How to Read 100 Books a Year

I saw a question on Quora recently where somebody asked what it takes to read a hundred books a year.

Reading a hundred books a year is at a level reserved for those who consider reading an essential part of their life. My wife often accuses me of being a “book with legs,” to which I happily accept as a compliment, so I’ll tip my hat into answering this one as 100+ books a year was my norm up until recently (children have that effect of wanting you to pay attention to them).

Looking at that number doesn’t faze me because it equates to roughly two books a week (with some weeks off). However, and here’s the key, I don’t build my reading life around the number of books I read in a year. It just happens.

While I do set challenges on Goodreads and track the books I’m reading, while leaving reviews, I purposefully set that number low because I read for enjoyment.

My students read because my passion for reading bleeds out to them. They (somewhat) trust my suggestions because of how wide and deep I’ve read in many genres. My goal for them, however, is to not hook them on a particular number. It’s simply to get them to read for the love of reading.

I do also include challenges for them along the way (read a book published the year you were born, read a book with a number in the title, read a book of poetry, etc.) to push them beyond their boundaries.

Inevitably, they will slowly discover the number of books they did read surpassed their own expectations.

If you are adamant to meet the challenge of a hundred… or any number of books… here’s some of my own tips:

1. Only read books that will be of interest to you.
Be incredibly discerning and if there’s nothing in the book to hook you (I give books a fifty page audition before I give up on it), try another one. You won’t finish the book unless you actually like it.

2. Ignore What Others Think
Just because somebody (or some list, or review) tells you it’s a “must-read,” that’s still a purely subjective opinion. On the same token, reviews and suggestions to avoid certain books are also subjective. It’s not beneath some people to purposefully leave bad reviews on books just to debase the author for personal reasons.
This is really an extension of tip number one.

3. Don’t find time to read – make it.
I read over my breakfast, lunch, bursts of time throughout my day (five minute increments usually) and before bed. If I’m up early enough, I’ll read in the morning as well. Reading is what I do instead of looking at my phone, watching T.V. shows and getting sucked into the black-hole of the Internet.

4. Don’t speed read.
It doesn’t work as well as you think and the value of reading many books goes out the window when you do it. Being a fast reader is simply a matter of following tip number three.

5. Try Audiobooks
I listen to these on my commute and once you train your brain to focus (avid podcast listeners won’t have an issue here), they become a joy.

6. Challenge Yourself
Try reading a book this year just outside your comfort zone or one that will challenge you a bit more than what you normally read. If the book makes your brain hurt, consider it a growing experience.

7. Don’t Get Hung Up on a Number
If you manage to read twenty books this year and you normally read two… that’s a huge accomplishment. If you fall just short of your goal and are feeling defeated, do the following:

Get the number of books you did read and make a giant stack out of them.
Take a picture.
Post it somewhere to show the world how much you’ve read.
Be proud.

Now go pick up a book, or an e-reader, open to the first page and enjoy.