How do you actually read?

I read books for personal enjoyment, basically never for learning or self-improvement or anything like that. I only ever read one book at a time and mostly in the evening before going to sleep.

I'm in my early thirties. My reading speed varies quite a lot based on the book and my mood, but I've definitely noticed that I've become "worse" at reading in recent years. Too many digital distractions I guess. That said, if I do manage to read for 2 hours before going to sleep, I sleep so much better than if I watch a movie or doomscroll on Lemmy or whatever.

I mostly read sci-fi and fantasy, sometimes historical novels. I think this year I've finished 4 books so far, and dropped one quarter-way through. There were definitely years where I've managed way more.

I finish maybe 5 books a year. The library makes it so there's a "deadline", that helps.

I also don't mind picking up a book, and returning it after a few chapters if I realise I don't like it.

It shouldn't feel like a chore.

For me getting an alarm clock made a difference. Because that nullified my brains weak excuse that I needed my phone by my bed "for an alarm". No I didn't. People have woken up perfectly reliably for years before smartphones. So I got an alarm clock. And that made it easier to turn going to bed into calm reading time instead of doom scrolling (by leaving my phone charging in other room). And that's made a big difference, not only to quality of reading but also general mood.

1. My reading habits are like everyone of my hobbies, I'm obsessed for a week then move on to a new pursuit then come back to reading several months later.
2. I read text books about Aztec history.
3. I'm a year away from 40 and I'm coming to terms with being alone for the rest of my life (which is exactly the same leading up to this point).
4. I bought a book stand I can adjust and wheel around.
5. Stop caring what other people think and just read when you feel like it. You're overthinking this.

"How do you actually read?"

I use my eyes.

I would read like 60 or 70 books a year as a kid. I have the BOOK IT records to prove it. These days it's like 10. I don't think there is any shame in not reading per-se as long as you are pursuing other intellectual activities or hobbies.

I think people put too much emphasis on reading as some idealized time sink. There are lots of productive ways to spend free time and reading is one of them. When you are a kid you have fewer options but as an adult cooking or wood working or gardening can be a fine form of intellectual stimulation.

I love books

My biggest recommendation is to avoid asking for recommendations online, particularly in reading - centric communities.

People love to pretend their favourite books are classical just through sheer pretentiousness

The most genuine people you'll find in life are the ones that are perfectly happy to admit they fucking love a trashy thriller

To preface, you are not a worse person if you don't like to read. There's so many different ways to learn or grow nowadays, you don't need to force yourself to do it through a medium you don't enjoy.

That said, I'm a person who DOES enjoy reading, but struggles to do it anyway for some reason. If that's you as well, I get you. And I'd say it's worth it.

In general, figuring out WHY you want to read will impact how to best work it into your life. Is it for entertainment, mindfulness, to get a better attention span, to chill out, etc. I do it for calming down mixed with enjoyment, and that impacts how I work it into my day.

What helped me was working it into my routine. I read at night. I don't have a set schedule, I teach night school some nights, and I'm working on a masters thesis.

My fixed point every day: some time when I feel ready (a fixed time would stress me out), I turn off my laptop, text my partner good night, and put my phone away. I get ready for bed. What follows is designated reading time. I read for as long as I enjoy it, am not too tired, and can still focus. If I'm not getting tired, I'll dim the lights at some point. Sometimes, I read one page, sometimes 50. If you force it, it won't be enjoyable.

I also always carry the book and try to read while I'm on the tram or train. Especially for somewhat longer journeys, which I take somewhat regularly, I get a lot of chill reading done like that. But that's pretty specific to my situation as I'm a public transport commuter and have a partner that lives 4 train hours away.

I read my first book in 11 years, I finished it 2 weeks ago. It's The Expanse. I loved the series and someone gifted me the first book.

My trick? I commute by train and have my book with me everywhere I go. If there's waiting to be done, there's reading time.

I will be 40 in February. I read daily. But what I read daily is this shit. Posts and comments. Memes and news articles. Maybe someone's fanfic on Tumblr.

Been getting into furry focused visual novels after getting bored and checking out Adastra since I had heard of it years ago and never actually played it, and I just haven't been able to get enough of Howlie's work since (finish The Smoke Room so you can get back on Khemia, please! 😩)

I like sci-fi and romance. Adastra was both and has been the best fucking thing I've ever read.

I haven't read an honest to God book since Ready Player One initially came out.

I tend to go through phases in which whenever I find a bunch of books I'm really interested in, I'll read a ton. But, once I finish those, I'll read less for a while. I think my top speed if I'm really invested in what I'm reading is around 800 pages a day, but I never sustain that for long because I run out of book.

