How I Read 50+ Books This Year & How You Can Too (17 Tips)
As a child, I loved reading. Every month, my mom would take me to the library, where I could pick out books. When we got home, I couldn’t wait to dive in, eager to see if my choices lived up to my expectations.
Then I went to university. Suddenly, I had to read hundreds of pages from dusty old law books every week. As you can imagine, the fun quickly wore off. Professors made me read for hours every single day, so the idea of picking up a book for leisure felt exhausting. Instead, I turned to Netflix and other streaming services—way more thrilling at the time!
It wasn’t until I quit my job and started my own business that I rediscovered my love for reading. Suddenly, no one was telling me what to learn, and the possibilities were endless! I could choose what I wanted to read. And if a book didn’t resonate with me? I could simply stop reading it. As a new business owner with no experience, there was so much I wanted to learn. I dove into books on business, entrepreneurship, and personal development. From productivity and goal-setting to morning routines, I wanted to know it all.
Now, several years later, I read every single day—not because I have to, but because I genuinely enjoy it. Sure, I still love a Netflix marathon now and then, but reading is so much more nourishing. Watching Netflix is a quick fix: instant dopamine and distraction, but not “real” relaxation. Reading, on the other hand, is immersive. You can’t scroll your phone or chat while reading; it demands your full attention. And when you find one of those books—the kind you can’t put down? Ugh, it’s so much better than TV.
So how did I manage to read 50+ books this year? More importantly, how did I manage to enjoy it? Here’s how!
1. Reading multiple books at once
My first tip: read different books at the same time. Hear me out: I don’t mean reading 10 pages of one book and then switching to another. What I mean is: there’s a time and place for each book.
For example, I love novels, thrillers, self-help, and the occasional fantasy book. Thrillers are so gripping I can’t put them down, so I avoid reading them before bed if I want to sleep on time. Instead, I read cozy novels at night—they’re enjoyable but not too stimulating. Self-help books require focus, so I read those during my most productive hours in the morning. After getting ready, I spend 10–60 minutes reading. It wakes me up gently and sets a motivated tone for the day. (Check out my full morning routine here).
Thrillers or fantasy novels are my go-to for “me time”—on a rainy Sunday, a long flight, or a lazy evening. And I always have an audiobook on hand for multitasking activities like cooking, driving, or walking.
Worried about keeping track of multiple books? Don’t be. Since each book fits a specific context, it’s easy to pick up where I left off. Bedtime equals novels; mornings equal self-help. Simple!
2. Choose books that speak to you
I think this is one the best tips I can give you: read books that genuinely interest you, not ones you feel obligated to read. When exploring personal development, you might stumble upon popular but heavy titles like Think and Grow Rich or Atomic Habits. If they don’t captivate you, don’t force it. A book only helps if it resonates with you.
The same goes for book recommendations. Just because a book changed someone else’s life doesn’t mean it will do the same for you. Everyone’s experiences and needs are different. Instead, focus on what sparks your curiosity and aligns with where you are in life.
3. Finding the right book
So how do you find a book that speaks to you? For me, it depends on the type of book:
Non-fiction:
Non-fiction books should address your current challenges, interests, or goals. I start by identifying what I want to learn or improve—like productivity or focus—and search for “best [topic] books” online. After finding a few promising options, I check reviews and summaries on Goodreads or Amazon. These platforms often suggest similar books, making it easy to explore further.
I also love reading books by people I follow online. Many entrepreneurs, influencers, and YouTubers publish books, so there’s a good chance your favorite content creator has written one too!
Fiction:
For fiction, I turn to Goodreads or #BookTok (on TikTok) for trending titles. I rarely pick books with less than a 4-star rating—trust me, low ratings exist for a reason. And as you build your Goodreads library, its recommendations become increasingly spot-on.
