I’ve written over a dozen books. I’ve read thousands and plan on reading thousands more. Over my reading career, I’ve tried everything to “optimize” my reading habits to get more books in and just about none of them work.
You know what works? These six tips that anyone can adopt at any time to easily read 30 books a year no matter how busy your schedule is.
And I promise: No tricks. No gimmicks. No hacks.
People love to complicate reading, but the reality is simple: if you want to read more books, you need consistent habits and a few systems that make reading a natural part of your day. These are the things that work for me:
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Tip #1: I Don’t Speed Read
I’ve tried it. I even took a course once, and to be fair, it helped a little. But every time I consciously try to read faster, my comprehension tanks. I don’t remember squat. I also feel like I’m rushing through something that’s supposed to be enjoyable. It turns reading into a chore instead of an escape. I start feeling like I’m racing some imaginary person out there who’s trying to beat me to the end of the chapter.
And honestly? I hate that feeling. Reading is one of the few areas of life where I don’t want to be in a competition. I want to take my time, follow the author’s rhythm, and let the writing land the way it’s intended. So I read at my own pace and enjoy it more. And here’s a shocker: because I enjoy it more, I read more.
Tip #2: If I’m Not Enjoying a Book After 25-40 Pages, I Bail
Life is too short to grind through a book you don’t like. You’re not in school anymore. There’s no quiz. There’s no extra credit for finishing something that bores you. Over the years I’ve developed a pretty reliable pipeline for choosing my next reads with probably a 95% hit rate.
It’s nothing complicated: authors I’ve enjoyed in the past, guests I hear on podcasts, topics I’ve wanted to explore, trusted voices who recommend great books, and, of course, friends whose taste I respect. That’s it. You will naturally read more if you consistently enjoy what you’re reading. Don’t just pull anything off the shelf. And don’t force yourself to slog through something that isn’t clicking. Put it down and pick something that excites you.
Tip #3: I Stopped Reading on a Tablet: Only Physical Books for Me
I had the world’s first Nook back when e-readers were the next big thing, so I gave digital reading a real shot. But like most people, I spend hours every day in front of screens: laptop, phone, all of it. Even the best tablets that mimic paper still feel like… screens. And like you, I want to spend less time on screens, not more.
About six years ago I went back to reading only physical books, and I’ve never looked back. I’m not a scientist, but I’m confident excessive screen time destroys your attention span, fries your eyes by the end of the day, and hurts your ability to retain information. There’s also something deeply satisfying about the tactile experience of flipping pages, feeling progress, and closing a finished book. It’s physical. It’s grounded. And it’s a sensory break your brain desperately needs.
In front of my personal library
Tip #4: I Read Multiple Books at a Time
This is one of my favorite habits because it multiplies your reading opportunities. I typically have two books going: one I read at home and another I keep in my car or work bag.
The “car book” is for all the random pockets of downtime you find as a dude and dad: waiting during an oil change or doctor’s visit, eating lunch somewhere alone, sitting through one of my kids’ practices, or those nice 15–20-minute windows in your day when you’d normally reach for your phone.
Sometimes I’ll pick it up three or four times a week, sometimes not at all. But over the course of a month, that second book almost always gets finished. That’s eight to ten extra books a year simply because I make reading accessible everywhere I go.
Tip #5: I Read Before Bed Every Night, But Not IN Bed
This is a big one. If you lay in bed and try to read, your body goes into sleep mode, your posture collapses, the book gets heavy, and you retain nothing. Instead, turn off the TV, put your phone away, and go sit in an actual chair with a lamp or low-level reading light. Give yourself 20–25 minutes. It’s long enough to make real progress but short enough to be sustainable every night.
When you start to get sleepy, close the book, walk to your bed, and go to sleep in total darkness. You’ll read more, you’ll sleep better, and the routine builds a predictable reading cadence. At roughly one page per minute, you can tear through a 250-page book every two weeks without breaking a sweat.
Tip #6: I Binge Read a Few Times Every Week
Everyone binge-watches their favorite shows. I binge-read.
Once or twice a week I carve out a solid hour to get lost in whatever book I’m into. Sometimes it’s early evening. Sometimes it’s a lazy Saturday morning or a quiet Sunday afternoon. Sometimes it’s after the kids finish homework and everyone else is watching something I don’t care about. These pockets of uninterrupted time create momentum. They pull you deeper into the story or subject. They remind you why reading is such a meaningful way to spend your time. And these binge sessions are often what help me finish off far more books than you’d think.
And that’s it. Nothing complicated. No tech solutions or productivity hacks. Just a few simple habits and choices that help me read consistently and enjoy the process.
If one of your goals is to read more books next year, try these six tips. They work for me and I’m confident they’ll work for you.
And if you have your own tips, share them here. Maybe I’m missing something!
P.S.: I hope you enjoyed the cover photo of Bruce Lee in his home library. It’s one of my favorite pictures ever. And if you’re looking for your next read, I happen to run a personal book recommendation newsletter called Books & Biceps. I share a new book rec or author interview every Friday. Check it out here.
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Jon Finkel
Editor-in-Chief, Midlife Male
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Check out my latest books at jonfinkel.com
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