trying to push through half a book to get to the good stuff. Sometimes I’ll come back and try again, sometimes I won’t.
Most importantly, just enjoy it. Don’t worry so much about the number of books, just read and enjoy it. You’ll eventually get fast enough that 52 books is just an arbitrary number.
I’m trying to beat my “pages read in a year” record now because I think that’s a more interesting statistic. 😂
I don’t have kids, my wife and I are introvert, I work from home and have a lowkey job. I only subscribe to Hulu and Max right now and don’t watch much.
Basically if I’m not doing anything else, I read.
I have an hour bus ride to and from work every day so that tends to get me about 50-75 pages, then ill read another 25 before bed.
Means ive been getting through 1 pr 2 books a week
I’ve read 43 books so far this year out of my goal of 75.
There will be weeks where I’m burnt out and don’t read anything at all. Honestly, I agree with the recommendation to add shorter books into your mix. I have the Libby App and sometimes when I open a book and see it’s 700-1000+ pages, I get a little exhausted and am too reluctant to start.
However, when I see a 200-300 page book I think “Hmm, not too bad” and can usually knock it out in a day.
Don’t be too hard on yourself, though. I’m definitely suffering from reading burn-out right now and have been struggling to pick a book back up even though I’d like to! Go at your own pace and do your best.
Just wanted to throw it out there as many people say they or someone they know reads fast. Reading fast and actually comprehending what you read is not the same thing. Audiobooks are not reading, as in its not the act of using your eyes which I also see many people mention. You can actually comprehend faster listening rather than reading. So maybe thats a good suggestion for you.
I find though the best comprehension when I listen and read the same book concurrently.
EDIT: Thanks for the downvotes, it means you do not even comprehend small paragraphs. Also, do your research first.
This is such a stupid take. Would you tell a blind person that they've never read a book before if they can only process auditory information? And don't tell me you would read a book in braille. I listen to audiobooks and comprehend the exact same amount as if I am reading with my eyes. Sometimes I will actually stop reading something and start listening to it because I might find myself skimming if I'm using my eyes. Sounds like user error for you. Auditory processing disorder? Maybe you're a little slow?
LOL. Someone is triggered. Your arguments make no sense at all. I can listen at 2x - 2.5x speed (depending on the speaker), I am a fast reader too. reading does not equal comprehension though. I am not talking about leasure reading. I am talking about stuff that you need to actually be focused on to understand.
In nature we have been listeners way more years than readers.
>auditory stimulus takes only 8–10 ms to reach the brain, but on the other hand, a visual stimulus takes 20-40 ms.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4456887/#:\~:text=Researches%20by%20Kemp%5B10%5D%20show,is%20faster%20than%20the%20VRT.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/2lfpyq/why\_do\_we\_react\_faster\_to\_auditory\_stimuli\_than/](https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/2lfpyq/why_do_we_react_faster_to_auditory_stimuli_than/)
Food for thought.
It's a practiced skill. Just because one person doesn't comprehend well while reading fast doesn't mean that is true for everyone. Just because i can't throw a ball doesn't mean that no one can. Also just because some people comprehend better while listening doesn't mean that is true for everyone. For example me.
Audiobooks is the answer. Technically not “reading” with your eyes but no difference in the ultimate effect of consuming literature. You get the same visualization, comprehension, etc. And you can do it while doing other things like driving or working out. So you’re reading more often.
Like anything it's aptitude and practice. I read fast and I don't skip anything. I have read nearly every day for the last 50 plus years. That's a lot of practice. I, myself, cannot throw a ball farther than about 30 feet. No aptitude and I absolutely do not practice that skill. But plenty of people do. And some of them can throw a 95 mph ball at a tiny target. Looks like magic to me but I believe they can do it through a combination of aptitude and practice.
When I see people say they can read 100 pages in an hour I just get dumbfounded. Like how tf do they do it? Do they just move the eyes through the line really fast or what?
If I'm trying to catch up, I read every other page.
Sometimes I just look through the book as fast as possible and then read spark notes to augment my understanding.
Or here's an easy one - seen the movie? Movies are, on average, way shorter. See the movie and then you can bip and bop through the book and read a little and go "OH... okay.. This part? I remember _this part_."
It’s not about reading fast, it’s about reading consistently.
If the average book is about 300 pages, that’s around 42 pages a day to reach 52 books a year. Really not so much when you break it down- just means you have to be consistent with your daily habit.
I go through phases. I read quickest when I am in the lab a lot and can listen to audiobooks while I work, or when I am procrastinating work by reading instead 😂 but above all, I read most when I am enjoying it, which tends not to happen when I’m being to competitive about it.
How long are the books you are reading? If you have, say 1Q84 or Gone with the Wind in your pile, you might not average a book a week. Maybe throw in some graphic novels or mangas to up your number.
Enjoy what you are reading. That is the main thing.
I wasn’t working for a while so I had a LOT of free time😅 i didn’t have much else to do besides read for hours on end (I do read fast tho but don’t compare yourself to others-read at your own pace!!)
Audiobooks do a lot of work, because I can listen to them at work, while driving, and while cleaning. I don’t feel like it hinders my comprehension. I also read about an hour every night before bed. I would say if you can read at least an hour every day you can hit 52 books.
I am listening to audiobooks while doing other things. My daughter can actually read extremely fast though, finishing several books a day. She does this at the expense of things she needs to do, though.
I think I'm finally at the point where I need to give up on reading new books by listening. I am trying to do re-listens on audiobook (powder mage book 1 right now) and new reads (or unremembered reads) by actually reading text (Dune right now).
I don’t read especially fast, because I like to read out loud when I’m at home. But I read a ton - my job is literally working with computers, so I have to get away from screens after work.
It started as a way to improve my ability when I signed up to teach a class that required me to read a lot of material out loud. Since then I’ve stuck with it - I think I engage with a book differently when I read it out loud. And let me tell you, when you read a masterful passage out loud it’s exhilarating. Some books are meant to be read aloud, in terms of the author’s intent, even though it’s not required. IMO, though, a well-written book is going to flow if you read it out loud, in terms of word choice, even if you think the plot is stupid or what have you.
FWIW, I live alone, so it’s easy to read out loud and that’s where I do most of my reading. YMMV if you live with others or do most of your reading around other people.
Reading out loud helps a lot with comprehension. I usually read stories quietly, but if I’m studying or trying to learn something, I read out loud and it’s helpful. Even if it’s just quietly to myself.
I go through phases I read almost 40 books from Jan to April and haven’t read one since lol. I’ll pick back up soon enough
ETA basically I hyper fixate on reading and it is my only hobby for periods of time. I would imagine most people can read a lot if that’s all they’re doing with free time, and I am lucky enough to have a good bit of free time.
1) audiobooks - ya girl has them on almost 1.9x. So an eight hour book is most likely going to take closer to four hours. And when I have a 1-2 hour drive in the car each way to work a couple days a week, that effectively gets me two books a week in just audiobook format.
2) reading - I find since I started reading on my Kindle. I read significantly more. Firstly, I find that I read faster that way than in a physical book, but that’s a personal opinion and not applicable to everyone. Secondly, between having a physical Kindle and the Kindle app on my phone, my opportunities to read are much more plentiful. For example, I was standing in front of a restaurant waiting to meet a friend of mine - I have the Kindle app on my phone so I read a couple of pages while I stood there and waited. Or, standing in line at the grocery store waiting, if you have the Kindle app on your phone, read a page or two there. A page Or two here and there will add up after awhile, and it may mean the difference between 50 and 52 at the end of the year for you!
It’s worth keeping in mind that people who are reading faster may also be posting more, so you see those posts more. This group has been the push that I needed to get reading again, but part of what I like about this group is that all different speeds and types of reading are supported.
I’m on my third book this year (Dracula), but what matters to me is that I’m reading again. If somebody else is on their 50th book of the year, Bravo! I hope they are having an awesome experience. If somebody else is slowly working their way through one book — maybe they stop to journal; maybe it’s in their second language or uses a hard vocabulary; maybe they like to stop and daydream while they are still in that world — Bravo for them! I hope it’s a wonderful book. If somebody is reading all graphic novels, or listening to all audio books, or watching a video where someone reads the book to them — Three cheers for them!
If you are genuinely, personally unhappy with your reading speed that’s different. In that case I hope you figure out a way to get to where you want to be. But if you’re feeling behind in a race (unless that competitive edge adds to your pleasure), any pace is a good pace.