4. Finding genres you enjoy
So how do you find genres you like? This is a test of trial and error. Try different genres and see what you enjoy the most! And by genres I mean: sub-genres. There’s novels and then there’s novels. Especially on Goodreads you’ll find dozes of different categories: from psychological thrillers to spicy novels to cozy murder mysteries — trust me, there’s a niche for everything and everyone.
I’d start by checking out the movie and tv show genres you enjoy, as well as podcasts you listen to or people you follow. What do they have in common? What kind op topics pop up?
5. Embrace seasonable reads
If you’re not a fan of colder seasons, reading seasonal books can change your perspective. Like many, I used to be someone who despises fall and winter. I much preferred spring and summer, always have. However, by continuing to hate 50% of the seasons, I set myself up for being miserable for pretty much half of the year.
So, what I found has really helped me find the joy in every season, is reading seasonable books. Especially during fall, I LOVE reading cozy fall-themed novels. Now, I look forward to the fall (truly!), because I can’t wait to snuggle on the sofa on a particularly rainy day and read about brown leaves and pumpkin spice lattes. And the same goes for winter: after I’ve had my fair share of fall favorites, I move on to the Christmas ones. Yes, they’re pretty much as bad as Christmas movies, but I mean… what’s not to love?
6. Finding authors you like
Personally, whenever I really enjoy a book, I want to read every book the author has ever written. So finding an author you like can be a great start of your reading journey. If you’re reading highly rated books like I recommended doing above, chances are your author has written several other books that you might enjoy. You can also look for similar authors, i.e. by simply searching something like “Similar authors like [author]” on Google.
I also try and find patterns between the books and authors I enjoy. For example, I’ve found that I enjoy the more recent books a lot more than the old dusty ones, because I can relate to them a lot more. A spy novel where the spy needs to fax the codes to the nuclear bombs is simply.. uninspiring (at least for me!). I also discovered that I enjoy female authors a lot more than male ones, simply because I like their style more. It’s much more like the way my own brain works.
7. Do this before starting a book
There’s nothing more annoying than buying a book and discovering you absolutely hate it. To prevent that from happening, do this before you start reading:
Check the reviews
I know I’ve set it before, but trust me: check the reviews. a 3-star book has a 3-star rating for a reason. There’s a very good chance you will not enjoy it. Also, I’d definitely recommend creating a Goodreads account. The book reviews on there are honestly so good, because this is where the real book lovers hang out. You don’t create an account unless you’re really into books so these people know what they’re talking about (most of the time). Usually the first 3 reviews on there will tell you everything you need to know about a specific book.
Read a sample first
Usually the back cover of the book will tell you what the book is about in a nutshell, However, it’s literally designed to draw you in and convince you to buy it. But let’s be honest: it doesn’t always deliver on its promises. To avoid disappointment, I always read a sample first.
If you’re shopping online, you can easily download a free sample on Amazon using the Kindle app on your phone or tablet (no Kindle device needed). These samples usually include the first chapter or two, which is more than enough to gauge whether the book resonates with you.
If you’re browsing in a physical bookstore, simply read the first page. Does it grab your attention? Are you curious to read more? If not, it’s probably best to move on to something else. Trust your instincts—your time is too valuable for books that don’t excite you!
8. Using an e-Reader
That brings me straight to my next tip: invest in an e-reader. Readers tend to fall into one of two camps: those who swear by physical books and those who embrace the convenience of digital. I’m firmly in the second group. For me, having an entire library at my fingertips is unbeatable.
E-readers make everything easier. You can sample multiple books, switch seamlessly between titles, and continue reading on the often included mobile app if you don’t have your e-reader with you. And the best part? They’re so comfortable to use in bed. No need for a night light, and you can lie on your side without awkwardly balancing a book at just the right angle.
As for which e-reader to choose, that’s up to personal preference. I’m not an expert, but I can share my experience: I’ve tried multiple Kobo devices, but a few years ago, I switched to the Kindle (Amazon’s e-reader) and haven’t looked back. I use the Kindle Paperwhite, and it’s been an absolute delight! If you’re considering an upgrade, I highly recommend it.
