For those who read a lot of books, how?

I read an awful lot of books each year as I'm naturally a very quick reader. I always have at least two books on the go, usually one fiction and one non-fiction and always at least one 'real' book and one on Kindle. I read for about 20 mins each way on the bus every day, and have a bath with a book, without fail, every night. I also read for twenty minutes or more in bed every night.

I rarely watch television, and I think that helps too.

Having said all that, I'd read a lot more if I didn't waste so much time on the internet!

I have managed to increase my reading by actively scheduling myself reading time - that might be a bit OTT for some people, but my diary gets very full and I protect that time quite fiercely!
Also I carry my Kindle everywhere, so 10 mins in a waiting room etc - it all adds up.
Also listen to Audible while exercising and when driving

I don't read a LOT, but I read in the bath, in bed (just briefly), and if DH has some boring sport on the telly I keep him company but read a book. Also, if I have a meeting that involves train travel I will sometimes deliberately travel early, read on the train, then work in a cafe, as I can't use screens on fast trains as it makes me sick.

Commuting to work by train & lots of holidays!

I don't actually read in the house much at all.

booty Audible is £7.99 per month although you can buy additional credits cheaper. However, you can have multiple users for the account-my son and sister use my account and you can listen at the same time. My sister just gives me half the money and we conflab on books to share. It will also sync with a Kindle so if you're reading it on your Kindle then go to listen to it it will jump to the right place and vice versa.

I'm on the 50 books threads for the recommendations and discussion - it is not a counting exercise at all, and it doesn't really matter how many anyone reads and everyone reviews each read, they are not just totted up.

If people read more than me I assume they have found more time, and more things they fancy reading, not that they are trying to read as many as possible for the sake of it!

I read more than a book a week most weeks last year and could tell you what I thought of all of them - I don't agree that reading quickly means reading without comprehension, any more than processing the words slowly equals a difficulty in understanding.my husband reads around half the amount I do, despite more regular reading time, because he is just slower. There are a couple of regulars on the books threads who read well over 100 and write very good reviews and recommendations based on each.

FatGreen it's not like that at all! Come on over to the 50 book challenge thread, it's filled with genuine book lovers sharing their enjoyment, and is a great source of recommendations.

I read fast. I also read on my kindle app so i take it with me in the bath,before bed,while i'm cooking etc. It also helps if it's a book that is really good so I'm completely lost in it and don't need any other distractions. I have been known to finish more than one book in a day .

Yes they are a thing - you can set a number of books to read in the year on Goodreads.

I do agree that some seem to view it as a task rather than pleasure (which is why I set mine low - or adjust it through the year!!).

I'm too easily distracted FatGreen to read vivaciously like you!! I'd love to be able to though

I'm a reallly fast reader which helps

I enjoy reading whilst having a soak in the bath

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.

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!!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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?

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!?! 😂

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.

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.

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.