How to Read More Books: Practical Habits That Work

Start smaller than you think

The most common reason people stop reading isn’t lack of interest. It’s that reading needs a block of time that never appears. Try a goal small enough to feel almost too easy, like 10 pages, one chapter or 15 minutes before bed. Hitting a small target daily tends to build momentum, and you can raise it later.

These are suggestions, not rules. Pick the two or three that fit your life and ignore the rest.

1. Put the book where your phone usually is

Reading competes with whatever is easiest to grab. Keep a book or e-reader on your nightstand, in your bag and next to the couch. If your phone charges by the bed, try moving it across the room and putting the book there instead.

An e-reader helps here because it’s always “loaded” with your next book. The 6-inch Kindle (2026) weighs 140 g and fits in a jacket pocket. Battery life is measured in weeks, so it’s rarely dead when you reach for it.

2. Read in the gaps

Waiting rooms, train rides and the 10 minutes before a meeting add up. The Kindle app on your phone syncs your place with your Kindle, so a few pages in a queue carry over to your e-reader at home.

3. Quit books you aren’t enjoying

Finishing every book you start is a fast way to stop reading altogether. Give a book a fair chance, then let it go if it isn’t working. There are far more good books than time to read them.

4. Sample before you commit

Kindle lets you download free samples of most books, usually the opening pages. Collect samples, read a few, and buy or borrow only the ones that hook you.

If you read a lot, Kindle+ (formerly Kindle Unlimited) makes this even easier. Amazon says you can borrow up to 20 titles at a time with no due dates while you’re subscribed, so you can start several books and return the ones that don’t grab you. It costs $11.99/mo and many major-publisher bestsellers aren’t included. See is Kindle+ worth it?

5. Keep a library hold queue

Free is a strong motivator. In the free Libby app, place holds on books you’re curious about so there’s always something arriving. In the US you can send most Libby ebooks straight to a Kindle. Our library borrowing guide has the steps. A loan with a due date also gives you a gentle deadline.

6. Add audiobooks for busy-eye time

Commutes, chores, cooking and walks are hard to read through but easy to listen through. If you own both the Kindle ebook and the Audible audiobook, Audible’s Read & Listen feature (formerly Whispersync for Voice) syncs your position so you can switch between reading and listening. Kindles need Bluetooth headphones or a speaker for audio. For other options, including free library audiobooks, see best audiobook services.

7. Make reading comfortable

Small physical annoyances can quietly kill a habit. On an e-reader:

• Increase the font size or change the typeface until reading feels effortless.
• Use the built-in dictionary instead of skipping unfamiliar words or reaching for your phone.
• Turn on warm light for night reading if your model has it. The Kindle Paperwhite does.
• Use a stand or page-turner if you read while eating or on a treadmill. See page turners.

8. Track progress lightly

Some people find a visible streak motivating. Amazon’s Kindle Reading Insights page shows books read per year, reading days per month, and daily and weekly streaks, but it’s viewed on the web, not on Kindle devices. A paper list or a reading-log app works just as well. Use tracking if it keeps you going, and drop it if it starts to feel like homework.

9. Alternate heavy and light books

Following a dense nonfiction book with a fast thriller keeps reading feeling like a reward rather than a chore. Keeping one “easy” book in rotation gives you something to reach for on tired evenings.

10. Make it social

A book club, a reading buddy or simply telling someone what you’re reading adds a little accountability and gives you someone to talk to about the ending.

A simple starting plan

1. Pick one place you’ll always read, such as bed, the train or lunch.
2. Set a small daily goal you’re confident you’ll hit.
3. Queue up three books: one you own, one library hold, one sample.
4. Add an audiobook for the commute.
5. Give yourself permission to quit anything that isn’t working.

If you’re choosing a device to help, start with which Kindle should I buy. If you’re weighing formats, see digital vs. physical books.