For those who read a lot of books, how?

[bootygirl]

I realised lately that I could read more if I stopped wasting hours on Facebook & boards!
Is that how people read so many books? I am also slow at reading too. Just curious how some people get through so many books.?

[Izzy24]

Yep.

Step away from the screens!

[CorporalNobbyNobbs]

Yes you have to put down the laptop and phone. And no flicking on the telly.

I am dreadful for the Internet but managed to read 65 new books last year (plus c.15 rereads). Going for 80/20 this year.

[FatGreen]

I'm not on FB or twitter, and I don't really watch TV. I prefer reading to almost anything else in life, so obviously I prioritise it, and I always, always, have a book in my bag.

[CoteDAzur]

Turn off TV, iPad, computer.

Get a Kindle and read everywhere, incl. when brushing teeth, stirring the soup, etc.

[MiladyThesaurus]

I read very quickly but do it in the time I'd allocate to pissing about on the internet or watching stuff on tv just because it's on. It's a much better use of time than either of those.

[ShanghaiDiva]

Always have a book with me. We live overseas and have a driver so always read in the car and tv here is dreadful.

[Eolian]

I'm a fast reader and I read every night withour fail before going to sleep. I should definitely swap some MN / FB time for more reading though.

[Therearenoghostshere]

I'm a SAHM with a few health issues. I listen to audiobooks when doing housework, cooking etc and then read proper books when sitting down for lunch and when waiting for DC at after school clubs etc and evenings. Still manage to fit in a bit of screen time and a little tv :)

[Isadora2007]

I'm really lucky and am a super fast reader. I don't watch much tv so once kids are in bed I read.
I also have a few books on the go sometimes. So one next to bed and one in my work bag for when I have a break or a client is a no show.

[CorporalNobbyNobbs]

I wonder what qualifies as fast or slow reader. I've no idea which one I am!

[Tarahumara]

Every evening I go up to bed half an hour earlier than I otherwise would. I leave my phone downstairs, and we don't have a TV in our bedroom. That's when I get most of my reading done.

I also take my kindle with me if I have to wait while the DC are doing an activity, and for things like the dentist's waiting room, car service etc.

[thebakerwithboobs]

I have an hour commute to work and so listen to audiobooks-also when ironing etc. Audible is a great app for this. Maybe this doesn't officially constitute reading books but I love it.

[bootygirl]

corporal. I read approx one page a minute. So an hours reading I get through about 50-60 pages. I think!

Thanks for the replies. I am going to limit some screen time. I would like audio books but my library has very limited selection & audible is expensive in €. Might price it again.

[FatGreen]

I'm told I'm an unusually fast reader on the rare occasions I'm reading a document together with someone else, and I certainly speed through novels - however, I am not a particularly retentive reader, so if I were reading something to, say, revise it for an exam, I would probably reread it multiple times in order to retain it as well as some slower readers.

[Isadora2007]

Apparently one page per minute is around average (approx 250/300 words per minute).
You can do online tests to look at yours. It is most helpful to check your comprehension after as well as obviously reading too fast that you don't understand the text isn't really of any benefit.
If I'm reading a text book I'm slower and the harder the info the slower I am. But for a novel or reading for pleasure i read around 900 words per minute and read an average novel in a few hours if i have the luxury. On holidays I would normally read a book a day amongst other activities.
My old flat mates used to actually watch me read as they couldn't believe I was reading so fast... it was kind of creepy to look up and realise they were all watching like wtf!?! 😂

[DodoRevival]

I'm a slow reader - read around 40-45 books a year. Obviously the number of books will vary depending on how big they are!!! I tend to gravitate towards bigger books (current one 860 odd pages - half way through now started reading on Boxing Day).

Not being distracted by screens is huge and if you avoid them or are disaplined you'll increase you number of books.

Reading a set number of pages per day is another way - even if you start at 20 pages (so 20 mins for you).

Are you on Goodreads?

[GetAHaircutCarl]

Audio books.

I always have one on the go in the car and one in the house, that I flick on if I'm potters my at the sink or eating ( I don't like reading a real book and eating) etc.

I also never go anywhere without either a PB or my kindle. Any unexpected down time and I can fish them out.

[SatsukiKusakabe]

I read quickly, but sometimes have spells where I can't concentrate so don't pack in as many as I could.

I don't watch much tv, but I do go on the internet a bit, but only for snatches here and there. Mainly book threads.

As cotedazur above I read whenever I have the opportunity; making dinner with Kindle propped up, whilst the kids watch tv or are otherwise occupied, whilst drying hair, always in bag if I find myself waiting anywhere. I read most regularly when I wake up with my tea, before bed, during toddler naps and settling children at bedtime. I also snatch time here and there if I go up to change the beds or when dh is bathing the kids

[SatsukiKusakabe]

It's the thing I enjoy most so if I have something to read and I'm feeling well in myself I don't have to set targets, I just read.

[KeithLeMonde]

I'd much rather curl up in bed with a good book than watch TV, so I read for at least 30 minutes most evenings. Take a book with me if I'm travelling by train/bus or if I have somewhere to sit and wait (including kids' sport training etc).

I'm also a fairly fast reader and can get through a couple of books in a day if I'm ill in bed or on holiday sans kids.

There's nothing positive per se about reading lots though. If you prefer other activities or are a slower (and probably more careful) reader, then you'll read less but enjoy it when you do do it.

[turkeyboots]

Sign your DC to long classes where you have nothing to do but read while you wait for them?! DD has moved to a swimming team so I get a extra 3hours reading time a week. A long train commute also helps as I read to wind down from the day.

[fascicle]

I'm not a fast reader. What worked for me last year was reading 30+ minutes every day and keeping a log.

KeithLeMonde
There's nothing positive per se about reading lots though.

Agreed. For me there comes a point at which reading lots of books means comprehension/appreciation/recall of individual books suffers.

[DodoRevival]

Agree with that fascicle. I see these reading challenges where people have read 200+ books in the year and do wonder if they took in much or recall it!!

Also OP don't be too concerned with people who seem to read huge amount of books in a year - I see people with (for example) 100 books as thier target and they have 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt' type books coming up as read on the news feed. Which is fine - still books - but doesn't really pertain to what 'i read a 100 books a year' conjours up.

I'm sure some people read huge amounts of books but it's not always as you might think it is.

I set my Goodreads target low!!

[FatGreen]

I'm always rather baffled by those reading challenges (which I've only ever seen on Mn - are they a thing?) which sound sometimes as though the people participating don't particularly enjoy reading, and are approaching it like some kind of diet and exercise regime, and counting off the books like laps. The reason I read so much and so fast is because there's nothing I'd rather be doing (and I'm also an inveterate re-reader) - if I didn't prefer reading to more or less anything in the world, I wouldn't be doing it.

[Soubriquet]

I'm a reallly fast reader which helps

I enjoy reading whilst having a soak in the bath