How to Motivate Yourself to Read More Books

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Learn to get into reading and stay into reading

Co-authored by Tristen Bonacci, MEd and Luke Smith, MFA

Last Updated: October 7, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Reading More
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• Getting into Reading
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• Benefits of Reading
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• Expert Q&A
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• Tips

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Looking to elevate your reading goals? Or maybe you want to get into reading but don’t know where to begin. It’s a big, wide world of books out there just waiting for you, and we’re here to help you sink your teeth into its pages! We talked to English teachers, education coaches and researchers, and library specialists to help you find your reading motivation and make reading fun.

How to Enjoy Reading More

English teacher Tristen Bonacci, MEd, says to “read every single day” to build the habit, even if you’re only reading a little bit. Also check out these tips:

• Read shorter, more accessible books to get into the practice and build momentum. Comic books, short stories, and fanfic all count!
• Set small, manageable reading goals to avoid burnout, like reading for 20 minutes each day, or striving to finish 1 novel each month.
• Make reading fun by joining a book club, making a comfy reading nook, gravitating toward genres you love, and using a medium that works for you, like audiobooks.

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

How to Read More

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   Set aside a specific time each day for reading. Bonacci recommends reading at least a little bit each day to stay in the habit. Make daily reading a priority on the same level as eating lunch or dinner—something important enough to sit down and set aside time for. Choose a time that works best for your schedule, whether that’s first thing in the morning or right before bed. You might:

   • Read while you eat your meal.
   • Read on your commute.
   • Read between classes.

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Tristen Bonacci, MEd, is an English Teacher with more than 20 years of experience. Tristen has taught in both the United States and overseas.

   Alexander Ruiz, MEd, is an Educational Consultant and the Educational Director of Link Educational Institute, a tutoring business based in Claremont, California.

   Soren Rosier, PhD, is an Education Expert based in Palo Alto, CA. He is the founder of PeerTeach, a platform that empowers students to grow their leadership, confidence, and love of math.

   Kim Gillingham, MA, is a retired library and information specialist with over 30 years of experience. She has a Master's in Library Science from Kutztown University in Pennsylvania.
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   Set a small, manageable reading goal. Bonacci reminds us that consistency is key, not quantity. Setting a super high goal can feel overwhelming rather than motivating. Sure, setting a goal to read 100 books in 1 year is great on paper, but it can be pretty daunting once you actually sit down and start. Instead, choose short-term goals that feel achievable for your current schedule, like:

   • Reading for 20 minutes each day, or just reading 20 pages a day
   • Reading 50 pages each week
   • Reading 2 novels each month
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   Sign up for a reading challenge or club to motivate you. A reading challenge encourages you to read multiple books in a set period of time. Reading challenges aren’t just for little kids—plenty of libraries, websites, and other organizations host them for people of all ages! Sites like GoodReads or StoryGraph host challenges all the time and are great places to start. Here are a couple of challenges you might try:

   • 52 Books in 52 Weeks: Read 52 books in the span of a year, with each book correlating with a specific prompt.
   • Summer Reading: Read a set number of books between early June and early September.
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   Track your reading history to keep you motivated. There’s nothing like climbing a mountain and seeing the view from the top, retracing all the steps that got you there. You can do the same with your reading! By writing down the books you’ve finished, you get a sense of gratification and accomplishment that can motivate you to read even more. Keep a reading journal, or use a site like GoodReads or StoryGraph to track your reading history.

   • These sites also have a social element where you can see what friends have read or want to read, which helps make it feel more community-oriented and engaging.
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   Read more than one book at a time if you get bored. Sometimes it’s hard to push your way through a thick book, and trying to shove through makes you lose steam. But you’re allowed to read multiple books at once, and doing so can make each book more exciting and refreshing. The key is choosing books that are unique enough from each other that you won’t get them mixed up. You might switch up the genres by enjoying a horror novel while reading a nonfiction biography; or, you can read books that are in totally different formats, like a poetry anthology and a play.

   • You could also read a book with a friend or book club, and then read a separate book by yourself.
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   Listen to an audiobook to read even while you’re busy. Education coach Alexander Ruiz, M. Ed., says that audiobooks are a great alternative to print books. Audiobooks let you read when you’re on the go. Going for a walk, driving to the store, or whipping something up in the kitchen? Put on an audiobook! You can make great progress in your reading goals just by tuning into an audiobook for a little while.

   • Audiobooks are great for multi-tasking, especially if you’re working on something that doesn’t require much brain power. Put one on while you’re at the gym, doing the dishes, or cleaning your room.
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   Have a book handy wherever you go. You never know when some free reading time will pop up. Whether you’re driving to the grocery store or heading to class, pack a book along in case you run into some free time. That way, you can get through some pages when you least expect it, and every little bit of progress counts! This is especially handy when you’re traveling and spend a lot of time sitting around waiting for flights or busses, or between outings at the hotel room.

