How I Read 95 Books in a Year: Practical Tips to Boost Your Reading Habit
As the new year unfolds, many of us set resolutions to read more books. If you're aiming to make 2026 your most literary year yet, you're not alone. The National Year of Reading campaign is in full swing, encouraging both adults and children to rediscover the joy of books amidst a worrying decline in reading enjoyment across the UK.
A Personal Reading Journey
Every January, I start a new list on my phone to track every book I read over the coming twelve months. This personal tradition, which began in 2018, has evolved into what I affectionately call "organised chaos" - a slightly unwieldy but cherished inventory of literary adventures.
According to my 2025 records, I managed to read 95 books, starting with Nathan Hill's Wellness and concluding with Rob Franklin's Great Black Hope. This represents a significant increase from my previous average of around 70 books annually and places me in a distinct minority among British readers.
The UK's Reading Reality
Recent YouGov research reveals a sobering picture of reading habits in Britain. The average person reads or listens to just three books per year, with 40% of respondents admitting they hadn't read a single book in the previous twelve months. This trend extends to younger generations too, with children's reading enjoyment reaching its lowest recorded level in 2025.
While discussing reading achievements might seem like humblebragging, I'm acutely aware that numerous legitimate barriers prevent people from reading more frequently. Work commitments, childcare responsibilities, the erosion of attention spans through social media consumption, and systematic library closures due to funding cuts all contribute to this decline.
The Transformative Power of Reading
Despite these challenges, reading offers remarkable benefits that make the effort worthwhile. Scientific studies consistently demonstrate that regular reading improves focus, reduces stress levels, and functions as a cognitive workout that enhances memory and concentration while slowing cognitive decline.
Perhaps most importantly, reading serves as a powerful tool for developing empathy. As historian Dominic Sandbrook recently noted in The Independent, reading allows us to "meet new people, have extraordinary experiences and, crucially, get a taste of what it might be like to be somebody else." Sandbrook has even launched a new podcast, The Book Club, specifically to help more people share in the enjoyment of great stories.
Practical Strategies for Reading More
Before sharing specific advice, I must acknowledge my personal circumstances: I don't have children or pets, which means I enjoy more free time and uninterrupted sleep than many parents. Additionally, my reliance on public transport provides ample reading opportunities during bus journeys.
My most fundamental recommendation is simple: always carry a book with you. This transforms otherwise wasted moments - waiting for trains, arriving early for appointments, or any brief pause in your day - into valuable reading opportunities that might otherwise be sacrificed to phone scrolling.
Tailoring Your Reading Approach
If carrying substantial hardbacks seems impractical, consider designating a "home book" for domestic reading and a smaller "bag book" for portable reading. Slim, chic novels in translation, such as Daunt's lovely reissues of Italian writer Natalia Ginzburg's novellas, make excellent portable companions.
I strongly advocate for reading multiple books simultaneously, much like selecting perfumes to match different moods. Discovering how you most enjoy reading is deeply personal. Some readers benefit from putting their phone in another room to minimize distractions, while others create playlists that complement their current read. Many contemporary authors, including David Nicholls and Diana Evans, share Spotify playlists of songs that inspired their writing.
Embracing Different Formats
While I've never fully connected with audiobooks - my mind tends to wander without visual text - many friends find them transformative. Audiobooks allow them to consume stories while commuting, exercising, or completing household chores. Some readers successfully mix formats, using physical books at home and switching to audio versions while driving.
For those prone to indecision, maintaining momentum proves crucial. I keep my next few planned reads on my bedside table rather than on bookshelves, enabling seamless transitions between books without wasting time deciding what to read next.
Navigating Reading Fluctuations
It's important to recognize that reading pace naturally fluctuates throughout the year. You might experience a bumper month during summer holidays when you have more leisure time, followed by slower periods when work responsibilities intensify. During reading slumps, switching to an unfamiliar genre can provide refreshing variety - Mick Herron's detective novel Down Cemetery Road rescued me from such a slump last year.
While reading often feels solitary, building community around books can significantly enhance the experience. When I returned to my hometown several years ago, joining a book club not only introduced me to authors I wouldn't have discovered independently but also helped me forge new friendships. Similarly, developing relationships with independent bookshop staff whose recommendations you trust can lead to wonderful literary discoveries.
A Kindle Success Story
Victoria Harper's experience demonstrates how technology can revitalize reading habits. After nearly abandoning pleasure reading despite being a lifelong book lover, she reluctantly purchased a Paperwhite Kindle. The device's lack of blue light and adjustable text size addressed her concerns about screen fatigue and small print. Soon, she was devouring books like Barbara Kingsolver's Demon Copperhead and Ann Napolitano's Hello Beautiful, rediscovering her reading groove while enjoying the unexpected benefits of earlier bedtimes and improved sleep quality.
Setting Realistic Goals
While reading goals aren't everything - it's more important to read at a comfortable pace than to rush through short books purely to increase numbers - they can provide valuable motivation for certain personalities. This year, I'm aiming for 100 books. Whether I reach triple figures remains to be seen, but the journey promises to be rewarding regardless of the final count.
Ultimately, the most important aspect of reading isn't quantity but the personal enrichment it provides. By finding approaches that work with your lifestyle and preferences, you can transform reading from a neglected resolution into a sustainable source of joy, knowledge, and personal growth.
