10 Tips to Read More Books in 2024
Reading has been one of the most valuable activities for many people over the past 12 years. While an arbitrary goal like reading 100 books a year sounds impressive, what truly matters is enjoying the reading process itself.
As C.S. Lewis said —
“The only people who achieve much are those who want knowledge so badly that they seek it while the conditions are still unfavourable.”
Here are 10 tips to help you read more consistently in 2024 while keeping your love of reading alive.
# 1. Read What You Love
Don’t force yourself through difficult or uninteresting books just because they seem prestigious. As Joseph Brodsky said, “There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them.” The best book is the one you’re excited to read. Start with page-turners in genres you already enjoy, until reading feels easy and pleasurable again. Then branch out.
# 2. Quit Books You Don’t Like
Life is too short for bad books! Think of a book like any other form of entertainment. As Mark Twain said, “A classic is a book which people praise and don’t read.” If a movie or TV show doesn’t grab you, you’ll stop watching. Do the same with books. Permit yourself to abandon a book midway through if you’re not enjoying it. You can always come back to it later.
# 3. Buy Books Impulsively
When you hear about an intriguing book, buy it immediately while you’re still excited! Books are inexpensive for the value they provide. Build up a stash of books you can’t wait to get to. Having choices makes reading feel more fun.
# 4. Read Multiple Books at Once
Variety keeps things interesting. Have fiction, non-fiction, work-related, and hobby books going simultaneously.
As Fran Lebowitz said —
“Think before you speak. Read before you think.”
That way, you can match your reading to your mood. Did you get bored or stuck on one book? Switch to another!
# 5. Listen to Audiobooks
Audiobooks make books accessible at times when you can’t sit down and read, like driving or walking. Some books are easier to get through by listening rather than reading. Audiobooks have allowed many people to “read” hundreds of books they wouldn’t have made time for otherwise. As Woody Allen said, “Books are life’s bonus feature.”
# 6. Shape Your Environment
Make reading easy and tempting by keeping books visible around your home and e-reader apps prominently on your phone’s home screen. Out of sight, out of mind. Create cues to remind yourself of reading as an option during free moments.
As Henry Ward Beecher said —
“A book is good company.”
# 7. Get a Kindle
A Kindle makes reading portable, affordable, and distraction-free. It’s lighter than most books, holds thousands of titles, and works everywhere. Keep it bedside while charging devices elsewhere to avoid late-night social media temptation.
As Malcolm Forbes said —
“The richest person in the world — in fact, all the rich in the world — couldn’t provide you with anything like the endless, incredible loot available at your local library.”
# 8. Gamify With Goodreads
Services like Goodreads add fun game elements like completing reading challenges, leaving ratings, writing reviews, and competing with friends. Even if you don’t share your profile publicly, gamification gives reading data and milestones.
As Zadie Smith said —
“You can’t properly read a book without a pencil in your hand.”
# 9. Adopt a Reader Identity
If you tell yourself “I’m not a reader,” you’ll act accordingly. Instead, say “I’m the type of person who always makes time for reading.” Your identity shapes your habits. View reading as integral to who you are.
As Ernest Hemingway said —
“There is no friend as loyal as a book.”
# 10. Forget the Numbers
Don’t worry about stats like books per year. Focus on enjoying the journey. Consistency comes from a love of process. A single book read with full presence can enrich your life more than racing through a hundred titles.
As Alan Jacobs said —
“Read for whim. Read for pleasure. Read for wonder.”
The key is making reading a self-sustaining habit by making it rewarding on a day-to-day basis. Try these tips out in 2024 to reignite your passion for books while expanding your knowledge and perspectives at the same time. Most importantly, have fun and read what you love!
- Credits: Ali Abdaal on YouTube
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