I pretty much exclusively read fantasy, with a focus on books with hard magic systems, progression elements, and/or some sort of cultivation (which itself is a progression element).

When I was a kid, I struggled with reading for years because I wasn't interested in anything I read at school. I only really started reading a ton when I found books I was interested in (fantasy), which in turn made me a lot better at reading from all the practice.

Somewhat more recently, I've started reading webnovels in between traditionally published books, which is nice because you get a continuous drip of content. I also generally just read on my phone, as it's very convenient to pop out a book wherever I am. I like physical books too, but I don't tend to get through them as fast because I can't fit them in my pocket and take them with me everywhere.

My experience is that if you want to develop a habit of reading a lot, you should focus on finding something you enjoy, as it's a lot easier to make a habit of doing something you like than something you don't like.

What else?

My only advice would be these two:

1. Don't be afraid or ashamed to start and to not finish a book. It's fine and it's legit. There is no moral obligation on your part as a reader to finish a book you don't enjoy. Just close it and try another one.
2. Don't be afraid to reopen a book you did not like before. We all change. So do our preferences. It's not guaranteed (decades later, and after many repeated attempts, I still do not enjoy reading Marcel Proust) but some of your taste will indeed change with time. A few of the books I cherish today (in my 50s) were among the 'wtf is that thing?' the first time I tried to read them decades ago. Like, really.

What are your reading habits like?

• I read at every single opportunity I have. I never waste my time scrolling on my phone or watching TV (we don't have a TV set). For me, doom scrolling is not even a temptation as I always have a (much more interesting) book with me. And when I don't read and still don't want to 'waste' my time looking at my phone, I will sketch in my pocket notebook instead. No matter where I am.
• I read at any time of the day/evening/night. I have no fix work-schedule (I'm my own boss).
• There are books waiting for me to grab them everywhere at our place. I mean not neatly stored in a bookshelf but lying in places where I will see them (my spouse is OK with that). I just checked, there are four books (one essay, one novel, a children book and a how-to guide) just here on my desk. Plus two dictionaries. And my personal diary which is another book I regularly re-read.
• I always have more than one book started at the same time. So I can change book if I don't feel like reading one in particular.
• When I don't want to read, I don't read. That's not a job. I very much like going out for long walks too and those will often take precedence over reading (but I will have a pocket book and a sketchbook with me, just in case).
• I recently quit reading ebooks almost completely to read printed books (want to know why? check the link to my blog in my profile, there are three posts talking about that choice).
• I always take notes while reading, no matter the type of book. I carry a bunch of A6 index cards within each book and a ballpoint pen. Cards on which i write the page number and a short note/comment/quote. I keep all those notes organized in a box which later helps me easily and quickly go through all what I read to find whatever I am looking for and also often find new ideas while doing so (wanna know more about that card thing? Search what is a Zettelkasten, aka a fancy German word to describe a box with a large stack of somewhat organized but not too organized index cards in it, it's like a second brain, just better).

What do you like to read?

Essays, poetry, novels, phylosophy, history, short stories, sociology,... Younger, I used to read a lot of plays (Racine, Shakespeare, Godot,...). I read in French and in English (starting to read in Spanish too, but I still have a lot to learn). I love all eras, from antiquity to very contemporary works. I like reading children books a lot too, even though I'm 50+ and my spouse and I have no children. Some of those books are pure masterpieces, text as well as illustrations.

The thing that may help you get into reading more (beside not forcing yourself to finish one in particular) is to try to widen your horizon by trying stuff you would not normally read.

Say you like fantasy, ok, try horror instead. Or scifi. Or historical romance. Or essays. And so on. Just keep in mind you're trying it, don't force it if you don't like it. To save money, use your public library: it's probably free ;)

What kind of stage of life are you in, and how does that affect it?

Not sure to understand the question.

50+ I now need glasses to read. Beside that... I still try to read widely and to never let anyone's expectations about what some dude like me (my age, my genre, race, social situation, whatever) is supposed to be reading and enjoying.

Have you made any changes, positive or negative, to your reading habits?

Positive: like I said, recently I quit reading ebooks and went back to good old paper. Zero regret, quite the contrary: I'm more tranquil. Once again, feel free to check my little (and seldom updated) blog if you're curious to know more about that ;)

Negative: I sometimes read less, out of sheer laziness. I always regret it.

Because of how important reading is

Reading itself isn't what's important, it's mental stimulation that is. And more importantly stimulating different parts of the brain.

What are your reading habits like?