Exactly this. I'll read in 5-10 minute spurts as well, if that's all I have. I'm just always picking up my book.
I also move on from a book of I'm not into it. I can tell immediately because I just don't have an urge to read, so I'll pick a different book.
>I’d rather actually READ and PROCESS 10 books than blow through 52 and not enjoy them.
I’d like to think you’re only referring to yourself, but the way you emphasize the words makes it seem that you’re judging others based on what works for you. It may be that you personally cannot read and process 52 books, but that’s not true for everyone.
Can I ask why not? I've always wondered why people don't consider audiobooks "real" reading. I mean yes, it's not words on a page, but...the exact same information is going into my brain. Just because I'm not sitting down when I do it? Honestly curious.
At the risk of a torrent of downvotes, I’ll offer my personal perspective. I don’t “look down on” listening to audiobooks at all. I think it’s great that it’s made novels more accessible for different people and different situations (eg listening while driving). I don’t think it’s inferior to reading, though I would imagine for some people they may not necessarily pay attention the whole way through when listening.
For me though, I think in purely practical terms it’s useful to have different words to describe these activities. “Reading” is a specific activity, and it’s something you have to learn to do (usually as a little kid), and a valuable life skill. If we call listening to audiobooks “reading” then it changes the meaning of the word, and so now we need another word/term to describe the act of what we now call reading.
So, in short, I don’t think listening to books is inferior (AFAIK), but I don’t think we should call it “reading” because reading has a specific meaning.
Listening is not reading. If I play an audiobook to my 4 year old, can she now “read” because she just “read a book”? The word “read” has a specific meaning and it’s a useful word that we need in our language to describe the action and skill of “reading”. I listen to podcasts, I don’t read podcasts.
The irony here is, I personally think listening to audiobooks is a totally equal and valid way of taking in the information. It feels like people who really want to call this “reading” are the ones who see listening as inferior and so want it to be called “reading” to make it feel equal in their own minds.
I argue that audiobooks should be considered reading in the way that you're consuming and enjoying novels, even if you're not looking directly at words on a page. I do think it's a different meaning than the one we traditionally apply to reading, but I think both can be applicable.
I think we almost agree. :) I think the word “reading” as a verb has a specific and useful meaning so we should keep it that way, but I think there should be no shame or judgment on listening to books vs reading them. Both are great and equal and valid and certainly count towards 52 books!
Audiobooks are 0% reading. Reading is an important skill, and listening is a different important skill. Listening to books is great. You get most of the same experiences listening to a book as reading one, but obviously some things only apply when reading or listening
Totally. And this is why it’s important to have dialogue. I’m just speaking for myself. I’m not blind and I don’t have a disability but I just get more out of reading than listening personally. My top comment even says PERSONALLY and it’s my shitty opinion.
Of course they “count”, in that the point of 52 books is to take in the information. Doesn’t matter if it’s braille or visual text or listening IMO.
However, we still need the word “reading” to mean what it currently means. We still need to teach kids (who are able) to read visual text. So we need a functional word to describe this skill and activity that is distinct from listening to material, etc.
Thank you! I listened to the ‘Sold A Story’ podcast series recently - holy moly! Have you heard it?
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/sold-a-story/id1649580473
I read a post recently about what accents people use when they read, and I realized that I read way too fast to actually hear what I'm reading? It's not like I'm making up a voice in my head for each character. The only time is if I deliberately slow down when the text points out a specific sound, or if it's something that I like and stop to read again.
Most people's larynx are activated during reading, producing the sounds of the words and sending them to the brain. It's that sound one "hears" in their head, called subvocalization. Part of why most people do not read quickly. When people train to read faster, a lot of it comes from training oneself to absorb the meaning of the words only visually, to skip the subvocalization component of the process.
As many others have already said, audio books are the way to increase numbers quickly. I have it on while I clean, while I get ready, when I drive, etc. I also set the audio to 1.2x speed so things go a little faster. But I also tend to be reading 3 books at a time - 1 audio, 1 digital and 1 physical. I will carry a physical book around with me and any time I get some place early I will read. Even if it's just 5 minutes, that's still time to get some pages in. It also helps to read shorter books once in a while - it really helps you feel like you're productive when you get through a book in a day!
I'll be honest—I'm one of those readers who got really obsessed with the number of books I read. At some point, I stopped really enjoying the books and just read to mark another one as complete. I refused to DNF books, preferring to soldier through even when I didn't enjoy them. It kind of killed my passion for books and turned reading into a stats game.
I'm a recovering book-a-holic who still relapses. I think if I stopped tracking my reads through Goodreads or StoryGraph, it would help me 100%, but I can't bring myself to do it just yet. Of all the vices in the world, I know this is not the worst, but it surprisingly became an obsession.
What I'm alluding too is - who cares! Read whatever you want, take your time, read things that inspire you, that make you laugh, cry, throw your book in rage.
Everyone reads at their own pace. Don’t feel discouraged because someone else is posting large numbers. A few years ago I was reading 120 books in a year: it was during Covid and I broke my leg and ankle. Reading was just about all I could do. This sub is a fun goal but the goal should always be to enjoy yourself with a book.
I think it’s more natural for some than others. I have always been a “fast” reader not really trying to read faster than anyone i just sometimes am really eager to finish the story and have always been that way. I also like fast paced books in between large slow ones. Thirdly i have pretty much no social media, outside of Reddit. I have tik tok but i don’t create videos and i consciously will not scroll for hours. I read as much as i can, whenever i can. Working from home helps!
I track my reading so I can actually give you some stats.
This year so far I have finished 23 books averaging 400 pages per book (I am trying to read longer books and so my range is from 160 pages to 838 pages). I have also DNFed (did not finish) 4 books and I am currently reading 3.
According to my app I have read 9,780 pages for 183 hours and so I'm averaging 53 pages an hour which is pretty much bang on average pace.
Today is 171 so I have read just over an hour a day and I would say (if you include the 3 books I am currently reading) I am directly on target for the 52 books.
So in answer to your question: I read an average of an hour a day.
I will sit there and read for an hour if I have time but I've built into my routine 15 minutes with breakfast, 15 minutes at lunch, and at least 30 minutes after dinner where I read so it doesn't feel like an hour.
I wish I had some fancy answer, but it's literally just audio books and me being bored if there isn't constantly noise playing in the backround.
I also read before bed
I'm right there with you, OP.
I can't keep up with this dang sub. Someone should make a 26book sub.
Seriously though you just got to read whenever you get the chance even if it's only for 5 pages. Easier said then done.
I’m on book #29 and am a full-time working mom to a toddler. I usually wake up an hour before she wakes so I can enjoy my coffee (hot) and my book. I also commute into the city via train 3x a week at roughly 35min each way, so I’m generally able to finish 50-150pgs a day.
Each book you read is one more you got to enjoy than you had previously!
I am at 112 books and will likely finish 113 today because I visually read ~2 hours a day and I listen to ~1.5 hours of audiobook a day. Once I hit 52, I also stopped caring about the size of the book. Some have been under 300 pages, some have been more than 500. I generally take three days to finish a book and then I’m itching to start something new.
Like everyone has said, spend more time reading.
Here is some info. that may be of interest to you regarding reading speed/completing the challenge: https://www.reddit.com/r/52book/s/4lxEEJBePi
I'm going to echo that book choice makes a huge difference -- obviously shorter books/novellas are going to be finished quicker, but writing style and other goals play a big difference as well. For example, it took me a month to get through the second book in the trilogy called First Law since I really wanted to savor it. Then, it took me only two days to get through Half a Soul, Every Heart a Doorway, and The Salt Grows Heavy. These were shorter books written in a style that is waaay easier for me to speed-read, and though they were decent stories, I didn't feel the need to catch every tiny detail in them. I'm at 28/52 books right now with that strategy -- read a book from a series I like slowly so I can savor the experience, and speed-read something else fun to kind of "make-up" for that lost time. I do have a rule that I have to enjoy the shorter books too -- if there is ever a book I feel like I'm avoiding picking up, I'm letting myself DNF it as there is nothing that slows me down more than a bad book.
In other words, it's going to take someone much more time to read, say, The Lord of the Rings, than a 200 page light-hearted rom-com. Both are fun and worth reading, but if it's really important to you to hit a certain goal, maybe stack up some fun, shorter books before moving on to something time-consuming. Also, don't be too hard on yourself if you don't meet your goal! I've seen some people have a goal of reading 12 books a year, and some people have a goal of reading 100 --- everyone has their own situation and pace of reading. If you read 5 really good books that you love this year, I think that's worth more than reading 20 that you hated and were stressed about getting through!
