Mastering the Art of Reading More

Published: July 12, 2026

For several years now, I have maintained a pace of reading approximately one book per week. I can tell you with certainty: it is entirely achievable.

Initially, my reading habits were sparse—I barely finished ten books a year. However, by transforming reading into a conscious goal, I shifted my mindset and accomplished a feat I previously deemed impossible. I want to share the strategies I used to become a prolific reader and the lessons I gathered along the way so that you can replicate this success.

The Core Strategy: Eliminating Dead Time

The fundamental secret is simple: read every single moment you aren't occupied by a mandatory task.

In our modern era, the default response to a moment of boredom is to reach for a smartphone. To counter this, you must consciously replace screen time (PCs, phones, televisions) with the pages of a book.

The Digital Detox

To facilitate this, I took drastic measures:

• Social Media Apps $\rightarrow$ Deleted
• Streaming Services $\rightarrow$ Deleted

At first, the habit was hard to break. I would instinctively grab my iPhone only to realize there was nothing left to do except check the weather, scan dull emails, or monitor my bank balance. After a few days, my brain began to remap itself, and the compulsive urge to check my device vanished.

To further decouple myself from the screen, I wear a basic analog watch. This allows me to check the time without the risk of getting sucked into a digital vortex.

Integrating Books into Daily Life

Once you remove the digital distractions, you may feel a strange discomfort during ten-minute gaps of silence. The solution is to always have a book on your person.

I have integrated reading into almost every facet of my day:

• Morning/Night: A few pages immediately upon waking and right before sleep.
• Mealtime: Reading while preparing lunch or dinner, and during breakfast.
• Commuting: I prefer trains because they allow someone else to handle the navigation while I read.
• Socially: I carry a book even when outing with my partner. If she is running an errand, I don't waste that waiting period.
• Odd Moments: I've mastered the art of reading while walking the dog (which once earned me a compliment from a stranger) and I never enter the bathroom without a book.

“I love the smell of book ink in the morning.” — Umberto Eco

Choosing Your Medium: Digital vs. Physical

Carrying physical books can be cumbersome. This is where technology becomes an ally.

Comparison of Reading Formats

While e-readers are one of the greatest inventions for readers—solving the historical problems of cost and bulk—relying on them exclusively can make every book feel the same. Therefore, I alternate between the two, favoring paperbacks for their affordability and portability.

Curating Your Reading Experience

I rarely read just one book at a time; instead, I maintain a few parallel reads, usually mixing fiction and non-fiction to keep my perspective broad.

The Golden Rule: "Read what you like until you like to read."

By exploring various genres and subjects, you expose yourself to different viewpoints and eventually discover which styles resonate with you most.

The Philosophy of "Quitting"

One of the biggest hurdles for new readers is the guilt of not finishing a book. I believe it is essential to be unafraid of abandoning a story.

An unfinished book is not a failure. Sometimes, we simply aren't ready for a specific text. For example, I abandoned Siddhartha by Herman Hesse three times in the first few pages before finally completing it later in life; it ended up being one of the most formative books I've ever read. Furthermore, there are simply more bad books than good ones. If a book feels like a waste of time, stop reading it—even if it's by an author you usually love.

Building Your Personal Library

To be a serious reader, you need a physical library. I collect books that pique my interest and store them for future exploration.

“It is foolish to think that you have to read all the books you buy, as it is foolish to criticize those who buy more books than they will ever be able to read. It would be like saying that you should use all the cutlery or glasses or screwdrivers or drill bits you bought before buying new ones.” — Umberto Eco

Where I find my books:

• Local independent bookshops (to support them)
• Used bookstores
• Street markets and book fairs
• Public "book boxes" found around the city

Tracking Progress and Setting Goals

Setting targets is a powerful way to cement a habit. You can set a monthly or yearly quota to keep yourself motivated.

For instance, I use the Goodreads Reading Challenge. The mathematical approach to this habit can be viewed as:

$\text{Reading Rate} = \frac{\text{Total Books Read}}{\text{Time Period (Weeks/Months)}}$

However, there is a danger in focusing solely on the numbers. Counting volumes is not always a "healthy" way to read. It is far more valuable to read a masterpiece and take the necessary time to reflect on its meaning than to rush through a book just to increase your final tally.

The ultimate goal is to enjoy the process and...