If you read 50+ books a year, how do you do it?

Yes - I use the storygraph app, you can set challenges on there to and it also produces lots of lovely different graphs telling you about what kind of books you've read and things.

It also recommends books you might like which inspires me to try new books

I used to read easily 100 books a year, that was when working full time but before the internet.
Having children slowed it down to under 20 a year.
Now I am retired and DC grown up I'm reading just under 50. I've made a really concerted effort to read more instead of scrolling (and yet here I am faffing on MN instead of reading).
I can't get on with audio books and only read on kindle or kobo. I bought a second hand kobo which I only use for library books and out of copyright free books.

What helps me read more?
I DNF very quickly if I don't love a book within a chapter.
I am unadventurous and stick mostly to genres I like.
I can speed read but I don't do it all the time.

I would just recommend downloading Goodreads and setting yourself a challenge for the year on it. It tells you how ahead or behind your target you are.

I have had long fallow periods when I have only read magazines and Mumsnet. Forgive yourself for that; your brain just needs a rest or a reset.

Firstly, you need to ease yourself back into reading. I always start with re-reading easy old favourites - mine are Jane Austen, PG Wodehouse, and Agatha Christie.

Then I go in with new books and use post-its to mark up seven sections per book - ie days of the week. Naturally a short book such as Orbital can be read in a day, but it evens out because A Suitable Boy will take several weeks. So long books are for weekends and holidays, and short books are for commuting, and if I read one marked section at least I’ve always done a daily minimum.

I always read for an hour before bed - it’s essential for killing insomnia. Then on the tube and when waiting around to collect the offspring from activities. I try to use real books as I find I retain more information than when using a Kindle.

I read about 100-130 a year.... always have done! I love American literature and can easily read a book in an afternoon. I don't watch much TV...I go to bed at 9 and read before bed.

I not only read a fair bit, but am writing a novel while working full time. Early mornings, evenings and weekends basically.

Read on the train to work, instead of watching TV in the evening, use multiple formats like e-books so I can listen while walking the dog or in the gym. I can also up my weekly average with a holiday!

@Youcancallmeirrelevant I am quite a fast reader but it would take me a lot longer than 2.5 hours to read a 350 page book. I think you must read extremely fast, which is not realistic for most people. Also, I think with some books it would be a pity to whiz through it like that and not appreciate the language and the atmosphere. It would be a shame if people felt discouraged because it took them longer to finish a book.

@Youcancallmeirrelevant I am quite a fast reader but it would take me a lot longer than 2.5 hours to read a 350 page book. I think you must read extremely fast, which is not realistic for most people. Also, I think with some books it would be a pity to whiz through it like that and not appreciate the language and the atmosphere. It would be a shame if people felt discouraged because it took them longer to finish a book.

Yes it is.

would you tell a blind person using an audio book they're not reading?

Def is.

Agree also. One audible. One kindle

I usually have 2 books on the go at a time- one audio which I prefer for non-fiction and I listen while driving, cleaning etc. Then fiction books I live to wind down in the bath or when going to bed.

I read a lot. I don't have a Kindle and don't like audio books, so it's usually paperbacks. I go round charity shops, get a whole load, then mostly re donate if I won't read them again. I usually read on waking for a short time, mostly in the evening and in bed. I take one to work and read at lunchtime, even if it's only for 15 minutes. I usually take one if I go into town, and sit in a coffee shop and read. I think if it's always been part of your life, it's second nature, if that makes sense.

It’s consuming a book: the story, the language, the characters. Using ears not eyes is the only difference.

I read pretty much every night before going to sleep.
I can easily read half a book a night but that’s cause I’m a skim reader - great for rereads as I pick up on new things each time, not great for my budget as I read hundreds of books a year.

That’s not reading.

I used to read at least that many, but nowadays, not so much. That is because I’m spending too much time doomscrolling and on MN. It does lead me down interesting paths, but all the time I spend doing that is time I’m not reading actual books.
I am a fast reader, can easily read a book in an afternoon ( if it’s fiction, non-fiction I prefer to read more slowly and in short chunks).

DH loves sports, discovery in the evening on TV so I read. Always read in bed for a bit it relaxes me.

I read books that are relatively easy to read and keep me interested enough to keep reading. I have about 2 free hours in the daytime and about an hour before bed. If I wake really early I will sometimes get a book out. I think I must have read over 50 last year. I average about 2 a week but I do have a few gaps when I'm not reading anything.

A 30 mins each way commute is 10 hours a week. With the average audiobook being 8-12 hours that's a free book a week just on the commute time which gets you to 50 without needing to put aside any extra time.

If you are worried about blocking out sound while cycling then it may be worth looking at open ear headphones - these let you listen without blocking out any outside noise (they hook over your ear and dangle instead of sitting inside). That way you'll still be aware of traffic etc.

I tend to read a mixture of non-fiction (which could be anything from very readable to very dense complex text which requires reflection) literary fiction, and classics. I do sometimes read children's novels too, either to reread an old favourite or to read along with my child. I enjoyed some Anthony Horowitz books recently as my son was reading them and I enjoyed reading them so we could chat about them .

I have no idea how long the books I choose to read are. That never makes me decide whether I'm reading it or not.

However, I can’t do audio books at all. If I could, I’d be well into 200+ a year!

You're not the only one. I just can't focus and I find my mind wandering. 😅

My advice is the same as a lot of others, if you don't have a kindle I would definitely recommend one. It's portable and means I can read in bed without worrying about having adequate lighting.