When I pick up a book I typically get hooked after ten to fifteen pages and then complete it on the same day (think ~100s of pages in hours, ~1000s pages in days). This often results in me semi-self-destructively finishing the book and then not touching a book for at least a few days as I have to deal with the things I neglected while reading.

What do you like to read?

Mostly Novels

What kind of stage of life are you in, and how does that affect it?

Have you made any changes, positive or negative, to your reading habits?

I went from physical books to reading a lot on my phone. This allows me to read easily and blend in better while in public. It comes with the advantage that I break up big monolouthic reading sessions with small micro breaks.

What else?

Even though it's somewhat obvious: I also like to get books that aren't in my native tongue, I find that reading teaches you a lot about the application of a language.

Got to around 30 yrs old

I realized that I, on paper, really like non-fiction books. In practice, I really only like fantasy and space operas (different than sci-fi)

Every night before bed, I read 10 pages or a chapter. Whichever comes first. Can always read more, but not less.

So to answer,

Almost every night Fantasy / space opera Mid 30s, father I've added audiobooks to my commute The most important part (I think) is figuring out what you like, and then setting a small but achievable routine

I read a shitload of manga so I try to balance it with a book every once and a while

Mostly audiobooks, 2x speed, a lot of hours a day. I do use an ereader sometimes. I've started collecting (just regular hardcover, mostly) physical copies of some of my favorites, but I don't really read them like that. When possible I read entire series from beginning to end consecutively. Audiobooks and visual reading are generally different books.

Mostly mystery, in a wide variety of settings, tones, levels of intensity, but some pure fantasy. Nonfiction is mostly psychology, but some science, other stuff as well. (180 new books this year), but I re-read as much as I read new. I don't set goals or anything, just use the "goal" to see the number each year out of curiosity.

Mid-30s, IDK. I read a bunch as a kid, then stopped the habit through high school and college and took a while to get back into heavy reading.

If you read, even if its 1 page a day, you are a reader! Please do not discount yourself!!

My sleep-routine is that I read (usually my kindle) in bed at night.

It's kind of great both because I like reading, but also because it makes me fall asleep.

I read on the toilet, on the bus, while doing dishes. I read while falling asleep at night and whenever I have five minutes alone during the day. I read three or more books at a time, so when I'm not in the mood for one there's two more options to engage with.

But that's me.

You'll read a lot more if you give yourself permission to read things you enjoy. Maybe start with some Terry Pratchett.

I read before i go to sleep each day. I have been for more than 10 years now. I have read fantasy for quite a while, but after reading mistborn and stormlight archive back to back, i can’t bring myself to read anything fantasy anymore.

I mostly read about topics i would like to know more about. Physics, life, philosophy, anything that i come across and think “cool”.

Mind you, english is my second language, so since i mostly read in english, it helps with that, but now i can enjoy books in swedish as well, which also motivates me to keep reading.

I used to read (books, newspapers, cereal packets, everything, even fricking Cosmo) a hell of a lot before t'internet. Now I struggled to read a magazine in one sitting. I have a diet of RSS feeds and the linked articles.

I'm thirty years older, as we all are pre- post- net, so that probably has an effect but it's upsetting me how little I read (read) now.

I have a old Kindle (circa the first paperwhite series) which I find is devoid of battery power whenever I pick it up and I forget to replace it on my wireless phone charger (buy the kindle a wireless charging client with a microUSB plug from Amazon/AliExpress to put between the cover you necessarily bought and the Kindle) when I remove my phone.

Thinking buying a dumb phone might be the way forward to kill my died of short articles which maybe killed my attention span.

Early 40s here. I read a lot, but never books.

I read online. I get information, jokes, funny stories and random bullshit.

I can't imagine myself sitting down and reading a book in the near future. I don't have the time, and if I did, there's so many other things I could be doing for much more personal benefit.

I used to be an avid reader but as I got older and busier I just couldn’t find the time.

Then when I did have time there was always distractions, or other things I could be doing.

So now I read primarily via audiobooks through Libby and my library.

I read 130 books or so last year that way.

Mowing the yard? Audiobook.

Long drive? Audiobook.

Waiting at the doctors? Audiobook.

Dishes? Audiobook.

And then when I’m really invested I’ll relax by playing some mindless game while I listen. Think match 3 or bejeweled.

Just engaging enough to keep me from getting bored while listening but not so much that I can’t do both.

Balatro, BABA is you? Bad candidates for playing and listening.

The last couple of years I burned through the wheel of time series, all of Brandon Sanderson’s books (except skyward which I haven’t gotten to), a lot of Adrian Tchaikovsky, and others.

