How to Read More Books Every Month: 10 Proven Habits That Actually Work

how to read more books every month is the practice of building intentional daily reading habits, removing friction from your reading environment, and strategically choosing books so you consistently finish more titles than you currently do.

Why Most People Struggle to Read More Books

The average American reads just 12 books per year, according to a Pew Research Center survey. Yet avid readers — people like Bill Gates and Warren Buffett — report reading 50 or more books annually. The gap isn’t about intelligence or free time. It’s almost entirely about systems and habits. Once you understand the small adjustments that compound over weeks and months, reading more becomes surprisingly achievable.

1. Start With a Realistic Daily Reading Goal

The biggest mistake new readers make is aiming too high, too fast. Instead of committing to an hour a day, start with just 20 minutes. At an average reading speed of 250 words per minute, 20 minutes gets you roughly 5,000 words — or about 15–20 pages. That’s one full book every two to three weeks without ever feeling overwhelmed.

Use the “habit stacking” technique: attach your reading session to an existing habit. Read right after your morning coffee, during your lunch break, or before you turn off the lights at night. Consistency beats intensity every time.

2. Always Have a Book Ready

Idle moments are hidden reading goldmines. Waiting rooms, commutes, queues at the grocery store — these small windows add up fast. Keep a physical book in your bag and a reading app loaded on your phone so you can pick up wherever you left off. People who read during commutes read an average of 26 additional books per year compared to those who don’t.

3. Create a Distraction-Free Reading Environment

Notifications are the enemy of deep reading. Before sitting down with a book, put your phone on Do Not Disturb, close browser tabs, and let household members know you need a few uninterrupted minutes. Even a single distraction can cost you several minutes of re-engagement time. Over the course of a month, those minutes rob you of entire chapters.

Set Up a Reading Nook

Having a dedicated reading spot — a comfortable chair, good lighting, a small side table for your drink — trains your brain to shift into reading mode the moment you sit down. Environmental design is one of the most underrated productivity tools available.

4. Choose Books You Actually Want to Read

This sounds obvious, but many people abandon their reading goals because they’re slogging through books they feel they should read rather than books they genuinely want to read. Give yourself full permission to read for pleasure. Fiction, graphic novels, short essay collections — all of it counts. The goal is to build the habit first; you can diversify your reading list later.

Apply the “50-page rule”: if a book hasn’t engaged you by page 50, put it down and move on. Life is too short — and your reading list too long — to finish every book you start.

5. Track Your Reading Progress

Tracking creates accountability and momentum. Apps like Goodreads let you log books, set annual reading challenges, and see your progress visualised over time. Research in behavioural psychology consistently shows that people who monitor their habits are 42% more likely to achieve their goals. Seeing a streak of reading days is a powerful motivator not to break the chain.

6. Use Audiobooks and E-Readers Strategically

Audiobooks are a legitimate way to “read” more books. Listen during your commute, workout, or household chores. A 10-hour audiobook finished over two weeks of daily commutes is still a book completed. Many avid readers consume 30–40% of their annual titles through audio. Pair audiobooks with physical or digital reading and you’ll be amazed how quickly your monthly count climbs.

7. Join a Reading Community or Book Club

Social accountability is a powerful force. When you commit to finishing a book before a book club meeting or share your reading updates online, you introduce a gentle external pressure that keeps you on track. Reading communities also provide a rich source of personalised recommendations, helping you spend less time searching and more time actually reading.

8. Reduce Your Screen Time Intentionally

The average adult spends over 7 hours per day on screens, according to DataReportal’s 2024 Global Overview. Redirecting even 15% of that screen time toward reading would add more than an hour of reading daily. Audit your phone’s screen time report and identify one low-value app — social media scrolling, for example — that you can swap for a reading session.

Build Your Reading Life One Page at a Time

Reading more books every month is not about willpower — it’s about designing an environment and routine that makes reading the easiest, most natural choice you can make. Start small, stay consistent, and celebrate every book you finish. Over time, those pages stack up into a genuinely transformed reading life.

Looking for more tips on smart life? Visit SAVYX

Frequently Asked Questions

How many pages should I read per day to finish one book a month?

Most novels are between 250 and 350 pages. Reading just 10–15 pages a day — about 15–20 minutes at an average pace — is enough to finish at least one book per month comfortably.

Do audiobooks count as reading?

Yes, absolutely. Listening to an audiobook engages the same comprehension and imagination processes as reading text. Many prolific readers use audiobooks to significantly increase their annual book count.

What is the best time of day to read?

The best time to read is whenever you can be most consistent. Many readers prefer early morning before distractions begin, or right before bed as a wind-down ritual. Experiment for a week and stick with what feels most natural.

How do I stop falling asleep while reading?

Avoid reading lying flat in bed when you’re already tired. Instead, read in a well-lit, upright position. Reading earlier in the evening, choosing an engaging book, and keeping sessions to 20–30 minutes can also help you stay alert.

Is it better to read one book at a time or multiple books?

It depends on your personality. Some readers focus better on one book at a time, while others enjoy having a fiction and a non-fiction title on the go simultaneously. Try both approaches and see which keeps you reading most consistently.