I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “so many books, so little time.” This sentiment definitely rings true for me because I add books to my TBR faster than I can ever catch up. Over my decade of experience working in bookstores and libraries, and a near lifetime of reading, I am sharing my tips for how to read faster.
1. Choose your format
Find the format that works for you. Some people love to read books in hardcover, some like softcover, some like large print, some like e-books, some like audio. To each their own, and there is definitely no one format that is better than any other.
I personally like reading in kindle format, for a couple of reasons that I’ll discuss later, but I also love reading audio books because I can pair my listening with other tasks like driving, knitting or cleaning.
You may find that you get through books a lot faster using one format over another. Some folks swear that they read faster when they read the large print version of a book. Some folks crank the speed on their audiobook to 1.5 or even 2xs the speed. If it works for you, then it works!
2. Quit saying the words in your head
Don’t subvocalize…at least not all the time. I read plenty of speed reading articles on the internet to learn that they all recommend NOT subvocalize the book. However, I take this rule with a grain of salt. When I silently read the words aloud in my head, it helps my comprehension of the story. Not only that, but it adds to my enjoyment of the story.
I recommend that you try both ways of reading to see what works for you. When you eliminate the reading aloud in your head, you’ll notice that your eyes can move across the page a heck of a lot faster than when you do.
My rule of thumb is I read the parts of the book that I’m not enjoying really fast, and I slow down and savour the parts that I am enjoying. And once I am caught up in the reading experience, I just go with the flow and don’t think about reading speed at all.
3. Get motivated
Increase your reading motivation. I think many happiness experts would agree that it’s important to try to spend more time doing the things you love. It’s sad but true that sometimes we are not motivated to do things that make us happy. Here are some ways I have found to motivate myself to read more. And the more you read, the better -and faster- you will get at it!
4. Set a goal
During busy periods of my life I set a goal to read 20 pages a day. For me, that is usually about 20 minutes of reading, and in my experience is quite doable. I try to be stickler about this goal because it helps me to maintain consistency. If you stick to your reading goal, you will cover much more reading ground overall. You might be surprised at how many books you can get through just by this simple goal.
By setting a manageable goal like reading for 20 minutes a day, you will build a positive reading habit. You also might find that 20 minutes just isn’t enough once you start, and you end up reading more. It’s the same principle of saying to myself I’m only going to work out for 10 minutes at the gym, and I usually always end up doing more anyway.
5. Track your progress
Another way I keep motivated is to watch my progress. Goodreads has an update feature and I like to see the percentage jump when I enter my new page number on my status updates. Another feature I love is in the Kindle, you can see your reading progress. I can see how many more minutes and hours until I finish the book (sometimes even the chapter) Some folks swear by their reading journal, though that’s not something I can say I’ve tried.
6. Treat yourself
What to do if you lose your reading oomph? Try pairing reading time with a treat! If sitting down to read seems like work, you may need to remind yourself how much you enjoy reading. What better way to do that than to try a new brew while you’re reading. I happen to enjoy all kinds of brews, tea, coffee, and beer. Maybe a piece of fancy chocolate while you’re reading will make you feel a little decadent, and be just the motivation you need to sit down with that book.
7. Phone a friend
Do a buddy read– reading with a friend is incredibly fun. You can text each other about the book as you are reading, and have a facetime reading date.
8. Know when to give up
This sounds a bit sad, but it’s not really. Quit while you’re ahead. I’ve always been someone who has no problem stopping a book half way through, or even ¾ through if i’m no longer enjoying it. If you are a mood reader like me, then you may need to recognize that moods change and it’s okay if your interest in a book changes with your mood.
Over the years, I’ve learned the difference between books that are not for me, and books that are not for me right now. Why waste your time trudging through a book that feels like work when your next book could be a page turner that you really enjoy?
9. Taste test the book before committing
Sample more books–This is a hack I’ve only recently started doing when I started my new job as a cataloger for my library. The more books you sample, the more you will begin to recognize what you do and don’t like in a book. You may hate books with lots of description, or love witty banter, or prefer a certain perspective. Here’s how I like to sample books:
10. Are you hooked on page one?
Read the first page–I love a good hook, and I try to find books that have a strong voice right from the start. If page one is entertaining, than chances are that the book is written in a style and voice that you like and you’ll enjoy the rest of the book.
11. The page 99 test
If you’re unsure if the first page has you hooked, flip to page 99. Though I’m pretty sure this number is arbitrary, very often this section of the book is where the action is really picking up. I haven’t had the experience of any spoilers when doing this.
This is a trick I do a lot while cataloging, especially for books that I don’t consider to be in my wheelhouse (action, history, certain non-fiction topics). I picked up Butcher, by some author and I read 5 whole pages before I realized I was supposed to be working. That’s a sign of a good book!
12. Sample on Amazon or Library catalog
It’s actually pretty funny that sampling books isn’t more popular. The publisher wants you to read the sample because they’re confident that they can get you on the line to buy the book. I use this feature a lot at work, and have started to enjoy sampling books this way for pleasure, too.
13. Know where the book is headed
Before I take a road trip, I usually look at the driving directions to see what roads I’ll be on, how long it will take, etc. Doing the same with my books is a way for me to know where my reading is going. Is the book divided into parts? Will there be an epilogue? I like to see how long the chapters are and where a good place to stop will be. Approaching reading like this helps prepare your brain for the experience so that you can sit back and enjoy the ride.
14. Don’t be afraid to skim
There’s nothing wrong with skimming some parts of the book that seem boring. I’ve heard plenty of reviews say that they loved the beginning and the ending of a book but the middle slogged. Life is too short for sloggy middles people! Skim that section until the going gets good. You don’t owe anybody anything and there is no test (well unless you are a student, then there might be a test.)
15. Read for enjoyment
I try to always remember that reading is for my enjoyment. There were plenty of times during school when teachers gave reading assignments and it often sucked the fun out of it. Maybe this was your experience too, and you need to remind yourself that reading is supposed to be fun. And you get to make the rules.
I hope these tips will help you make your reading life more enjoyable, and that you feel empowered to conquer your TBR!
Let me know what works for you! Is there a tip for reading faster that you use? Drop a comment and let us know!
Happy reading!
Disclaimer: Reading faster is not necessarily better. Read my post about why I love reading slowly, coming soon.