   • You might do some extra reading if you finish a test or quiz before the rest of the class.
   • You could read an extra chapter or 2 while you wait for your doctor’s appointment to start.
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   Replace your phone screen with a book. This small adjustment adds a lot of reading time to your day-to-day routine. Between Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and other platforms, it’s all-too-easy to get sidetracked from your to-do list for the day. Whenever you sit down to read, turn off your phone or set it to “do not disturb,” so you can read without any distractions. When you feel the urge to scroll, reach for a book, instead.

   • If you want, use social media as a reward for achieving your reading goal for the day.
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   Get comfy to help you read for longer. It’s much more motivating to read when you have a comfy place to do it. Pick a well-lit spot in your home to serve as your designated reading area, or stick an extra lamp or 2 in a certain spot. Set up a bookshelf near your reading spot, so you never run short on reading material. It’s easier to read when you don’t want to get up out of your seat. Don’t forget the blankets and pillows, too!

   • Houseplants can also be a nice touch to a reading nook, along with a wheeled book cart.
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    Buy books for cheap, or get a library card. It’s easy to read more when you never run out of material. Shop for paperback books on online marketplaces, like Amazon. However, instead of shopping for brand-new books, see if there are sellers offering “used” or “acceptable” versions of the same title. Also, hit up your local used book shop for some great deals and finds. Getting pre-owned books is a great way to save money while you expand your reading collection.

    • And remember that the library is your friend! If the library doesn’t have a book, they’ll order it for you.
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    Use an e-reader to make reading more accessible. We love physical books, but e-books and e-readers are also awesome! They can help you look up tricky words, highlight interesting passages, and carry your whole library with you wherever you go. They can also help stem a screen addiction, swapping your phone screen with a book screen!

    • In the U.S., the library also has an app, Libby, where you can check out e-books for free.
    • Sites like Project Gutenberg have lots of free ebooks available.
    • You can also download your favorite fan fictions to your e-reader or mobile device from a collaborative writing site like Archive of Our Own (AO3).
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    Make a reading list for yourself to use as a roadmap. It’s easy to keep reading when you always know what’s next. As you make your way through your current book, decide which book you’d like to read next. That way, you can seamlessly switch to the next book on your list once you’re done. It can be hard to keep up your momentum if you don’t plan ahead.

    • Apps like Goodreads, Basmo, and Bookly can help you stay on top of the books you’ve already read. Plus, it can be pretty inspiring to see how much you’ve accomplished!
    • Also, don’t be afraid to change your list as you go. It doesn’t have to be set in stone.
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    Space out your reading sessions to avoid burnout. Constant reading is a surefire way to get burned out. There’s nothing wrong with reading multiple times a day, but don’t overdo it, either! Give yourself plenty of breathing room throughout the day so you don’t get tired of reading overall.

    • For instance, you might read for 15-20 minutes when you first wake up and 15-20 minutes when you head to bed. Then, you have the rest of the day to focus on other activities.
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    Read your book out loud to stay engaged. Reading aloud changes up your routine, keeps things interesting, and enhances understanding. Ever find yourself dozing off while reading silently? Reading out loud could be just the solution you’re looking for. Try reading a few paragraphs out loud and see if that makes the reading process more effective and enjoyable for you. It also helps you process the information and stay attentive.
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Section 2 of 3:

How to Get into Reading

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1. 
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   Start with a short, approachable book. Teacher and education researcher Soren Rosier, PhD, recommends starting with easier books, and says that if you try reading a difficult book right from the jump, you might bounce before you even get started. Choose a book that’s pretty short and easy to begin with, like a YA novel or even a comic book. This is a great way to build your reading momentum—finishing a short book is still finishing a book, and you’ll want to jump right into the next one! Some fun, short books to try include:

   • The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
   • And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
   • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
   • Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
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   Read for short periods of time. A short, 20-minute reading session prevents you from getting bored. It’s great if a book is riveting enough to keep you reading for 3 hours straight, but that shouldn’t be the expectation for your reading sessions. Instead, aim for short, 20-minute chunks at a time, so you actively enjoy what you’re reading without getting burned out.

   • At the start, feel free to go even shorter. Aim for 10 minutes a day for a week, then 15, then 20, then 30.
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   Stop reading a book if you don’t like it. It’s hard to find the motivation to read more if you don’t like the book you’re reading. It’s tough to quit a book cold turkey; you feel like you’re somehow letting yourself down by stopping instead of seeing it all the way through. This couldn’t be further from the truth, though—your time is valuable, so it’s important to only spend time reading books that you genuinely enjoy. Plus, it’s easy to get burned out if you force yourself to read something you don’t like.

