How to read 20 books in a year
Or more, or less, at least this has been my goal for the last two years. Since you clicked on this article, you are clearly interested in books, so you should know that this number can go up to 50 or even 100 books per year. But this is not a realistic scenario for me, slow reader here. So here is my number; let’s see how we can get you to reach it.
Set a target
It can be five, ten, twenty, or even more. Sure, you need an attainable target in line with your daily routine and responsibilities but keep in mind that if you aim for five books per year, you are likely to read three or four; if you aim for ten, you will probably read around eight books and so on.
Tip: Make sure you keep a reading list, and every time you finish a book, you can add it there. You can use either your notes or Goodreads for that. It helps you stay in line with your reading target, and oh, it feels so good to look at it.
Define your reading time
Ok, what’s that supposed to mean? It means that I calculated how many minutes I spent on every page; don’t judge, it was the first lockdown, and I had a lot of free time in my hands. Based on that, I knew that I could go for two books per month, which equals 24 books per year. Still, some books are pretty challenging so I might need the whole month. Hence 20 books per year are my realistic target.
Tip: There are minutes hidden in every corner of the day, and they add up to a lot of time.
Keep your phone away
In 1998, psychologist Roy Baumeister and his colleagues performed their famous “chocolate chip cookie and radish” experiment. They created three groups of people and asked them not to eat anything for three hours. The first and second groups were given radishes and chocolate chip cookies. The test subjects in the first group could eat only the radishes, whereas those in the second group could eat anything they liked. And the third group was given no food at all. Next, the researchers asked all three groups to solve a hopeless puzzle. It is no surprise that the first group who spent all their energy staying away from the cookies was the first to give up.
Every time I read a book and have my phone next to me, I feel like there is a plate full of cookies, which I need to spend all my willpower ignoring. That’s why I am keeping my phone away while reading. It’s not always handy because I may need to check something I read online. Still, I prefer to continue reading and search for that later. In that way, I don’t lose my flow.
Keep your friends close and those who read closer
My career coach said that “Eat That Frog” by Brian Tracy is a great read — I should add it to my reading list. However, I need to finish first “The Women On My Couch” by Dr. Brandy Engler, a gift from my friend Kaisa when she visited me in Madrid. Do you see where I am going here? Half of the books I read every year are recommendations from friends and colleagues. And the rest is from reading lists, with my favorite one being that of Bill Gates.
Read two books simultaneously
I read “The Fourth Industrial Revolution” by Klaus Schwab in the morning when my mind was in learning mode and “The Devil Wears Prada” by Lauren Weisberger at night before bed when I wanted to relax.
Tip: If you can’t read two books concurrently, make sure to take breaks between a challenging book and a more entertaining one.
Happy Reading!
