How to Read More Books (Without More Time)

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"I wish I had more time to read."

You don't need more time. You need better systems.

I read 50+ books a year. I have three young kids, run a business, and write my own books. I don't have "more time" than you.

Here's how I do it—and how you can too.

The Problem Isn't Time

Most people think they don't read because they're too busy.

That's not true. You have time. You just don't have systems.

Proof? You probably spend 2+ hours/day on your phone. Social media, news, YouTube, endless scrolling.

If you redirected just half that time to reading, you'd finish 25+ books a year.

The issue isn't time. It's defaults, friction, and intention.

The Systems That Actually Work

1. Always Be Reading (Multiple Books)

Most people read one book at a time, start to finish.

I read 3-5 simultaneously:

• Morning: Non-fiction (business, history, learning)
• Afternoon: Fiction (novels, short stories)
• Evening: Easy reads (memoirs, lighter non-fiction)
• Audiobook: Whatever I'm curious about (driving, cooking, walking)

Why this works: Your mood changes throughout the day. If you only have one book and you're not in the mood for it, you won't read.

Multiple books mean you always have something that fits your current energy level.

2. Remove Friction

Make reading the easiest option:

• Physical book on your nightstand (you'll see it before bed)
• Kindle/phone app with book queued up (one tap to start reading)
• Audiobook downloaded and ready (no searching when you get in the car)
• Book in your bag (for waiting rooms, commutes, lunch breaks)

The more steps between you and reading, the less you'll read.

Friction kills habits. Eliminate it.

3. Replace, Don't Add

Don't try to "find time" to read. Replace something else.

• Social media before bed → book before bed
• Podcast during commute → audiobook during commute
• TV after dinner → 20 minutes of reading
• Scrolling while waiting → reading while waiting

You already have the time. You're just spending it on lower-value activities.

4. Read in Micro-Sessions

You don't need hour-long reading sessions.

I read:

• 10 minutes before bed
• 5 minutes waiting for coffee to brew
• 15 minutes during lunch
• 20 minutes while kids play at the park

Those micro-sessions add up:

• 50 minutes/day = ~6 hours/week
• 6 hours/week = ~300 hours/year
• 300 hours/year at 50 pages/hour = 15,000 pages = ~50 books

Small blocks compound.

5. Abandon Books Ruthlessly

The biggest reading killer? Forcing yourself through books you don't like.

My rule: If I'm not hooked by page 50, I quit.

Life's too short for bad books. There are thousands of great ones waiting.

Quitting a book isn't failure—it's curation.

6. Use Audiobooks Strategically

Audiobooks aren't "cheating." They're a tool.

When audiobooks work:

• Memoirs (authors reading their own story)
• Narrative non-fiction (engaging storytelling)
• Fiction (great narrators bring characters alive)
• Re-reads (you already know the material)

When audiobooks don't work:

• Dense technical books (need to see diagrams, take notes)
• Books with lots of data/charts
• Philosophy (need to pause and think)

I listen to ~30% of my annual reading via audiobook. It unlocks "dead time" like driving, cooking, and walking.

7. Read at Different Speeds

Not every book deserves the same pace.

• Skimming: Books you need insights from but don't need to master (read intro, conclusion, and chapter summaries)
• Normal speed: Fiction, memoirs, narrative non-fiction
• Slow reading: Dense philosophy, technical books, books you're learning from (take notes, re-read sections)

I skim ~20% of books, read ~70% at normal speed, and deep-read ~10%.

Not every book is sacred. Some deserve attention. Others just need to be done.

8. Build a Reading Habit Stack

Attach reading to existing habits:

• "After I brush my teeth at night, I read for 10 minutes"
• "When I sit down with coffee in the morning, I read for 15 minutes"
• "While waiting for my kids at pickup, I read"

Habit stacking makes reading automatic.

What Doesn't Work (And Why)

Reading Goals ("I'll read 52 books this year")

Problem: Focuses on quantity over quality. You rush through books to hit the number instead of absorbing them.

Better approach: "I'll read every day, even if just 10 minutes." The habit matters more than the count.

