How to read more books

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Read every time you’re not doing something else; replace screen time with book time.
Remove social media and streaming apps to reduce phone dependency and build mental habit loops.
Carry a physical or digital book with you everywhere — use an ebook reader for portability and features like highlighting and backlit reading.
Alternate between physical and digital books; physical books offer better immersion and tactile experience.
Read multiple books simultaneously to avoid monotony and gain diverse perspectives.
Start with broad genre exploration: ‘read what you like until you like to read’ to discover personal preferences.
Don’t fear quitting a book — some books require time to fully resonate; close a book if it feels unengaging or boring.
Build a personal library with physical books, prioritizing used and locally sourced titles from book fairs or community boxes.
Set reading goals (e.g., 10 books/month) to build habit tracking, but prioritize depth over volume.
Write book reviews or take notes to deepen understanding and retention.
Discover new books through Goodreads and YouTube — use community reviews and spoiler-free recommendations to guide choices.
Avoid speed reading, summaries, and audiobooks; reading physical text builds focus and comprehension.
Use public transport, cooking, or walking as natural reading opportunities — these are low-effort, high-impact reading moments.

Habit formation through intentional substitution of screen time with reading increases reading volume.
Physical and digital tools (e.g., ebook readers) can support reading but should be used in tandem to preserve the experience of reading.
A personal library and intentional curation improve long-term engagement with books and knowledge retention.
Reading is a form of self-directed learning and personal development — it builds cognitive flexibility and empathy through diverse perspectives.

Topics: Design
Tags: design product-design self-hosted-experiences habit-forming