How to Read More Books: 15 Tips to Build a Reading Habit (Even If You're Busy)

Plenty of us say we want to read more. Then the day ends, the phone is right there, and the book on the nightstand quietly gathers another layer of dust. Maybe you used to be a big reader as a kid, devouring a book a week, and you're not quite sure where that person went.

You're far from alone. A 2025 study from researchers at the University of Florida and University College London found that the share of Americans who read for pleasure on a given day dropped by about 40% between 2004 and 2023. Meanwhile, there's a growing "mind reclamation" movement online, with people pushing back against endless scrolling and rediscovering books, reading challenges and in-person book clubs.

The great news: you don't need more willpower to become a reader again. You need a few small changes that make reading the easy option. Here are fifteen of them.

Why reading is so good for you

Before the tips, a little motivation.

It's a workout for your brain

Reading engages attention, memory, imagination and language all at once. Following a plot, keeping track of characters and picturing scenes is real mental work. Lifelong reading habits are linked with sharper thinking in later life.

It lowers stress

Getting absorbed in a good book is a way to step out of your own worries for a while. Many people find reading one of the most relaxing ways to wind down.

It helps you sleep

A paper book in dim, warm light before bed is a far better wind-down than a bright screen full of notifications. See how much sleep adults need.

It builds empathy

Fiction lets you live inside someone else's head. Some research suggests reading literary fiction may help people understand others' thoughts and feelings, though the findings are mixed.

It may help you live longer

A 2016 study from Yale, following more than 3,600 adults over 50 for 12 years, found that people who read books for about 30 minutes a day lived around two years longer than non-readers, even after accounting for factors like education and health. It's observational, so it can't prove cause and effect, but it's a lovely finding.

It improves your focus

In a world of 30-second videos, reading long-form text is a way to rebuild your attention span. Our guide to brain rot and attention span explains why that matters.

15 tips to read more books

1. Start with what you actually like

The fastest way to stop reading is to force yourself through a book you think you should read. Pick something you genuinely want to read. Thrillers, romance, fantasy, graphic novels, sports biographies, true crime, cozy mysteries, cookbooks with stories. All of it counts.

Once reading is a habit again, you can stretch into harder books if you want.

2. Give yourself permission to quit

If you're 50 pages in and dreading it, put it down. Life's too short, and there are too many good books. Quitting a bad book is how you get to the next good one faster. Librarian Nancy Pearl famously suggests the "rule of 50": give a book 50 pages, and if you're over 50 years old, subtract your age from 100 and read that many.

3. Read for 10 minutes a day

Most people don't have a spare hour, but almost everyone has 10 minutes. At an average reading speed of around 240 words a minute, 10 minutes a day adds up to roughly 870,000 words a year, which is about ten average-length novels.

4. Find the pockets of time

• Ten minutes with morning coffee
• Your lunch break
• Waiting rooms and lines
• On the bus or train
• While the kids are at practice
• Fifteen minutes in bed before sleep

5. Keep a book everywhere

One by the bed, one in your bag, one on the couch, one in the car for waiting. If a book is within reach, you'll reach for it.

6. Put a reading app on your phone's home screen

Move a reading app to the spot where your social media app used to be. When you reach for your phone out of habit, you'll find a book instead.

7. Listen to audiobooks

Listening counts. Research suggests comprehension of audiobooks is broadly similar to reading for many kinds of books. They're perfect for commutes, walks, workouts, cooking and chores.

8. Use your library

Your library card might be the best deal in town. Most libraries lend e-books and audiobooks through free apps like Libby and Hoopla, plus physical books, magazines and more. Librarians are brilliant at suggesting what to read next if you tell them what you loved.

9. Join a book club

Book clubs add a social reason to read, a gentle deadline and the joy of discussing ideas. Look at your library, local bookstore, workplace or online. Silent book clubs, where people meet to read quietly together and then chat, are a fun trend for people who want company without homework.

10. Read with someone

Read the same book as a friend or partner and talk about it as you go. Or read aloud to your kids, which is wonderful for them too.

11. Pair reading with something you enjoy

A favorite chair, a cup of tea, a blanket, a candle. Over time, the ritual itself starts to pull you in.

12. Swap a little screen time

You don't have to quit your phone. Try a simple trade: the first 10 minutes in bed are for a book, then you can scroll if you still want to. Many nights, you won't. Some people charge their phone outside the bedroom altogether.

13. Read several books at once

It's okay to have a light novel, a nonfiction book and an audiobook on the go. Pick whichever fits your mood and energy.

14. Set a gentle goal

A goal like "one book a month" or "20 pages a day" can help. Reading challenges, like reading a book from every continent or every decade, can make it fun.

15. Track it, if it helps

Some people love a reading log, an app like Goodreads or StoryGraph, or a list on the fridge. Others find it turns reading into a chore. Use it if it motivates you, and drop it if it doesn't.

What to read when you don't know what to read

Stuck for ideas? Try these:

• Reread an old favorite. Comfort reads are a perfectly good way back in.
• Ask a librarian or bookseller for something like the last book you loved.
• Follow the prize lists, like the Pulitzer, Booker or National Book Award, for literary picks.
• Try a short book first. Novellas and short story collections give quick wins.
• Read the book before the movie or series comes out.
• Pick a book set somewhere you'd love to visit.

Should you speed read?

Speed reading programs often promise you can triple your reading speed. Research suggests that big jumps in speed usually come with a big drop in comprehension. You'll get more from reading a little more often than from reading faster.

How to remember what you read

• Pause after each chapter and summarize it in your head or in a few sentences.
• Talk about it. Telling someone about a book is one of the best ways to remember it.
• Take light notes or highlight a few passages that really strike you.
• Revisit your notes a week later.

These are all forms of retrieval practice, which we explain in how to remember what you learn.

Paper, e-reader or phone: which is best?

Whatever you'll actually read. Some studies suggest people may understand and remember long, complex texts slightly better on paper, but e-readers are great for travel, adjustable text size and reading in bed without a lamp. Phones are convenient but full of distractions. If you read on your phone, try turning on "do not disturb."

Reading with kids

Reading aloud to children, from babies onward, builds language, attention and a lifelong love of books, and it's precious time together. Let kids see you reading for fun too. Children are far more likely to become readers when they grow up around readers.

Frequently asked questions about reading more

How many books does the average person read?

Surveys vary, but many find the typical American reads only a handful of books a year, and around a quarter of adults read none in a given year.

Do audiobooks count as reading?

For enjoyment, learning and stories, absolutely.

What's the best time of day to read?

Whenever you'll do it consistently. Many people love reading before bed, while others prefer mornings with coffee.

How do I get back into reading after a long break?

Start with something short, fun and gripping, like a page-turner, short stories or a favorite book from childhood. Small wins rebuild the habit.

Between chapters, try our free wellness wheel quiz and see how your reading habit fits into the bigger picture of your wellbeing.