9. If you don’t enjoy the book…
Oh my gosh, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had this over the years. Sometimes a book just lacks something. If you plan on reading consistently I can guarantee this will happen to you, too. So how do you go about this? Do you just.. keep reading? Or do you falter?
For me it really depends on the book: if I’m almost done, I’ll probably finish it, but if I’m only a few chapters in, I will 100% skip it. There’s no shame in the game. Why would you continue reading something you don’t enjoy? You shouldn’t! You read because you want to read. This isn’t school, where you’re obligated to finish an entire reading list. It’s your life! And let me tell you: life’s too short to read a book you don’t enjoy. Just choose a different one and perhaps you’ll get back to it in a few weeks, months or years even.
My point is: if you continue reading it, you’ll lose motivation. Somewhere along the line, you’ll stop reading altogether and a couple months later you’ll think to yourself: damn it, I really should get back into the habit of reading.. why did I stop?
Reading should never feel like a chore. If a book isn’t working for you, put it down. You’re reading for you, not for anyone else.
10. Finding Making time to read
If you take away anything at all from this post, let it be this: no one finds time for anything. You make time. And yes, I know: you’re super busy. We all are. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make time. You don’t have to read for hours at a time, just find something that works for you and your schedule.
What works really well for me is replacing things like doom scrolling on Instagram and TikTok or watching Netflix with picking up a book. Of course, I haven’t quit that all together (I’m no saint), but I’ve recognized how much time I’m wasting doing those things. Seriously, have you ever looked at your screen time? For most of us, at least 2 hours of our days are spend on social media. Why not replace (some) of that time on a book instead?
What also works really well for me:
Every night, I use the last 30 minutes to read from the comfort of my bed. I usually end the night with some Netflix, but I always stop around 9 p.m. That’s when I get ready for bed and dive into my book!
Every morning, I start my day with learning by reading non-fiction. Sometimes it’s 10 minutes, sometimes it’s an hour. The point is: I set aside time, and depending on my motivation and schedule, I read either briefly or extensively.
I try not to work on Sundays and aim for laptop-free days. If I’m not spending time with friends or family, I squeeze in some couch reading.
If you have a super busy schedule, you can also multi-task: for instance, read on your train commute or listen to an audiobook while cooking or driving.
Try having a “bag book.” Wherever you go, carry a book so that whenever you have spare time, you can pick it up. This also works for an e-reader or an audiobook (just don’t forget your AirPods or headphones!).
11. Listening to audiobooks
That brings me straight into the wonder of audiobooks. Some books are simply better as audiobooks. If a certain book doesn’t require your full attention, you can always listen to it instead. Listen to it to make a mindless activity more fun. Like I said, I really enjoy listening to an audiobook while I’m making dinner, cleaning, walking outside or driving. These are activities that I can do on autopilot, so why not make them more enjoyable with an audiobook!
Personally, I use Audible, which is the Amazon app for audiobooks. It goes really well with my Kindle (also by Amazon). I used to have the monthly subscription where you get one book credit each month (for about $12 a month), but I found for me it works better to just buy a book in the Audible app whenever it suits me. Usually you get a really good discount when you buy from the app so I find this more affordable than the subscription.
I’ve also had Storytel for a couple of years, which is a monthly subscription (I believe it’s around $13 a month) where you can listen to an unlimited amount of books each month (instead of just the one you buy with your monthly credit on Audible). I stopped using it because they kept increasing their fee and I found their offer of books quite limited. They don’t have every single book available like you do on Audible. Also, you don’t ‘own’ any of the books you listen to, so - contrary to Audible - as soon as you cancel your subscription you will lose access to your books.
One more thing: there’s this whole thing going around online about whether listening to audiobooks counts as reading a book. The only thing I’d like to say about that is: you do you. If you feel like it counts, it counts. If you don’t, it doesn’t.