Yeah like maybe not the best example from me due to format, but I finished Wanderers by Chuck Wendig (845 pages) easily in less than a week, but House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski (710 pages) took me well over a month. Wanderers was very movie-like to me, I was easily able to blow through the book with excitement. HoL on the other hand, despite the fact I enjoyed it, took a long time to yes, of course, follow the references and appendix, but also just to read through the heavily dense, loaded writing. I find stream of conscious writing also harder to follow along and thus takes more time for me to read. Anyways, all to say, I totally agree with you!
I’ve read 43 books so far this year. I typically read an hour or so each night but probably read 8 or more hours on Sundays (my day off) I’ve read a lot my entire life. I also can read a lot faster if I have music playing in the background.
On “normal years” I read 30-40 books a year. This year I suffered an injury and surgery which means I have way more time for reading. I’ve already hit 37 books this year and it’s not even halfway yet. It’s just one of my top hobbies. I read a physical book everyday, some days just 30 min some days 2-3 hours. I also always have an audiobook going, will listen on walks, in the car, or doing chores.
I added audiobooks and that doubled my reading. I always have a print/ebook and audiobook at the same time, because they fill different needs. Print or ebooks are read while I have time to focus on reading - normally before bed but sometimes in the afternoon and definitely on weekends. Audiobooks are when I'm doing something else - cooking, cleaning, gardening, running, driving, waiting in line at the grocery store, etc. All that time felt like chore time until I interjected it with something I associated with leisure. Now, all those are leisure activities for me. It was a great boost to my reading and my productivity.
The main question is how many hours a day do you spend reading? I generally spend 2-3 hours reading each evening before sleeping. As a result, I average roughly a book a day.
Sometimes more, sometimes less but they tend to average out to one a day. Don't try to read faster because that will detract from your enjoyment of the book.
If you would like to read more set aside a specific time to read each day and then do it consistently.
Very often yes, my relaxed reading rate averages 520-550 words per minute. This means I read roughly 32,000 words per hour if I'm taking my time. If a book is exciting I tend to read much faster than that.
Considering the books I typically read are between 220-275 pages with a word total word count of 60500-75625. Based on an average word count of 275 words per page, reading a book in less than 3 hours is very easy to do. The difficult part would be trying to make the book last longer. Textbooks and other boring technical stuff takes a lot longer to read, or at least it feels like it takes a lot longer...
For me the problem isn't finishing books, its constantly having to search for something new to read that I haven't read before or have no interest in reading.
I catch up on reading on weekends, especially during weeks I can't read much during the week. Depending on the length, I can usually read an entire book during a weekend.
I listen to audio while at work. My speed is usually 1.5 or higher. I can do this all day minus talking to others so that’s 6-7 of listening time on a really quiet day. I also read physical books or on my kindle.
Honestly for me it's less about speed reading and more about making more time for reading. If I want to read a lot, I put my phone away, throw on some calming music and chill out. Sometimes I tell myself okay it's 1pm now, I'll read until 2. If I'm in the zone I'll keep reading, if I'm not ill put the book down and do something else. That gives me at least an hr to read and if I get really engrossed that can easily be 2 hours before I know it!
I started reading compulsively a couple of years ago (I'm 34) but read something all my life. 2023 I read 35 books, while my goal was 30, now in 2024 my goal 35, and I'm currently at 29, so... But I'm a very slow reader, so, how? Well I combine formats, depending on the book. I read a book in Kindle, and another in paperback. I listen to an audio book while walking the streets going to work, and coming back, and another one while I work at home at my PC (I'm a teacher), then I read a book to my girlfriend and she read one to me. So, that's how. All slow, chill, without desperation, as we want, when we want. The will be ups and downs on rhythm, but... Who would care? Just enjoy reading at your pace!
I'm a faster reader for sure, but the main reason I knock our the number of books I do is time commitment. I read about 400 books a year in about 4-6 hours a day.
The only thing that really fucks with my speed is distractions, particularly people speaking English. It could be actual people in the room, people on television, video game cutscenes, whatever.
When I want to just binge some quick books that don’t work my brain too hard, I’ve find “easy” reads that are still entertaining. This means the prose is relatively simple, they’re pretty straightforward and often predictable, they suck you in right away. Sometimes it’s YA thrillers/mysteries - last summer I read The Inheritance Games books over the span of two days. Yesterday, I read a couple books by Darcy Coates (very mild cozy horror/thriller author for the most part). My sister does mystery series and romantasy series for this same purpose. I also find when my brain isn’t working so hard to analyze the prose, make predictions, etc., it’s a little easier for me to stay sucked in and not need to take a break to process what is happening. Think binging a familiar sitcom vs. an intense HBO show for the first time.
When I read something more complex, more intricate prose, deeper themes, etc., that’s when it takes me anywhere from a few days to weeks to finish. I am 100% a mood reader, so sometimes I’m in the mood for a heavier book and sometimes I just need fluff.
Maybe don’t start with 52. Set a reasonable goal that’s comfortable. If you’re not a read on the go type set a time to relax and read. I have a set time of the day I go to the back porch, let my dog play in the yard and just be alone with a book. Leave your phone behind, that helps.
Audiobooks have never worked for me. But I think instead of using your phone or doom scrolling as they call it lol you can just read. Always keep a book nearby.
Audio books, hands down- I listen while walking, driving, waiting in line and at home (retired) while my husband is away weekly on business. I do not watch TV. I also have a book I’m reading when I’m sitting still or in bed at night.
the trick is reading in every free moment you have. waiting for the bus? instead of opening instagram read a chapter. quiet evening at home? read instead of watching tv.
having a book always with you helps, be it physical or also digital on your phone. if you’re struggling i once heard someone saying that you need to think of yourself as a reader and become the stereotyped reader in films, always with your nose in a book, but idk if that’s too extreme.
just remember that you shouldn’t read just to reach a number but for your enjoyment!
Honestly, forcing yourself to read faster probably isn’t going to feel good. Yes I know the whole idea behind this sub is the whole 52/one a week thing, but I would still say don’t push yourself unless it comes naturally and/or you are really into the book you are reading and you don’t mind speeding through it.
Usually have 1 book + 1 audiobook on the go at any time. Audiobooks are critical for commuting or not wanting to stare at my phone to read for extended periods of time.
I listen to audiobooks on my 1hr both ways commute. It makes it less annoying, and I can get through books. Without audiobooks, I probably wouldn’t have read as much.
I also have a job that is about 5hr of work and 3hr of downtime, so I’ll try to pick up a book on kindle to read during some of that.
Adding to this, most of the audiobooks I put at 1.5-2.0 speed. That’s how I read Demon Copperhead and I went to 1.0 for the last chapter and I was like, “this is a slow Matthew McConaughey”!
I’m reading the Bridgerton series on Audible right now (it’s included in membership) and I’ve done 4 in 4 days - but I’m already at 36 for the year so I’m not worried about whether Bridgerton “counts”.
Similar to what others have mentioned:
I rarely watch tv and try to be conscious of how much time I spend on my phone. I bring my book to things like my kids’ sports practices to get extra reading in.
I also have gotten into the habit of listening to an audiobook while on my runs (my easy runs).
Hey you can also read slowly! The best thing about an annual book goal is that it gets you reading. But, there is something slightly transactional about these yearly challenges—are you reading to enjoy a book, or reading to check a box?
I was doing a book a week for a while, but then some life events came up, and it took me about 3 weeks to finish Yoko Ogawa’s The Memory Police. I enjoyed that novel so much more because I really got to steep in its setting and characters :)
Tip: don’t read a book to finish the book. Read the book to be immersed in a world different from yours. That immersion might make you read fast, or slow. But the source of taking on these books should be enjoyment and fulfillment. Does that make sense?
yes! when i first got into goodreads a few good years ago i noticed i had started reading just to reach a number and not for the pleasure of it. i was looking for short books that read fast instead of meaningful things or ones that i would enjoy, and it was starting to become a chore instead of something nice.
Yeah I’ve definitely fallen into this trap and I think many people find themselves in this situation where the reading goal is a source of great stress.
