Most of us have an inherent understanding that reading is essential. We hear it all the time from successful people, making sense when you think about it.

How does one learn about the world?

How does one go about expanding one’s knowledge?

Of course, by reading. It seems like an obvious thing to do to become more informed and increase one’s intellect. However, at the same time, we find ourselves unable to reach our reading goals. This hindrance is usually caused by a lack of time, or so we think, but mostly, we don’t know how to utilize our time and develop smart reading habits intelligently.

This article will share 10 tips from my own experience that have helped me read more than a hundred books each year. If you incorporate most or all of these tips in your own life, I can bet that you will become a more efficient reader this year. Let’s start.

Switch to Kindle or any E-reader

Switching to Kindle has done wonders for me. I always considered myself a “real” reader because I bought physical books and took pride in collecting paperbacks and hardbacks. However, a few years ago, I realized that my pride was getting in the way of actual reading. It is quite simple; the main objective of owning a book is to read it. It is not a trophy to showcase to visitors. If you think you can impress people by hoarding books and never reading them, then take it from me, this is not the correct approach.

You can own all the books you want, but they are no better than not owning them if you don’t read them. A kindle, on the other hand, allows for greater convenience. You can hold thousands of books in a portable form and carry them around where ever you go. This portability factor has completely changed my reading habits. I can use my Kindle any time I have free time when I am out and about.

You Don’t Have to Finish A Book That You Don’t Like

Yes, you read that right. I don’t know where we pick this habit up, but somehow there is this unwritten “rule” that you have to finish a book that you started even if you don’t enjoy reading it. This has cost me so much time in the past that I finally realized that reading is not some sacred practice. You will not offend the “gods” of reading if you leave a book halfway through and skip to another.

In my experience, when I would start a book that I found to be boring, I would fixate myself on finishing it, but in reality, all it did was delay the process and waste my time. You don’t have to read a book no matter how vital people deem it to be. People have different tastes and interests, and it is entirely normal to read what you like.

Curse of the Classics

This tip is somewhat related to the last one. Again, don’t fall into the trap of reading what others deem essential. You don’t have to read a book just because it is a “classic.” Don’t get me wrong, I have read and enjoyed many classic works from English literature, but at the same time, many of them I found to be too dense and opposite to my liking. I realized that I am not in a competition to read all the classic literature when there are so many other books that genuinely pique my interest. Don’t fall into this trap of a “must-read” mindset. There are no rules to reading, and enjoying a book is paramount to finishing it.

Skimming is Not a Sin

If you are reading a book that you find boring, but you have to “finish” it for some reason, then skimming is entirely acceptable. Again, there are no rules but the ones you make yourself. If someone has asked you to read a particular book, but you don’t find it interesting, you can breeze through the pages and still absorb the main insights. This will give you enough understanding of the book to discuss it with that person and form an opinion.

Summaries Can be Very Helpful

One tool that I love is Sparknotes. Often when I am reading a challenging book, I find myself unable to derive any meaning from the text no matter how many times I read it. In the past, this has caused me a lot of frustration, but after discovering Sparknotes, I can read a summary of a chapter in simple words and instantly grasp the idea.

Moreover, concerning the previous tip, you can read a chapter-by-chapter summary of a book that you find boring but have to read regardless. You will get the gist of the book and will be able to discuss it.

Read Before Bed

Reading before bed is a ritual that has existed for decades. However, due to smartphones’ rise, we often mindlessly scroll through our social media when we are in bed or watch Youtube or Netflix. Not only does this ruin your sleep schedule, but it also deprives you of using your time in a meaningful way. I have found that using my Kindle before bed relaxes me and doesn’t interfere with my sleep schedule. If anything, it helps me fall asleep better. Moreover, Kindle’s display does not emit blue light, which a smartphone does, and it has been shown that blue light is bad for your sleeping habits.

Read by Listening

I love listening to audiobooks when I cannot actively read from a book or Kindle. This has completely changed the amount of reading I used to do before using audiobooks. Think about it, what better way to utilize your time when you drive than to listen to an audiobook. You can also listen to one when you are grocery shopping or simply walking around. I find audiobooks incredibly relaxing, and I have noticed that time flies by when I am immersed in a good story.

Utilize “Goodreads”

If you own a Kindle, then any book you read is automatically added to your Goodreads account. You may already know what Goodreads is, but it is a social network for book readers. It is an excellent community of like-minded people who rate and review books, and you can start doing the same. In my experience, I have found that book reading turns into a game when I finish a book and then review it on Goodreads. It gives me extra motivation to read and complete books and see my library grow. You can think of it as a to-do list where you tick off tasks one-by-one and feel good by the sense of achievement that comes from it.

“ReadWise”

ReadWise is a fantastic service that syncs with your Kindle account and transfers all of your highlights from the various books you have read. “ReadwIse” then sends you these highlights to your email inbox regularly to help you recall what you have read. This is incredibly effective if you find that you forget what you read after a few days.

Make a Reading List

Good habits require getting organized, and with books, it tremendously helps If you keep a reading list. You can do this in several ways, but I recommend using Goodreads. Keeping track of what you read and what you have to read serves as a to-do list and gives you inner satisfaction and motivation to keep going.