How to Read 50+ Books in a Year

Before we dive in, let's clarify—this isn't a brag. Well, maybe just a smidge.

First, some context.

In 2020, during a random evening at the height of the pandemic, I decided to reignite my love for reading.

As a pre-teen—okay, fine, a teen—I was obsessed with the Famous Five series. Imagining such thrilling adventures was more than my heart could handle. All my dreams involved solving mysteries with my sisters and having a loyal dog.

Neither dream came true. And dogs? Haha, have you met my seventeen cats?

Somewhere in my university days, I swapped reading for social media, chasing the dopamine hits from endless short-form content. I became addicted to the rush, scrolling endlessly through YouTube and Instagram (not Facebook—ew, David!).

This addiction followed me into adulthood until one pandemic evening when I thought, why did I stop reading?

Like many, I suddenly had a lot of time on my hands and decided to return to simpler times by rekindling my love for books.

I had an iPhone 6s back then, and boy, was it tiny! Still, I decided to read on my phone until I could make it a habit.

If I managed to read 50 books by December, I promised myself a Kindle as a reward.

Going from zero to 50 books in a year is a massive shift. Many people I talk to struggle with starting, especially when they're used to social media, where anything over three seconds feels too long.

It might be challenging at first, but it's doable.

So, how did I go from 0 to 50? More importantly, how can you read 50+ books in a year?

Let’s find out. 

#1 Ask Yourself Why

Why do you want to read? If your reasons align with any of these:

• Rekindling a forgotten habit 

• Want to expand your knowledge or vocabulary 

• Want to wear cool librarian glasses 

• Or if you just want a productive habit that is fulfilling 

Make sure your reason is compelling enough to prioritize reading, even if just for a few minutes a day.

#2 Find Time in Your Routine

This is crucial because transitioning from videos to reading can be tough. Changing your entire routine is unrealistic and likely short-lived.

Identify pockets of time typically spent on social media. For me, it meant putting my phone on DND before bed and reading until I fell asleep—usually about an hour. It felt so good to fall asleep with a book instead of a video.

For you, it could mean reading during your commute, listening to audiobooks while walking, or even while cooking, exercising, or showering.

Over the years, this helped me maintain my reading habits and steadily increase my reading goals.

#3 Read What You Enjoy

This was a no-brainer for me. I love mystery and thriller novels and can devour them in a couple of days. It's something I naturally gravitate towards. (Budding sociopath? Who knows.)

To avoid making reading feel like a chore, especially at the start, I only chose genres I loved. This made reading so much fun.

Occasionally, I picked up books I thought I'd love but struggled through them. I forced myself to finish because I had this arbitrary rule of completing every book I started.

Don't make the same mistake. A book that feels like a chore simply isn't for you.

Read what you like and ditch what you don't. Or return/donate the book if you're feeling charitable.

#4 Start small 

Tackling a 700-page book can be daunting, even for seasoned readers. If a book is really engaging, it's not so bad. But long books often have slower pacing—world-building, drawn-out stories, or setups for sequels.

Seeing minimal progress after hours of reading can be frustrating.

Smaller books have a faster pace and can be more rewarding, encouraging you to stick with the habit.

My suggestion: start with books around 300-400 pages.

#5 Keep yourself accountable 

Set a reading goal. It can be 2 books, 12 books, or even 30 books—whatever feels realistic based on your schedule. It shouldn't feel like a drain or a chore.

Reading should never feel like a chore. If it does, despite following steps 1-4, maybe it's not for you. Consider reading book summaries or watching movie adaptations instead.

I use Goodreads to track my reading goal, and it's pretty sweet. Unless I'm lagging, then it's...

#6 Reward yourself 

Positive reinforcement works wonders.

If you hit your reading goal, reward yourself with something special. It could be an e-reader, a cozy loveseat to snuggle and read in, or even a vacation to a place from your books.

Okay, the last one is a bit extravagant, but if you can, why not?

Do something that feels special and rewarding.

When I got a Kindle after completing 50 books, I was already in love with reading. It became a relaxing way to unwind and lose myself in different worlds. After that, it was hard to stop.

I started craving reading every day—not just once, but multiple times. In the shower, while cooking, at the salon—I couldn't get enough. I wanted more and more.

Uh oh.

What have I done?