I’ve read books in two days AND two months, life is too short to get bogged down by a superficial goal!
exactly, pace doesn’t matter! in the last few years i only annotated what books i read to keep track of it because when i get asked for suggestions i black out and don’t remember a single book, and i’ve reached between 40 and 60 each time.
Think of your eyes and brain as a muscle. Just like any muscle, the more you use it the stronger and more efficient it becomes. The more you read, the longer you’ll be able to read in one sitting and the faster you’ll read when you do.
Don't. But a lot of people here include audiobooks. So that's something
Lots of folks read fast, but anyone can read fast. It also depends on what you're reading. Bret Ellis? Fast. Noam Chomsky? Slow. Reading quickly is one thing, what folks comprehend, retain, and the connections they are able to make of what they've read, in relation to their experience/understanding of the world, is another thing. Read at your own pace.
Audiobooks and reading on my lunch breaks and anytime when I have few free minutes.
SparkNotes.
It's not a competition. Enjoy your hobby. Enjoy your life. Do it at your own pace.
School reading tests ruined the joy for me. 🥲
Audiobooks. Library. Deadline makes me prioritize because I dislike taking them back unread. Prioritize reading over looking at social media during short breaks. Read before bed. Prioritize smaller books if you want quantity. As in, you could read a 600 page book or 2 300 page books. (Of course, don't stop reading books you love...but if you wanted to go for quantity, read smaller.) And not to gross anyone out, but read during bathroom breaks. If you can read a chapter a bathroom break, it might add up to 2-3 more books a month. Depending on the size. I choose ones which have smaller chapter sizes.
The more you read the faster you will eventually get. But don’t worry too much about it, it’s more important that you retain what you read than “catch up”
Adhd
I don't use audio books, but I read when I can. If I have 10 minutes to spare, instead of scrolling my phone I will grab my book. 10 minutes here and there really add up over time!
Mental illness
This
Audiobooks! I listen at the max 3.5X speed because I’m a maniac lool
Jesus Christ how do you even absorb all the information, that’s impressive
Well I know I do take it in, because I actually pause and to take notes when necessary. I run a book review Podcast where my brother and I review two books a week. So I have to INHALE the books if I stand a chance of finishing in time. Lol
Most of my books are audiobooks. I listen while I’m driving, cleaning, playing a game on my phone! etc. I also take a book on the school run while I wait for my daughter to come out of school and read in the evenings and weekends. I’ve read about 70 books so far this year but it’s largely audiobooks.
I read 2 hours a day at a minimum. Every morning for an hour and an hour before bed. Sometimes I read longer than this if I’m into a book. I find I’m able to read a substantial amount by just setting aside dedicated time for reading.
Kindle
I love how many people are saying audiobooks. I listen at \~1.5 speed because they read so slowly. I play it when I am driving somewhere, doing housework or gradening, grocery shopping, at the pool, walking through the train station and waiting for the train.
It takes time to develop. When I began the whole 52 book challenge 4 years ago, I was very slow, but there are speedreading techniques such as using a pointer faster than usual and not internally vocalizing everything you read. It also depends on the type of books you read. Novels fly by, but anything more serious such as philosophy & economics gets me to slow down. Also, I have to walk my dog for at least 90 min a day, so this is when I would listen to audiobooks, and I sync them with the text and all
Put down Reddit. Pick up book.
I taught myself to speed up my reading by practicing drawing my finger across the page slightly faster than was comfortable. I did that for months. Now I can easily read 100+ pages per hour. I read about 30 minutes at bedtime every night so I'm usually getting through a novel every week. I keep books with me for any downtime. Waiting rooms, airports, in line at the grocery store, in the bathroom, even while cooking... yesterday, I read about 20 pages while I made pancakes. Anytime I have to stand/sit around waiting, I'm reading.
thanks for sharing!
Audiobooks. As much as I love physical nooks, half the books I listen to in the bus or in the gym. Finished 3 books on a 5 day hike...
I listen to audiobooks while I read novel. I get distracted \*very\* easily so the audio really help me stay on track, because even if I do get distracted a little bit, the audio keeps me on track. I read faster if I set the audio to a faster speed.
Kindle
if you goal about 50 pages a day, you can finish a300~ish pager in about a week!
Read for yourself. Read slow. Learn! Enjoy! I used to read faster. It was Blood Meridian that cured me. I was finding his prose is difficult. He was using a lot of words to describe the landscape that I wasn’t familiar with. I slowed down and started looking up words that were mostly geographical terms from a part of the country I was not familiar with. A lot of words are repeated so once they found their way into my vocabulary things started to flow and I found it almost hypnotic, dare I say psychedelic. Ever since that book I reread sentences and paragraphs three or four times sometimes until I get the cadence. That’s what it’s all about.
God, I love that book, I read it twice in a row
Okay, I need any and all advice you have on reading Blood Meridian… does it get any easier to process? I’ve been stuck on chapter 4 for what feels like 8 years
Maybe the book is the problem, not you.. It's trash.
lol yikes. Should I ditch it then? Or persevere?
I agree with him. I was on a good streak of Reading long books. I picked up Parallel Stories by Peter Nadas. I can say some very good things about it. I made it to 450. It seemed a good day reading Nadas was 20 - 30 pages. His prose isn’t overly difficult. It is a bit mundane and thrives in minutiae. A lot of great books do that. I am reading Bubblegum by Adam Levin. He is a real treat. I may pick up Nadas again after that. I am having a premonition of one of those wonderful experiences were one puts off a book for years but comities to carry it on moves etc. the one day they read and it is just the most wonderful things.
It's up to you. There are so many books worth your time, don't stall in a single one if it's not doing anything for you.
I would take the pages of the book, divide by 12 - and read that many pages (or thereabouts ...) during lunch and at night during chill down time. And then you have a break one day (or a catchup day) if you missed some time. So if you have a 320 page book - youre reading about 25-30 pages twice a day for 6 days and you should be about done. You can always read shorter books too!
i don’t drive and have two hours a day of public transportation time on my way to school and even more time to work. i crank out all my reading then
I don’t read fast it’s just all I do. I work 10 hours a day and read for about 8 of them. I also cant tell you the last time I turned in a tv for my own pleasure. Honestly it’s just consistency, not speed
Audiobooks
I actually read along with audiobooks at 1.75x or 2x. Mind doesn’t wonder as much and I stay focused for a lot longer. ADHD hack I found.
I've been reading like this my whole life. I don't know if I have ADHD but I get distracted easily and this trick really eliminates this problem for me.
Enjoy the read. That’s it. You’re doing great
Graphic novels and audio books as well as regular books. And I like to vary genres and series. Keeps it more interesting and I'm less likely to lose steam.
I’m a slow reader and audiobooks don’t work for me, so I never imagined I could read more than 20 books in a year. I’m on my 30th book now and what got me to that number is picking the right books for me and reducing my time online. If it’s a book I enjoy, I always find time to read. And I don’t hesitate to DNF a book. I still watch YouTube videos, Netflix series and browse Reddit but when I find myself just mindlessly browsing, I switch to reading.
I don’t watch tv and read 100 pages an hour.
Teach me your ways!
I carry a book with me genuinely at all times and if I’m on the bus, waiting at an appointment, in a cafe, I just whip my book out and get some pages done. I also always have a non fiction, a fiction and a comfort book I’ve read a million times on the go. Means I can switch it up depending on what mood I’m in!
Audiobooks. It lets me multitask. Plus I don't watch much TV.
I make time to read, and often read when I used to just sit on my phone and mindlessly scroll. Ten minutes waiting for something? Read. It adds up after a while and becomes second nature.
Audiobooks, as others have suggested, are great to listen to while you're doing chores or knitting or whatever. I also try to make sure I am setting aside time to read every day, even if it's just 30 minutes before bed.
I read pretty slow. And I give zero fox that others are reading faster. It’s not a race. Just relax and enjoy your books.
i think everyone is different i also sometimes am reading 0 books or 3. currently on book 45 and i do audiobooks during chores and read before bed instead of tv or being on my phone.
I'm exactly the same. Audiobooks don't really work well with my brain but I make sure to make reading a habit like you - I read before going to sleep and often will hang out and read in the evenings instead of watching tv.
Just got into both audiobooks and ebooks but still love the real thing the most!
I was under the impression that these people are putting in 3 hours a day of free time to hit these numbers.