   • Give yourself a chapter or so before making a decision. Some really great books can start off slow in the beginning.
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   Choose books that fit your interests. You’ll be much more motivated to read a book that’s exciting to you. Plenty of people assume that “reading more” means “reading more classics,” but that just isn’t the case. Classic literature isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and it’s totally fine if you stick to a different class of books. Besides, you’ll enjoy a book more if it covers a topic that you really like.

   • Don’t force yourself to read non-fiction books if you have a passion for fantasy and science fiction.
   • Don’t sit through a light, comedic novel if you’d rather dive into a gripping thriller.
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   Keep it low-pressure to avoid burnout. Reading is supposed to be fun! Some people get too occupied with reading the “right” books or with reading quickly, but that’s a one-way ticket to burnout. Don’t pressure yourself into habits that aren’t enjoyable. Take your time, read guilty pleasure books, and don’t feel like you have to look up every single strange word. Relax and enjoy the ride!
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   Try a new genre to find new literary gems. Part of the fun of reading is picking your next book. “Take some time to go and browse the shelves,” says library and information specialist Kim Gillingham, MA, “you never know what treasures you may find.” New genres help keep your reading list interesting. There’s nothing wrong with sticking with books you know and love, but it can be just as fun to expand your horizons. Try reading a book from a different genre and see what you think. You might find a whole new world of literature waiting for you!

   • If you normally read non-fiction books, try reading a dramatic play or novella instead.
   • If you’re a fan of classic mystery novels, try switching things up with a contemporary romance book.
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   Join or start a book club to make it more social. Discussing a book with others can be really rewarding and motivating. In a book club, everyone reads the same book at about the same pace. This gives you a great opportunity to really dive into the book and come up with your own thoughts and opinions. Getting to share these thoughts and opinions can really get you going and motivate you to keep reading.

   • “Most libraries also have book clubs where you can read and discuss a book each month,” Gillingham suggests.
   • Also check sites like “Meetup” to see if there are any independent book clubs in your area.
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   Look for recommendations from people you trust. Book recommendations can be a great motivator for reading more, especially when choosing a good book gets tricky. Maybe your friend is gushing about a novel she just finished, or your co-worker is raving about a thriller that they just can’t put down. “Check book reviews in print and online newspapers, such as the New York Times bestseller list,” Gillingham says. Recommendations not only give you new material to read, but they also help you look forward to seeing what all the hype is about.

   • Best of all, you can ask just about anyone for a book recommendation, whether it’s a friend, family member, co-worker, or a random stranger you pass in the bookstore.
   • “If you have a favorite author, many times the library will have lists of recommended authors you might enjoy,” Gillingham adds.
   • Or, take our What Book Should I Read Quiz for a quick, personalized rec!
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Section 3 of 3:

Why should you read more?

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   Reading for just 20 minutes a day reduces stress. This is a stressful world we live in, and it doesn’t help how online we all are. But experts have found that picking up a book for just 20 minutes each day significantly reduces stress levels, and as a result makes you happier, healthier, and more relaxed.

   • Similarly, studies show that reading before bed helps you sleep better.
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   Reading enhances your empathy. The world is missing some empathy these days, but reading helps put you in other people’s shoes. By experiencing new characters and new perspectives, you expand your mind and become a kinder, more sympathetic person, which makes your relationships stronger.
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   Reading keeps your brain sharp and ready. Objects at rest tend to stay at rest, and that applies to your brain, too. If you’re not challenging it and keeping it engaged, it’ll never reach its full potential. Reading just a little every day, though, keeps your mind active and sharp, and helps you face each day with all your wits about you.
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   Reading enhances your reading comprehension. That might sound obvious, but it’s worth keeping in mind! With the dominance of social media and news headlines, it’s vital to be able to read between the lines and understand the information you’re given. The best way to develop that skill is through practice, and the best way to practice is by reading books that challenge and engage you, and get you asking tough questions.
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Expert Q&A

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• Question

  How can I motivate myself to read if I don't enjoy it?

  

  Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed.
  Educational Consultant

  Alexander Ruiz is an Educational Consultant and the Educational Director of Link Educational Institute, a tutoring business based in Claremont, California that provides customizable educational plans, subject and test prep tutoring, and college application consulting. With over a decade and a half of experience in the education industry, Alexander coaches students to increase their self-awareness and emotional intelligence while achieving skills and the goal of achieving skills and higher education. He holds a BA in Psychology from Florida International University and an MA in Education from Georgia Southern University.

  

  Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed.

  Educational Consultant

  Expert Answer

  I recommend listening to audio books. Start with an audiobook, and from there, add on reading the actual book to follow along. Eventually, you will hopefully be able to enjoy the actual book on its own. Remember that most libraries offer free access to audiobooks as well.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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• Some people “skim” in order to read faster, but this technique applies more to academic/techincal texts than fun reading. If you’re reading for fun, speed reading can lead to burnout or poor comprehension.
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