The maths of reading more
Reading more books is less about speed and more about consistency. An average adult reads roughly 200 to 300 words per minute. A typical novel is about 80,000 to 100,000 words. That means:
- 20 minutes a day at 250 words per minute is about 5,000 words a day.
- That is roughly 150,000 words a month, or about one and a half average novels.
- Over a year, that becomes around 18 books, from just 20 minutes a day.
You don’t need to find hours. You need to protect a small, regular slot.
Reading time calculator
Estimate how long a book will take you and how many minutes a day you need to finish it by a deadline.
Free tool · Reading time calculator
12 habits that help you read more
1. Always have a book with you
Keep a paperback in your bag or an ebook app on your phone. Waiting rooms, queues and commutes become reading time.
2. Attach reading to an existing routine
Use habit stacking: “After I get into bed, I read for 10 minutes.” Linking reading to something you already do makes it automatic. We cover this idea in our Atomic Habits review.
3. Start with a tiny goal
Commit to one page a day. Most days you will read more, but the tiny goal keeps the habit alive on difficult days.
4. Replace, don’t add
Look at your screen time. Replacing 20 minutes of scrolling with reading is easier than finding new time.
5. Read books you actually enjoy
Reading “should” books slows people down. Choose books that excite you; our beginner book list is a good starting point.
6. Quit books that aren’t working
Give a book a fair chance, perhaps 50 pages, then move on if it does not hold your attention. Unfinished bad books are one of the biggest causes of reading slumps.
7. Mix formats
Use print at home, ebooks on the go and audiobooks while walking or doing chores. See our comparison of reading formats.
8. Read more than one book at once
Try one light book and one serious book. You can choose depending on your mood and energy.
9. Create a reading space
A comfortable chair, good light and no phone nearby make reading feel inviting.
10. Track your progress
A simple log or book journal shows progress and motivates you to continue.
11. Read with others
Join a book club or start a buddy read. Shared deadlines and discussions increase commitment. Learn how to start a book club.
12. Use your library
Free access removes the cost barrier and lets you experiment with new genres without risk.
A simple 30-day plan
| Week | Daily goal | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 minutes or 1 page | Build the routine |
| 2 | 10 minutes | Choose a fixed time |
| 3 | 15 minutes | Reduce phone distractions |
| 4 | 20 minutes | Track and reflect |
What about speed reading?
Many speed reading programmes promise huge increases with no loss in comprehension. Research suggests there is a trade-off: reading much faster usually means understanding less. Our guide to speed reading explains what actually helps.
Why building the habit matters now
If reading regularly feels harder than it used to, you’re not imagining it. An August 2025 study in iScience, based on American Time Use Survey diaries from more than 236,000 people, found that the share of Americans who read for pleasure on a given day fell from 28% in 2004 to 16% in 2023.
Yet book reading across a whole year has barely changed: Pew found that 75% of US adults read at least part of a book in 2025, about the same as a decade earlier. Most people still read. Fewer read often. That’s a habit problem, not an interest problem, and habits are fixable.
The numbers also show how little it takes to stand out. In Pew’s data, only about a quarter of adults read more than ten books a year. Twenty minutes a day puts you comfortably in that group. Set a target with our reading goal calculator, or see the full picture in our reading statistics guide.
Final thoughts
Reading more is not about willpower. It is about making reading easy, enjoyable and part of your day. Start with five minutes tonight, protect the habit and let the pages add up.
Frequently asked questions
How many books can I read in a year with 20 minutes a day?
At an average speed of 250 words per minute, 20 minutes a day adds up to about 1.8 million words a year, roughly 18 to 20 average-length books.
What is the average reading speed for adults?
Most adults read between about 200 and 300 words per minute for general nonfiction and fiction. Speed varies with the difficulty of the text.
What is the best time of day to read?
The best time is the one you can protect consistently. Many people find bedtime or morning routines easiest to attach reading to.