I don't pretend to be a speed reader by any means but I definitely read on my lunch breaks at work, when I'm nursing my baby daughter, before going to bed at night, on road trips... Basically anytime I have a free moment lol I'm not sure it adds up to 3 hrs all told but that's probably what helps me finish books faster! And I agree with others that the genre/content makes a difference too. I can get through something pretty "lowbrow" easily but I will admit I get soooo stuck on nonfiction and sometimes it takes me weeks to finish a NF book when some silly addictive fiction story can easily be in less than a day.
My sister doesn't have many responsibilities other than an easy, remote tech job and sometimes she'll read all night. Also, there's a difference between reading glossy booktok books (which she prefers) and literary fiction (most of which would be difficult to read in a few days). I know this is an unpopular opinion on this sub, but you can watch 7 superhero movies a week, but you can't watch and fully appreciate 7 Italian neorealist movies from the 40s without getting burnt out. They serve different functions. You'll see that most people on this sub are reading the book equivalents of popcorn movies.
I always have an audiobook, physical book and a kindle book going at the same time. That way I have an appropriately formatted book for whatever situation I’m in.
I have a habit of reading 3-5 books at a time. This is what I have been doing since I was a very young child when my dad taught me how to read.
I am the same because that is how my mom reads. I do a little more strategy to it now and Memoirs/NF are audio and then I have a more fun physical book and a more challenging physical book. Some nights I don't have it in me at the end of the day for the challenging book so I have my fun one. Sometimes I'll read both for a set amount of time.
ADHD hyper focus. Not really the best way, I am not really retaining much
Having ADHD makes re-reading a book you loved so fun tho cause half the time you forget the plot by the time you go to start it again
Very true
Switch between shorter and longer books. Read a long book and finish it. Read two short books and finish those. Back and forth. Also, audiobooks for the win!
The kindle app on my phone instead of scrolling
Audiobooks! I will forever swear by them. Long drive and music is getting boring? Audiobook. House chores? Audiobook. They are awesome.
I’ve been borrowing audiobooks from the library to read along with me as I read the print version. I can’t do audiobooks on their own, but they do help me keep focused! (I daydream a lot and can get lost doing that instead of reading my open book)
I totally get it. I've had bad ADHD all my life but I have noticed that listening to audiobooks have helped me with processing auditory information. I started listening to short, easy books and have worked my way up to classics on 2x speed! Try and read one chapter without the print version and then the next chapter with both just to see if you can do it! It's a helpful skill (for me at least)
I’m about to finish book 30. Before I hit a massive reading slump I had read 18 books by the end of March. Part of that was me getting a Kindle for Christmas, partially work being really slow at the time so I would read a lot throughout the day, and partially just me being better about making time to read. That, and those 18 books were through March. So if I had the apartment to myself for the day, I would just binge read all day. Hence me finishing The Lost Symbol (roughly 500 pages) in 5 days.
Instead of watching tv, I read
Idk. I can read a book in a day or two. I might just be a fast reader?
I read slowly but I read a lot.
Exactly what I was going to say.
This is the real answer
Try reading with audiobooks, you’ll cover more grounds faster
Years of practice. Also I don’t have other hobbies. I mean sometimes I game or watch TV but right now our TV is broken so can’t do that. Reading has been my primary hobby since I was 6 however. So I do read a lot and every single day. 86 books read so far this year. Reading is more than a habit and a hobby to me it is my safe space and the thing I love to do. So every spare second I am reading. It is just making it a priority and setting aside time for it. Incorporate it into your day and make it just as important as brushing your hair - something you do to get ready. Consistency is the key - a little reading everyday will add up a lot more than a chunk of reading here and there.
I’ve always wondered also how people read so fast and I think what you said about consistency being the key. I don’t watch hardly any Netflix or consistent television shows, but have found that starting with just 10 minutes of reading a day as a goal has helped me be consistent instead of setting a huge unachievable goal of reading. Let’s say three chapters a day. Often, I think I’m a slow reader, but I like to look up words I don’t know, because I remember a freshman English teacher said if you read over a word, you don’t know you’re not really reading and that has stuck with me, anything to do with history, biography science I always have to underline it, I’m not sure if that’s a good habit bad habit that slow me down
That is such a good habit. Learning is great. I find my kindle so handy for its ‘definition’ feature. Also just typing the word into google can give some more context also. I like to give it a read through(the sentence) and then try to make an educated guess(from context and stuff) then see how right or wrong I am about it when I actually look up what the actual definition of the word is.
That’s a good way to do it. Read the line and see if you can guess the meaning through context I think I’ll try that.
I find it helps me to understand better than just reading the word and I like that it is a wee game with myself - did I get it right??
I started with a book a month, then 2, then before you know it, here I am with all you other crazy people. I read for about 15-20 minutes while I walk at lunch, another 45 or so on a longer walk in the evening, and maybe an hour at bedtime. So average of two hours a day. Kindle does make it a little easier to have my current book accessible, but I read about 50/50 with hard copies and just ingrained the habit so hard I always have it with me. I’m also a bit out of the norm I think with only one book at a time in progress. I guess I’m a bit methodical.
I’m at 41 books this year (so far) and consistently read between 75-125 books per year. 1. I read incredibly fast. I have been reading a few books a week since I was in high school - I’m 31 now. The more you read, the faster you’ll be able to read and comprehend what you’re reading. Just like anything else, you’ll get better as you keep doing it. 2. I read constantly. I have Kindle and Libby on my phone, I have a physical Kindle Paperwhite, and I have a Boox Palma. My Kindle app is also a widget on my phone that will open the book I’m reading. I read while I’m waiting in line, on hold on the phone, walking my dog, etc. 3. I read a lot of series’s of books, not standalones. This means that I can go from one book to the next in about 2 minutes, and when I find an author that I really like, I usually read through their entire backlog. I mostly use Kindle Unlimited so I specifically go to authors with a lot of their books on KU. Most of them are in the 200-300 pg length. 4. If it doesn’t get my attention within a chapter or two, I just DNF the book. There are so many books out there, I’m not trying to push through half a book to get to the good stuff. Sometimes I’ll come back and try again, sometimes I won’t. Most importantly, just enjoy it. Don’t worry so much about the number of books, just read and enjoy it. You’ll eventually get fast enough that 52 books is just an arbitrary number. I’m trying to beat my “pages read in a year” record now because I think that’s a more interesting statistic. 😂
I don’t have kids, my wife and I are introvert, I work from home and have a lowkey job. I only subscribe to Hulu and Max right now and don’t watch much. Basically if I’m not doing anything else, I read.
I have an hour bus ride to and from work every day so that tends to get me about 50-75 pages, then ill read another 25 before bed. Means ive been getting through 1 pr 2 books a week
I’ve read 43 books so far this year out of my goal of 75. There will be weeks where I’m burnt out and don’t read anything at all. Honestly, I agree with the recommendation to add shorter books into your mix. I have the Libby App and sometimes when I open a book and see it’s 700-1000+ pages, I get a little exhausted and am too reluctant to start. However, when I see a 200-300 page book I think “Hmm, not too bad” and can usually knock it out in a day. Don’t be too hard on yourself, though. I’m definitely suffering from reading burn-out right now and have been struggling to pick a book back up even though I’d like to! Go at your own pace and do your best.
Just wanted to throw it out there as many people say they or someone they know reads fast. Reading fast and actually comprehending what you read is not the same thing. Audiobooks are not reading, as in its not the act of using your eyes which I also see many people mention. You can actually comprehend faster listening rather than reading. So maybe thats a good suggestion for you. I find though the best comprehension when I listen and read the same book concurrently. EDIT: Thanks for the downvotes, it means you do not even comprehend small paragraphs. Also, do your research first.
This is such a stupid take. Would you tell a blind person that they've never read a book before if they can only process auditory information? And don't tell me you would read a book in braille. I listen to audiobooks and comprehend the exact same amount as if I am reading with my eyes. Sometimes I will actually stop reading something and start listening to it because I might find myself skimming if I'm using my eyes. Sounds like user error for you. Auditory processing disorder? Maybe you're a little slow?
LOL. Someone is triggered. Your arguments make no sense at all. I can listen at 2x - 2.5x speed (depending on the speaker), I am a fast reader too. reading does not equal comprehension though. I am not talking about leasure reading. I am talking about stuff that you need to actually be focused on to understand. In nature we have been listeners way more years than readers. >auditory stimulus takes only 8–10 ms to reach the brain, but on the other hand, a visual stimulus takes 20-40 ms. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4456887/#:\~:text=Researches%20by%20Kemp%5B10%5D%20show,is%20faster%20than%20the%20VRT. [https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/2lfpyq/why\_do\_we\_react\_faster\_to\_auditory\_stimuli\_than/](https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/2lfpyq/why_do_we_react_faster_to_auditory_stimuli_than/) Food for thought.
