Do you want to read more? Over a decade, I’ve been on a journey from casual to power-reader. In this post, I’d like to share the ideas and techniques that have helped me read more.

First, some background.

My Reading Journey

I wasn’t much of a reader as a kid; I was more interested in drawing and building things.

Today, I read 40+ books per year. This always includes a few programming books, a habit that’s rare in my field.

But forget the numbers: I love reading! It’s meditation. It’s helped me grow. And if you’re here, I assume you want to do more of it.

These are my best tips to read more.

Read 15 Pages a Day

My #1 trick is momentum: I try to read fifteen pages or more every day.

I developed this to avoid a rut I often fell into: I’d read slowly, put the book down for days, forget the plot or why I was interested in it, and abandon the book.

Reading a few pages every day keeps the story fresh and keeps me inching forward.

Banish Screens

Phones and tablets (other than your e-reader) are the enemy; remove them.

If I have a screen nearby, I read less. We all know this. Put them out of reach.

Always Have a Book In Hand

Always have a book in hand.

Stephen King is famous for this. You can see pictures of him at Fenway Park, reading.

There are many moments in life where we could be reading. Waiting in a lobby. Sitting at a swim meet. Boiling water. If you have a book in your hand in these moments, you read more.

Always Have Books You Want to Read

I try to always have a few books ready that I’m excited to read.

I collect books everywhere: the library, book sales, thrift stores, online via ThriftBooks, and loans from friends and family. When I finish a book, I always have a few waiting that I’ve been itching to read. Don’t allow a gap; jump from one book to the next.

Yes, books cost money. But the more I’ve read, the more I feel empowered to spend on books. “I’d rather buy books than food” isn’t true for me… but it’s close.

When you get books from book sales and thrift stores, you can fill a couple of shelves cheaply.

Mix It Up

Read whatever you want, and mix it up so you don’t get bored.

I alternate fiction and nonfiction. Sometimes I’ll fit in a book about history, philosophy, poetry, or technology.

Mixing up genres keeps me from getting bored. Read what you want.

Bail, Thoughtfully

I grew up thinking you should always finish a book; now, I bail on books that aren’t working.

If I’m not interested in a book by the end of the first chapter or two, I often stop reading. If I’m on the fence, I’ll try to read a third of the book. If I’m still not liking it, I stop reading.

Life is short. Some books are not for me. You don’t owe the author or anyone else your attention. Move on.

Don’t Have a To-Read Pile

I avoid having a to-read pile.

I used to keep many piles of books on my desk that I was planning to read next. When I finished a book, these piles felt stifling, as if reading was some infinite checklist.

I prefer instead to follow my interests. Sometimes I chase a big novel novel with a book about the industrial revolution, or chess, or birds.

I like to choose in the moment, not be a captive to some pile I’ve made.

Demonstrate Reading

If you’re around people who aren’t reading, and you start reading, a funny thing happens: they often grab a book and start reading, too.

It’s contagious! And it reinforces your reading, so you’ll read more.

Limit Re-reading

I try not to re-read much; it slows me down. Often, something I missed will be revisited or explained later on in the book.

Track Your Books

My rise in reading and my use of Goodreads are coupled.

My family and friends do an annual reading challenge every year. Try gamification; it might work.

Synthesize What You Read

Writing about what I read, either privately or publicly, helps me remember and reinforce my reading.

Get your ideas about the book out of your head. Underline, highlight, or flag things you liked. Dog-ear pages. Keep notes or write a blog post.

Anything you can do to get your thoughts on the book out of your head increases retention and the value you get from reading.

Even jotting down a quote or favorite turn of phrase from a novel helps make it more sticky.

Conclusion

I love this quote from Kurt Vonnegut:

“I believe that reading and writing are the most nourishing forms of meditation anyone has so far found. By reading the writings of the most interesting minds in history, we meditate with our own minds and theirs as well. This to me is a miracle.” —Kurt Vonnegut, Palm Sunday

I hope these tips help you read more.