For me, whenever I really listen to a book, meaning: I’m not distracted half of the time, I think it counts. But if I listen to a book because I can’t sleep and I fall asleep 30 minutes in, I don’t think it counts. But again: you do you!
12. My secret non-fiction hack
So there’s this thing I do whenever I read non-fiction and it is a GAME-CHANGER. So whenever I’ve found a self-help book I want to read, I buy not just the e-book for my Kindle, I also buy the audiobook (on Audible). Now, since I have an iPad: I open both the Kindle app and the Audible app, and I play the audiobook on 2 to 2.5x speed while I read the book. Now, maybe this sounds really weird but honestly: just try it. Since you have this little helper, you will consume the information so much better, you won’t lose focus as easily and you can just pause the audiobook whenever you want to highlight a passage or take notes. And since you’re listening at 2x speed, you’ll race through the book.
Seriously, Game-changer.
13. Tracking your progress
What’s really helped me stay motivated is marking my books as read on Goodreads. This way you’ll know exactly how many books you’ve read this year (and past years) so it gets kind of addictive, but in a good way. Especially when you add your fellow book loving friends. You can see exactly what they’re reading, how they’ve rated their books, and you can even set a reading challenge for yourself — that’s how I came up with my goal of reading 50 books this year. It just makes reading a lot more rewarding, like you’re working towards something. I also really enjoy reviewing my books, which is something I never thought I’d do (like ever). So, if you’re up for it, you can create a free account here.
14. Making reading enjoyable
The key to reading consistently is making it enjoyable for yourself. Like I said before, you’re doing it for you, not for someone else, so you might as well make the most of it. So how can you fall in love with books?
It goes without saying that you have to enjoy the book of course. But what also really helps me is setting the scene. Light a candle, wrap yourself in a blanket, make your favorite cup of tea, play some soft instrumental music in the background, and just get cozy! I’ve also dedicated a specific corner of my sofa to my reading — you will not find me Netflixing here, that’s where the rest of the couch if for. This is like my sacret little reading nook. If you have the space, you might consider creating one of your own!
15. Don’t force yourself
This is also a very important tip I’d like to point out. Do not force yourself to read. Reading isn’t a game or a task. You should only do it when you feel like it. Don’t read for the sake of reading just so you can ‘achieve your goal’ of reading an X amount of books. If you set such a goal for yourself, it’s meant to inspire you, not to stress you out or make you despise reading — it’s the opposite!
That’s why I never set myself a deadline to finish a book or oblige myself to read an X amount of pages every day. We all have good days and bad days; it’s not about the numbers, it’s about enjoying the time you do spend reading. Remember that.
16. The power of book summaries
If you want to get into the habit of reading non-fiction, but you can’t simply put yourself to invest those precious hours into one book, you can always try book summaries. In this day and age, there are lots of great apps out there with pretty good in-depth summaries.
My personal favorite is Shortform, which is a paid subscription (of about $35 a month I believe) that offers a lot of educational book summaries. The best part is that each book starts off with a one page summary, which in some cases, really is enough to get the gist of a book. But then, the summary continues with a good 20 or so pages where the book is summarized, and compared to other books. They also offer most books in audio form as well, so you could listen to it or use my little hack (from above) to read even faster.
Other apps I’ve tried are Blinkist and Headway, which offer shorter summaries.
17. Organize a book club
Now, my last tip: if you can’t seem to make a habit out of reading, you might consider joining or organizing a book club with your friends. This will not only keep you accountable, but it will also make discussing the book enjoyable and fun. I can’t tell you how many times I wish someone would read the same book I’m reading so that we can discuss it together afterwards. The moment you finish a book, all you want to do is stay in it a little bit longer, so what better way to do that than keeping it alive by talking about it!
Final Thoughts
Reading multiple books in a year isn’t about speed—it’s about creating a habit you enjoy on a consistent basis. Whether it’s setting aside 10 minutes a day, finding the perfect cozy spot, or exploring new genres, the key is to make reading work for you.