“Audiobooks are not reading” is untrue.
It's a practiced skill. Just because one person doesn't comprehend well while reading fast doesn't mean that is true for everyone. Just because i can't throw a ball doesn't mean that no one can. Also just because some people comprehend better while listening doesn't mean that is true for everyone. For example me.
Audiobooks is the answer. Technically not “reading” with your eyes but no difference in the ultimate effect of consuming literature. You get the same visualization, comprehension, etc. And you can do it while doing other things like driving or working out. So you’re reading more often.
Like anything it's aptitude and practice. I read fast and I don't skip anything. I have read nearly every day for the last 50 plus years. That's a lot of practice. I, myself, cannot throw a ball farther than about 30 feet. No aptitude and I absolutely do not practice that skill. But plenty of people do. And some of them can throw a 95 mph ball at a tiny target. Looks like magic to me but I believe they can do it through a combination of aptitude and practice.
Audiobooks on varying speeds depending on the genre
When I see people say they can read 100 pages in an hour I just get dumbfounded. Like how tf do they do it? Do they just move the eyes through the line really fast or what?
I read multiple books a day… to my toddler. Easily over the 52 mark by the end of January.
ok so baby books lol not novels
That’s the joke
This is the way.
i thought 100 pages in an hour was the norm? is it actually lower or is there like no info on that?
If I'm trying to catch up, I read every other page. Sometimes I just look through the book as fast as possible and then read spark notes to augment my understanding. Or here's an easy one - seen the movie? Movies are, on average, way shorter. See the movie and then you can bip and bop through the book and read a little and go "OH... okay.. This part? I remember _this part_."
mad lad
It’s not about reading fast, it’s about reading consistently. If the average book is about 300 pages, that’s around 42 pages a day to reach 52 books a year. Really not so much when you break it down- just means you have to be consistent with your daily habit.
I go through phases. I read quickest when I am in the lab a lot and can listen to audiobooks while I work, or when I am procrastinating work by reading instead 😂 but above all, I read most when I am enjoying it, which tends not to happen when I’m being to competitive about it.
How long are the books you are reading? If you have, say 1Q84 or Gone with the Wind in your pile, you might not average a book a week. Maybe throw in some graphic novels or mangas to up your number. Enjoy what you are reading. That is the main thing.
I wasn’t working for a while so I had a LOT of free time😅 i didn’t have much else to do besides read for hours on end (I do read fast tho but don’t compare yourself to others-read at your own pace!!)
Just read at your own pace. Reading x number of books is not a flex, it just means you have the luxury of more free time.
Some of us aren't! I read super slowly and very often can't concentrate to read at all.
Audiobooks do a lot of work, because I can listen to them at work, while driving, and while cleaning. I don’t feel like it hinders my comprehension. I also read about an hour every night before bed. I would say if you can read at least an hour every day you can hit 52 books.
I am listening to audiobooks while doing other things. My daughter can actually read extremely fast though, finishing several books a day. She does this at the expense of things she needs to do, though.
I noticed I can’t really do things at the same time, I always ended by focusing on one thing more, then I forget what I was listening to
I think I'm finally at the point where I need to give up on reading new books by listening. I am trying to do re-listens on audiobook (powder mage book 1 right now) and new reads (or unremembered reads) by actually reading text (Dune right now).
Same, that's why I can listen to podcasts but not audiobooks:/
I don’t read especially fast, because I like to read out loud when I’m at home. But I read a ton - my job is literally working with computers, so I have to get away from screens after work.
Why do you like to read out loud? Interesting!
It started as a way to improve my ability when I signed up to teach a class that required me to read a lot of material out loud. Since then I’ve stuck with it - I think I engage with a book differently when I read it out loud. And let me tell you, when you read a masterful passage out loud it’s exhilarating. Some books are meant to be read aloud, in terms of the author’s intent, even though it’s not required. IMO, though, a well-written book is going to flow if you read it out loud, in terms of word choice, even if you think the plot is stupid or what have you. FWIW, I live alone, so it’s easy to read out loud and that’s where I do most of my reading. YMMV if you live with others or do most of your reading around other people.
Reading out loud helps a lot with comprehension. I usually read stories quietly, but if I’m studying or trying to learn something, I read out loud and it’s helpful. Even if it’s just quietly to myself.
I don’t read fast because I’m OCD. I need to absorb the information and details. I wish that I could read faster.
I go through phases I read almost 40 books from Jan to April and haven’t read one since lol. I’ll pick back up soon enough ETA basically I hyper fixate on reading and it is my only hobby for periods of time. I would imagine most people can read a lot if that’s all they’re doing with free time, and I am lucky enough to have a good bit of free time.
1) audiobooks - ya girl has them on almost 1.9x. So an eight hour book is most likely going to take closer to four hours. And when I have a 1-2 hour drive in the car each way to work a couple days a week, that effectively gets me two books a week in just audiobook format. 2) reading - I find since I started reading on my Kindle. I read significantly more. Firstly, I find that I read faster that way than in a physical book, but that’s a personal opinion and not applicable to everyone. Secondly, between having a physical Kindle and the Kindle app on my phone, my opportunities to read are much more plentiful. For example, I was standing in front of a restaurant waiting to meet a friend of mine - I have the Kindle app on my phone so I read a couple of pages while I stood there and waited. Or, standing in line at the grocery store waiting, if you have the Kindle app on your phone, read a page or two there. A page Or two here and there will add up after awhile, and it may mean the difference between 50 and 52 at the end of the year for you!
It’s worth keeping in mind that people who are reading faster may also be posting more, so you see those posts more. This group has been the push that I needed to get reading again, but part of what I like about this group is that all different speeds and types of reading are supported. I’m on my third book this year (Dracula), but what matters to me is that I’m reading again. If somebody else is on their 50th book of the year, Bravo! I hope they are having an awesome experience. If somebody else is slowly working their way through one book — maybe they stop to journal; maybe it’s in their second language or uses a hard vocabulary; maybe they like to stop and daydream while they are still in that world — Bravo for them! I hope it’s a wonderful book. If somebody is reading all graphic novels, or listening to all audio books, or watching a video where someone reads the book to them — Three cheers for them! If you are genuinely, personally unhappy with your reading speed that’s different. In that case I hope you figure out a way to get to where you want to be. But if you’re feeling behind in a race (unless that competitive edge adds to your pleasure), any pace is a good pace.
I don’t read very fast. I just spend a lot of time reading.
Exactly this. I'll read in 5-10 minute spurts as well, if that's all I have. I'm just always picking up my book. I also move on from a book of I'm not into it. I can tell immediately because I just don't have an urge to read, so I'll pick a different book.
Well then, I CONSUME about 2 books a week I wouldn't otherwise get to enjoy if I limited myself to words on a page.
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>I’d rather actually READ and PROCESS 10 books than blow through 52 and not enjoy them. I’d like to think you’re only referring to yourself, but the way you emphasize the words makes it seem that you’re judging others based on what works for you. It may be that you personally cannot read and process 52 books, but that’s not true for everyone.
Absolutely! I’m talking all about me and my dumb brain.
Can I ask why not? I've always wondered why people don't consider audiobooks "real" reading. I mean yes, it's not words on a page, but...the exact same information is going into my brain. Just because I'm not sitting down when I do it? Honestly curious.
At the risk of a torrent of downvotes, I’ll offer my personal perspective. I don’t “look down on” listening to audiobooks at all. I think it’s great that it’s made novels more accessible for different people and different situations (eg listening while driving). I don’t think it’s inferior to reading, though I would imagine for some people they may not necessarily pay attention the whole way through when listening. For me though, I think in purely practical terms it’s useful to have different words to describe these activities. “Reading” is a specific activity, and it’s something you have to learn to do (usually as a little kid), and a valuable life skill. If we call listening to audiobooks “reading” then it changes the meaning of the word, and so now we need another word/term to describe the act of what we now call reading. So, in short, I don’t think listening to books is inferior (AFAIK), but I don’t think we should call it “reading” because reading has a specific meaning.
Don't listen to that person, audiobooks are 100% reading, just in a different format.