Guilt-Driven Reading ("I should read this")

Problem: If you're not enjoying it, you won't finish it. You'll procrastinate and feel bad about it.

Better approach: Read what genuinely interests you. Curiosity is the best motivator.

Waiting for "The Right Time"

Problem: "I'll read when I have a free weekend / when things calm down / when I'm on vacation."

That time never comes.

Better approach: Read in the margins. 10 minutes today beats 2 hours "someday."

My Reading System (Step-by-Step)

Here's exactly how I read 50+ books/year:

Step 1: Maintain a Reading Queue

I keep a list of 10-15 books I want to read next.

When I hear about a good book, I add it to the queue immediately (Goodreads "Want to Read" shelf).

Why this works: When I finish a book, I don't waste time deciding what's next—I just pick from the queue.

Step 2: Pick 3-4 Active Books

From my queue, I choose:

• 1 non-fiction (learning/business/history)
• 1 fiction (novel or short story collection)
• 1 audiobook (memoir or narrative non-fiction)
• 1 optional "fun" book (light, easy, no pressure)

These live on my nightstand, Kindle, and Audible app.

Step 3: Match Book to Context

• High energy, morning: Non-fiction
• Medium energy, afternoon: Fiction
• Low energy, evening: Easy reads
• Multitasking (driving, cooking): Audiobook

I don't force myself to read the "important" book when I'm tired. I read what fits my current state.

Step 4: Capture Key Ideas

For non-fiction, I take notes:

• Dog-ear pages with key insights
• Highlight in Kindle
• Write 3-5 bullet points after finishing

For fiction, I don't take notes—I just enjoy the story.

Why this works: Note-taking helps retention, but only for books where retention matters.

Step 5: Quit or Continue (50-Page Rule)

At page 50, I decide:

• Hooked? Keep reading.
• Meh? Skim the rest or quit entirely.
• Hate it? Abandon immediately. No guilt.

Life's too short for mediocre books.

Common Obstacles (And Solutions)

"I'm Too Tired at Night"

Solution: Read easier books at night. Save dense non-fiction for mornings.

Or switch to audiobooks—you can listen while lying down with eyes closed.

"I Get Distracted by My Phone"

Solution: Put your phone in another room while reading. Or delete social media apps and use screen time limits.

If you can't resist the phone, you don't have a reading problem—you have a phone problem.

"I Forget What I Read"

Solution: Take notes. Write a 1-paragraph summary after finishing. Discuss the book with someone.

Active engagement beats passive consumption.

"I Fall Asleep While Reading"

Solution: That's a feature, not a bug! Reading before bed helps you sleep.

If you need to stay awake, read earlier in the day or switch to a more engaging book.

"I Don't Know What to Read"

Solution: Follow book recommendations from people whose taste you trust. Check bestseller lists. Browse "readers also enjoyed" sections on Goodreads.

Build a queue so you're never starting from zero.

The Books That Changed How I Read

Three books that transformed my reading practice:

1. How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler

Taught me that not all books deserve the same level of attention. Skim some, study others, and it's okay to quit most.

2. Atomic Habits by James Clear

Showed me how to build systems instead of relying on motivation. Reading habits compound like any other.

3. The Art of Reading by Damon Young

Reminded me that reading is for enjoyment, not achievement. It's okay to read "trashy" books if they bring you joy.

What I'm Reading Right Now

My current rotation:

• Non-fiction: The Discoverers by Daniel Boorstin (history of discovery)
• Fiction: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (sci-fi, re-read)
• Audiobook: Shoe Dog by Phil Knight (Nike memoir)
• Light read: Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman (time management)

That's four books moving simultaneously. I'll finish all four in the next 2-3 weeks.

Your Turn: Start Small

Don't try to overhaul your entire reading life overnight.

Start with one micro-habit:

• "I'll read for 10 minutes before bed"
• "I'll listen to an audiobook during my commute"
• "I'll carry a book with me and read whenever I'm waiting"

Do that for 30 days. Then add another habit.

Small, consistent actions compound into 50+ books a year.

You don't need more time. You need better systems.