PDF download Download Article PDF download Download Article

One hundred books in a year may seem like an impossible accomplishment. Where will you find the time? If you really examine your daily life and your schedule, you’ll probably find that you actually have quite a bit of time that is spent on activities that can easily be turned into reading time. If you truly have a passion for reading and want to achieve the goal of at least 100 books in a year, you can definitely do it.

Part 1
Part 1 of 2:

Scheduling Your Reading

PDF download Download Article
  1. There are 52 weeks in a year, meaning you need to read about two books a week if you want to read 100 books in the year. This amounts to an average of 3.5 days to read each book. This may sound daunting, but remember, some books will be shorter and only take a day or two to read.[1]
    • Try to stick to an average of two books a week. There will be ebbs and flows in your reading. Some weeks you may only read half a book while other weeks you may read five books.
    • If you’re feeling overwhelmed about your lack of progress, read a few shorter books to get ahead quickly.
  2. [2] You may think you have no time for reading, but take a good look at your day and see what you can find. Do you watch T.V. after dinner for an hour or more? Do you spend a lot of time on Buzzfeed, Facebook, or other time-wasting sites? Do you binge Netflix? Use the time you spend on these activities and re-allocate it to reading.[3]
    • You don’t have to completely remove these activities from your schedule, but cut back on them and use that time for reading.
    Advertisement
  3. Keep a written record of the books you have read or use a website like GoodReads (www.goodreads.com) to keep track of the books you have read. GoodReads is easy to use and you will get recommendations based on what you have read to help you find new books to read.
    • Keeping a record of what you have read will help you know how many books you have left. It’s also fun to watch your list grow as you finish more and more books.
    • Consider keeping a journal about the books you have read. If you enjoy writing, this can be a great way to engage with what you read and improve your writing skills at the same time.[4]
  4. Everyone is different, but find what works for you. Turn off all of your electronics at least an hour before you normally go to bed and read until you fall asleep. If you’re eating alone, read a book. If you’re waiting to meet up with a friend, take out that book while you wait.[5]
    • Once you start increasing your reading, you’ll find it easier to find more time to read.
  5. Remember, audiobooks are books too. If you have a long commute, listen to an audiobook. You can also listen to books while cooking dinner or taking a walk. This is a great way to optimize time that you otherwise couldn’t be reading.[6]
    • Audiobooks can be expensive, but look at your local library to see if you can check some out from there.
    • Audiobook subscriptions are also a cheaper way to get audiobooks.
    EXPERT TIP
    Annabelle Reyes

    Annabelle Reyes

    wikiHow Staff Writer
    Annabelle earned her B.A. in English with departmental honors from UCLA in 2020. Her writing has appeared in various online publications and magazines. She now writes and edits for the content team at wikiHow with the goal of making expert knowledge accessible to anyone. She loves learning, and she is passionate about writing clear, accessible, and enjoyable content for all of wikiHow’s readers.
    Annabelle Reyes
    Annabelle Reyes
    wikiHow Staff Writer

    "Audiobooks are a great option if you want to read more classics. Shakespeare’s plays, for example, are meant to be performed or read aloud, so audiobooks truly enhance the experience. Hearing the narrator’s tone of voice and emotional performance also makes the language easier to comprehend and more accessible for a modern audience."

  6. Being part of a regular book club is a good way to stay motivated with your reading challenge. It will introduce new books into your reading cycle and is a great way to stay on track. It would be even more fun to start a book club with your friends.
    • Challenge them to read 100 books a year with you. Keep score! If they start beating you, it will motivate you to read more!
  7. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 2:

Using Strategies to Read More

PDF download Download Article
  1. You don't have to read for hours and hours every day, but you will need to read for a reasonable amount of time every day, depending on how fast you read and how long the book you're reading is. Add reading to your daily routine and try to read as often as possible. Aim to read about ten hours a week.[7]
    • If you commute, read on the train.
    • Read on your breaks at work instead of socializing.
    • Read at the doctor’s office while you wait for you appointment.
    • Read instead of checking social media or watching T.V.
  2. This might be hard for people who like to finish what they have started, but if the book isn’t engaging, you are less likely to read it. If you’re not inspired to read, it will be more difficult for you to read. Choose books that are relevant to what is currently happening in your life.[8]
    • If you’re reading a book you just can’t put down, it will be easier to read more often.
    • Not every book is for you. Don’t feel guilty because you can’t get excited about a book your friends have raved about. Read what interests you!
  3. Technology makes it even easier to carry a book with you everywhere you go. You can download e-reader apps to your phone and have a book with you at all times. If you have an e-reader, you can sync your phone reading to your e-reader so you never lose your place.
    • Small ten minute reading sessions while waiting for the bus will add up over time.
  4. Have a few books in various subjects going at one time. Choose a fiction book for light reading before bed and a more complicated non-fiction book for a challenge. You may not be in the mood for one book, but since you’re reading more than one book, you have options![9]
    • Having multiple books encourages you to read more often because you can read what you are most interested in at that moment.
  5. Even if you’re reading multiple books simultaneously, they are likely in different genres. Choose the next book you want to read in each genre before you are finished with the current one, so you don’t stall in your reading. Browsing the new releases at the library is a great way to find something interesting to read.[10]
    • If you have money to spend, go to the bookstore and buy a new or used book. The more books you own, the more options you have to read. This will keep your momentum going to reach your goal of 100+ books.
    • Buying books in bulk guarantees that you will always have a book nearby to start immediately after finishing the last one.
    • An alternative to buying in bulk is to use the library, borrow books from a friend, or use ebook sites with free downloads such as Project Gutenberg, iBooks, and Libri Vox.
    • Keep a list of books you want to read and refer to that when you’re having trouble figuring out what to read.
  6. Sometimes it can be hard to decide what exactly you want to read. Choosing a theme for the year could help you with these decisions. Maybe you want to read a few books from each genre or all of the books by a specific author. You could also do something like “Reading the World” or going through the bestsellers that year.[11]
    • Even if you don’t make it through the list, it’s a good place to find ideas for what to read next.
  7. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Is reading 78 still an accomplishment?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Everyone has his/her own goal, so any amount of books read is an accomplishment if you think it is. Most people would think reading 78 books a year is an accomplishment.
  • Question
    How can I be motivated to read more?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Pretend it is school, and your teacher assigned this book to read in one day. You could also give yourself a reward, such as if you get all the reading done, you can get ice cream.
  • Question
    Only 100? What do you do the other 265 days?
    Mollie Snyder
    Mollie Snyder
    Community Answer
    Most people cannot read a book in a day. If you can, go ahead! If you wanted to read 100+ books in a year, you need to read about 2 books in a week as there are 52 weeks in a year. If you wish to go the extra mile and try for one book a day, go for it!
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement

Tips

Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

About This Article

Grant Faulkner, MA
Co-authored by:
Professional Writer
This article was co-authored by Grant Faulkner, MA. Grant Faulkner is the Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and the co-founder of 100 Word Story, a literary magazine. Grant has published two books on writing and has been published in The New York Times and Writer’s Digest. He co-hosts Write-minded, a weekly podcast on writing and publishing, and has a M.A. in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University.  This article has been viewed 63,944 times.
17 votes - 85%
Co-authors: 14
Updated: May 25, 2024
Views: 63,944
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 63,944 times.

Did this article help you?

Advertisement