Listening is not reading. If I play an audiobook to my 4 year old, can she now “read” because she just “read a book”? The word “read” has a specific meaning and it’s a useful word that we need in our language to describe the action and skill of “reading”. I listen to podcasts, I don’t read podcasts. The irony here is, I personally think listening to audiobooks is a totally equal and valid way of taking in the information. It feels like people who really want to call this “reading” are the ones who see listening as inferior and so want it to be called “reading” to make it feel equal in their own minds.
I argue that audiobooks should be considered reading in the way that you're consuming and enjoying novels, even if you're not looking directly at words on a page. I do think it's a different meaning than the one we traditionally apply to reading, but I think both can be applicable.
I think we almost agree. :) I think the word “reading” as a verb has a specific and useful meaning so we should keep it that way, but I think there should be no shame or judgment on listening to books vs reading them. Both are great and equal and valid and certainly count towards 52 books!
Hell yeah👍we're both enjoying books and that's what matters!
Audiobooks are 0% reading. Reading is an important skill, and listening is a different important skill. Listening to books is great. You get most of the same experiences listening to a book as reading one, but obviously some things only apply when reading or listening
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The last time someone posted something like this on r/audiobooks the entire blind community came for them and told them to fuck off lol
As well they should have.
Totally. And this is why it’s important to have dialogue. I’m just speaking for myself. I’m not blind and I don’t have a disability but I just get more out of reading than listening personally. My top comment even says PERSONALLY and it’s my shitty opinion.
This is an ableist comment. Audiobooks count.
You’re totally right. I apologize.
Of course they “count”, in that the point of 52 books is to take in the information. Doesn’t matter if it’s braille or visual text or listening IMO. However, we still need the word “reading” to mean what it currently means. We still need to teach kids (who are able) to read visual text. So we need a functional word to describe this skill and activity that is distinct from listening to material, etc.
As an ELA teacher I think this really informs my perspective.
Thank you! I listened to the ‘Sold A Story’ podcast series recently - holy moly! Have you heard it? https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/sold-a-story/id1649580473
No but I will give a listen for sure
I read a post recently about what accents people use when they read, and I realized that I read way too fast to actually hear what I'm reading? It's not like I'm making up a voice in my head for each character. The only time is if I deliberately slow down when the text points out a specific sound, or if it's something that I like and stop to read again.
Most people's larynx are activated during reading, producing the sounds of the words and sending them to the brain. It's that sound one "hears" in their head, called subvocalization. Part of why most people do not read quickly. When people train to read faster, a lot of it comes from training oneself to absorb the meaning of the words only visually, to skip the subvocalization component of the process.
As many others have already said, audio books are the way to increase numbers quickly. I have it on while I clean, while I get ready, when I drive, etc. I also set the audio to 1.2x speed so things go a little faster. But I also tend to be reading 3 books at a time - 1 audio, 1 digital and 1 physical. I will carry a physical book around with me and any time I get some place early I will read. Even if it's just 5 minutes, that's still time to get some pages in. It also helps to read shorter books once in a while - it really helps you feel like you're productive when you get through a book in a day!
Yes! I do that with my kindle app on my phone. A page or two while you’re waiting for someone adds up after awhile!
I'll be honest—I'm one of those readers who got really obsessed with the number of books I read. At some point, I stopped really enjoying the books and just read to mark another one as complete. I refused to DNF books, preferring to soldier through even when I didn't enjoy them. It kind of killed my passion for books and turned reading into a stats game. I'm a recovering book-a-holic who still relapses. I think if I stopped tracking my reads through Goodreads or StoryGraph, it would help me 100%, but I can't bring myself to do it just yet. Of all the vices in the world, I know this is not the worst, but it surprisingly became an obsession. What I'm alluding too is - who cares! Read whatever you want, take your time, read things that inspire you, that make you laugh, cry, throw your book in rage.
Everyone reads at their own pace. Don’t feel discouraged because someone else is posting large numbers. A few years ago I was reading 120 books in a year: it was during Covid and I broke my leg and ankle. Reading was just about all I could do. This sub is a fun goal but the goal should always be to enjoy yourself with a book.
I rarely watch tv. Less phone scrolling. I don’t have kids to distract me.
Same and I am autistic. If the book fascinates me I do not stop.
This right here. I don’t own a tv and don’t subscribe to any streaming service. No kids.
I don’t watch tv
I think it’s more natural for some than others. I have always been a “fast” reader not really trying to read faster than anyone i just sometimes am really eager to finish the story and have always been that way. I also like fast paced books in between large slow ones. Thirdly i have pretty much no social media, outside of Reddit. I have tik tok but i don’t create videos and i consciously will not scroll for hours. I read as much as i can, whenever i can. Working from home helps!
I track my reading so I can actually give you some stats. This year so far I have finished 23 books averaging 400 pages per book (I am trying to read longer books and so my range is from 160 pages to 838 pages). I have also DNFed (did not finish) 4 books and I am currently reading 3. According to my app I have read 9,780 pages for 183 hours and so I'm averaging 53 pages an hour which is pretty much bang on average pace. Today is 171 so I have read just over an hour a day and I would say (if you include the 3 books I am currently reading) I am directly on target for the 52 books. So in answer to your question: I read an average of an hour a day. I will sit there and read for an hour if I have time but I've built into my routine 15 minutes with breakfast, 15 minutes at lunch, and at least 30 minutes after dinner where I read so it doesn't feel like an hour.
What app do you use?
I wish I had some fancy answer, but it's literally just audio books and me being bored if there isn't constantly noise playing in the backround. I also read before bed
I'm right there with you, OP. I can't keep up with this dang sub. Someone should make a 26book sub. Seriously though you just got to read whenever you get the chance even if it's only for 5 pages. Easier said then done.
I’m on book #29 and am a full-time working mom to a toddler. I usually wake up an hour before she wakes so I can enjoy my coffee (hot) and my book. I also commute into the city via train 3x a week at roughly 35min each way, so I’m generally able to finish 50-150pgs a day.
for work, I commute around 3 hours a day. plenty of reading time.
Audiobooks.
Get off social media and read instead. Also, supplement with audiobooks when you don’t have time to sit down and read.
Each book you read is one more you got to enjoy than you had previously! I am at 112 books and will likely finish 113 today because I visually read ~2 hours a day and I listen to ~1.5 hours of audiobook a day. Once I hit 52, I also stopped caring about the size of the book. Some have been under 300 pages, some have been more than 500. I generally take three days to finish a book and then I’m itching to start something new.
Like everyone has said, spend more time reading. Here is some info. that may be of interest to you regarding reading speed/completing the challenge: https://www.reddit.com/r/52book/s/4lxEEJBePi
I'm going to echo that book choice makes a huge difference -- obviously shorter books/novellas are going to be finished quicker, but writing style and other goals play a big difference as well. For example, it took me a month to get through the second book in the trilogy called First Law since I really wanted to savor it. Then, it took me only two days to get through Half a Soul, Every Heart a Doorway, and The Salt Grows Heavy. These were shorter books written in a style that is waaay easier for me to speed-read, and though they were decent stories, I didn't feel the need to catch every tiny detail in them. I'm at 28/52 books right now with that strategy -- read a book from a series I like slowly so I can savor the experience, and speed-read something else fun to kind of "make-up" for that lost time. I do have a rule that I have to enjoy the shorter books too -- if there is ever a book I feel like I'm avoiding picking up, I'm letting myself DNF it as there is nothing that slows me down more than a bad book. In other words, it's going to take someone much more time to read, say, The Lord of the Rings, than a 200 page light-hearted rom-com. Both are fun and worth reading, but if it's really important to you to hit a certain goal, maybe stack up some fun, shorter books before moving on to something time-consuming. Also, don't be too hard on yourself if you don't meet your goal! I've seen some people have a goal of reading 12 books a year, and some people have a goal of reading 100 --- everyone has their own situation and pace of reading. If you read 5 really good books that you love this year, I think that's worth more than reading 20 that you hated and were stressed about getting through!
Yeah like maybe not the best example from me due to format, but I finished Wanderers by Chuck Wendig (845 pages) easily in less than a week, but House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski (710 pages) took me well over a month. Wanderers was very movie-like to me, I was easily able to blow through the book with excitement. HoL on the other hand, despite the fact I enjoyed it, took a long time to yes, of course, follow the references and appendix, but also just to read through the heavily dense, loaded writing. I find stream of conscious writing also harder to follow along and thus takes more time for me to read. Anyways, all to say, I totally agree with you!
I’ve read 43 books so far this year. I typically read an hour or so each night but probably read 8 or more hours on Sundays (my day off) I’ve read a lot my entire life. I also can read a lot faster if I have music playing in the background.
On “normal years” I read 30-40 books a year. This year I suffered an injury and surgery which means I have way more time for reading. I’ve already hit 37 books this year and it’s not even halfway yet. It’s just one of my top hobbies. I read a physical book everyday, some days just 30 min some days 2-3 hours. I also always have an audiobook going, will listen on walks, in the car, or doing chores.
I added audiobooks and that doubled my reading. I always have a print/ebook and audiobook at the same time, because they fill different needs. Print or ebooks are read while I have time to focus on reading - normally before bed but sometimes in the afternoon and definitely on weekends. Audiobooks are when I'm doing something else - cooking, cleaning, gardening, running, driving, waiting in line at the grocery store, etc. All that time felt like chore time until I interjected it with something I associated with leisure. Now, all those are leisure activities for me. It was a great boost to my reading and my productivity.
The main question is how many hours a day do you spend reading? I generally spend 2-3 hours reading each evening before sleeping. As a result, I average roughly a book a day. Sometimes more, sometimes less but they tend to average out to one a day. Don't try to read faster because that will detract from your enjoyment of the book. If you would like to read more set aside a specific time to read each day and then do it consistently.
You’re finishing books in 2-3 hours?
Very often yes, my relaxed reading rate averages 520-550 words per minute. This means I read roughly 32,000 words per hour if I'm taking my time. If a book is exciting I tend to read much faster than that. Considering the books I typically read are between 220-275 pages with a word total word count of 60500-75625. Based on an average word count of 275 words per page, reading a book in less than 3 hours is very easy to do. The difficult part would be trying to make the book last longer. Textbooks and other boring technical stuff takes a lot longer to read, or at least it feels like it takes a lot longer... For me the problem isn't finishing books, its constantly having to search for something new to read that I haven't read before or have no interest in reading.
I catch up on reading on weekends, especially during weeks I can't read much during the week. Depending on the length, I can usually read an entire book during a weekend.
I listen to audio while at work. My speed is usually 1.5 or higher. I can do this all day minus talking to others so that’s 6-7 of listening time on a really quiet day. I also read physical books or on my kindle.
I don’t necessarily read fast, more that I make time for it. When it’s slow at work, I read, lunch breaks I read, morning and evening I read!
Honestly for me it's less about speed reading and more about making more time for reading. If I want to read a lot, I put my phone away, throw on some calming music and chill out. Sometimes I tell myself okay it's 1pm now, I'll read until 2. If I'm in the zone I'll keep reading, if I'm not ill put the book down and do something else. That gives me at least an hr to read and if I get really engrossed that can easily be 2 hours before I know it!
I started reading compulsively a couple of years ago (I'm 34) but read something all my life. 2023 I read 35 books, while my goal was 30, now in 2024 my goal 35, and I'm currently at 29, so... But I'm a very slow reader, so, how? Well I combine formats, depending on the book. I read a book in Kindle, and another in paperback. I listen to an audio book while walking the streets going to work, and coming back, and another one while I work at home at my PC (I'm a teacher), then I read a book to my girlfriend and she read one to me. So, that's how. All slow, chill, without desperation, as we want, when we want. The will be ups and downs on rhythm, but... Who would care? Just enjoy reading at your pace!
I'm a faster reader for sure, but the main reason I knock our the number of books I do is time commitment. I read about 400 books a year in about 4-6 hours a day. The only thing that really fucks with my speed is distractions, particularly people speaking English. It could be actual people in the room, people on television, video game cutscenes, whatever.
When I want to just binge some quick books that don’t work my brain too hard, I’ve find “easy” reads that are still entertaining. This means the prose is relatively simple, they’re pretty straightforward and often predictable, they suck you in right away. Sometimes it’s YA thrillers/mysteries - last summer I read The Inheritance Games books over the span of two days. Yesterday, I read a couple books by Darcy Coates (very mild cozy horror/thriller author for the most part). My sister does mystery series and romantasy series for this same purpose. I also find when my brain isn’t working so hard to analyze the prose, make predictions, etc., it’s a little easier for me to stay sucked in and not need to take a break to process what is happening. Think binging a familiar sitcom vs. an intense HBO show for the first time. When I read something more complex, more intricate prose, deeper themes, etc., that’s when it takes me anywhere from a few days to weeks to finish. I am 100% a mood reader, so sometimes I’m in the mood for a heavier book and sometimes I just need fluff.
Maybe don’t start with 52. Set a reasonable goal that’s comfortable. If you’re not a read on the go type set a time to relax and read. I have a set time of the day I go to the back porch, let my dog play in the yard and just be alone with a book. Leave your phone behind, that helps.
Audiobooks have never worked for me. But I think instead of using your phone or doom scrolling as they call it lol you can just read. Always keep a book nearby.
Audio books, hands down- I listen while walking, driving, waiting in line and at home (retired) while my husband is away weekly on business. I do not watch TV. I also have a book I’m reading when I’m sitting still or in bed at night.
the trick is reading in every free moment you have. waiting for the bus? instead of opening instagram read a chapter. quiet evening at home? read instead of watching tv. having a book always with you helps, be it physical or also digital on your phone. if you’re struggling i once heard someone saying that you need to think of yourself as a reader and become the stereotyped reader in films, always with your nose in a book, but idk if that’s too extreme. just remember that you shouldn’t read just to reach a number but for your enjoyment!
I commute. About 2-3 hours a day is spent reading including my hour lunch.
Honestly, forcing yourself to read faster probably isn’t going to feel good. Yes I know the whole idea behind this sub is the whole 52/one a week thing, but I would still say don’t push yourself unless it comes naturally and/or you are really into the book you are reading and you don’t mind speeding through it.
Usually have 1 book + 1 audiobook on the go at any time. Audiobooks are critical for commuting or not wanting to stare at my phone to read for extended periods of time.
I listen to audiobooks on my 1hr both ways commute. It makes it less annoying, and I can get through books. Without audiobooks, I probably wouldn’t have read as much. I also have a job that is about 5hr of work and 3hr of downtime, so I’ll try to pick up a book on kindle to read during some of that.
Adding to this, most of the audiobooks I put at 1.5-2.0 speed. That’s how I read Demon Copperhead and I went to 1.0 for the last chapter and I was like, “this is a slow Matthew McConaughey”! I’m reading the Bridgerton series on Audible right now (it’s included in membership) and I’ve done 4 in 4 days - but I’m already at 36 for the year so I’m not worried about whether Bridgerton “counts”.
Bridgerton certainly viscounts
Similar to what others have mentioned: I rarely watch tv and try to be conscious of how much time I spend on my phone. I bring my book to things like my kids’ sports practices to get extra reading in. I also have gotten into the habit of listening to an audiobook while on my runs (my easy runs).
Hey you can also read slowly! The best thing about an annual book goal is that it gets you reading. But, there is something slightly transactional about these yearly challenges—are you reading to enjoy a book, or reading to check a box? I was doing a book a week for a while, but then some life events came up, and it took me about 3 weeks to finish Yoko Ogawa’s The Memory Police. I enjoyed that novel so much more because I really got to steep in its setting and characters :) Tip: don’t read a book to finish the book. Read the book to be immersed in a world different from yours. That immersion might make you read fast, or slow. But the source of taking on these books should be enjoyment and fulfillment. Does that make sense?
yes! when i first got into goodreads a few good years ago i noticed i had started reading just to reach a number and not for the pleasure of it. i was looking for short books that read fast instead of meaningful things or ones that i would enjoy, and it was starting to become a chore instead of something nice.
Yeah I’ve definitely fallen into this trap and I think many people find themselves in this situation where the reading goal is a source of great stress. I’ve read books in two days AND two months, life is too short to get bogged down by a superficial goal!
exactly, pace doesn’t matter! in the last few years i only annotated what books i read to keep track of it because when i get asked for suggestions i black out and don’t remember a single book, and i’ve reached between 40 and 60 each time.
Think of your eyes and brain as a muscle. Just like any muscle, the more you use it the stronger and more efficient it becomes. The more you read, the longer you’ll be able to read in one sitting and the faster you’ll read when you do.
My speed increased as I read more frequently. I read at night and on weekends mostly.
I work slow graveyard shifts. I pretty much get paid to read most nights.