Ive never been able to physically read books, I end up getting bored, reading the same page over and over etc I just can't concentrate on it long enough and as such always thought I didn't really like books.

Then I discovered audiobooks around 10 years ago.

Now I get through probably 100 plus books each year and fucking love it. I always listen to books at work whilst doing stuff like setting up machines, I'll listen to them whilst doing chores, or working on my bike or any other kind of task like that.

If I'm not enjoying a book after around half an hour or so I'll just drop it and move on unless it is something I really want to get into but as ive got older I apply this mindset to a lot more things and find in general it makes things a lot more enjoyable than trying to force stuff I'm not enjoying.

I mainly read fantasy and horror and never read to learn or anything like that, it is purely for enjoyment!

Almost 40, comfortably established with no kids, so life is overall pretty easy.

I got into audiobooks on Libby and have gotten through about 400 in the last 4 years. I listen while I'm driving and sometimes while doing chores, but mostly I listen while hiking or paddling - on a weekend backpacking trip I can get through 3-5 books.

My books are almost all what I would call "human adjacent non-fiction" - science and information related to people and the planet, but I don't find deep science like quantum physics relatable enough to be interesting.

I love to read and learn and wish more people wanted to talk about books, but book people and outdoor people don't overlap that much.

I wish there were better book trailers. Part of it is we get more picky about our time and know what we do and don't like. But sometimes this leads to a certain prejudice that doesn't let us explore something we otherwise would've stumbled onto.

For me with young kids, work, and generally limited time audiobooks are a compromise that allows me to combine with another activity, like cleaning or running.

Funny I'm seeing this post, though, as I placed aside 2 books that were gifted to me in hopes to read a physical book (but how.)

What are your reading habits like?

I read like some people doomscroll - in bed when I'm supposed to be sleeping, when I'm eating my meals, on public transportation, while walking, on the toilet, waiting in line... Basically any time I'm not using my brain for anything else. If the book is interesting I'll find more excuses to pull out my Kindle, but at the very minimum I'll read in bed at the end of the day. It's not a goal or anything that I've pushed onto myself, it's just become habit to read myself to sleep, and I've been doing it for as long as I can remember. It was a real pain before I got a backlit Kindle - I'd fall asleep and leave the lamp on all night and lose my place if I was reading a physical book. I don't like to have more than 1 book going at once. 1 fiction and 1 non fiction is okay, but nothing more than that. If the book is a series, I'll pick up book 1 and continue all the way through the series back to back, and then go back to read spinoffs and prequels in whatever order makes the most sense. I also read all the books I can find from the same author in a similar fashion. If the series wasn't finished and a new book gets released after I've already read the rest of a series, I'll go back and read all of the books before it first. Being in-between books is a feeling I am very uncomfortable with, so I'm always in the middle of something. I will often keep reading books that I don't enjoy that much just as a stop-gap until I find the next series to get hooked on. It's a little psychotic now that I think about it.

What do you like to read?

Mostly sci-fi and fantasy novels, but I'll consume almost anything with interesting world building, mechanics/magic systems, or compelling characters. For non-fiction, I like things that teaches me how things work, usually astronomy or quantum mechanics. I've read some great books written from the perspective of physicists as they went through their journey of discovery.

What kind of stage of life are you in, and how does that affect it?

I'm 33, married, have a 4 year old, and work full time. I don't think it's affected my reading very much, I've been stealing reading time ever since I was a kid. Reading on the bus to school, reading walking around, reading during meals (drove my mother nuts), reading if I finished my work in class... I've always had my nose in a book. I have less time overall for reading now, but the way I do it is still the same.

Have you made any changes, positive or negative, to your reading habits?

I honestly cannot think of any changes I've made, but maybe I should consider some. Writing this post makes me realize I'm treating books like a drug addiction.

What else?

1. Don't be like me and read in bed if you can avoid it, it's not great for sleep hygiene. It's too late for me, save yourself.
2. Don't read if you don't genuinely want to. Don't push yourself to read a certain number of pages a day, or a certain number of books in a year. Don't read just "to read", it's not sustainable. I think you should just aim to try a book that sounds interesting to you every now and then, and if it doesn't compell you to read further then just put it down and walk away. You don't NEED to finish a book, let yourself be happy. As an avid reader, nothing frustrates me more than people treating reading like a chore or some desired goal. It's just words on a page, don't put it on a pedestal.
3. I'd be interested to hear how you experience reading. Do you "see" the book like a movie? Is it better than a movie, in that you can smell/feel/taste things? Or do you experience it like someone is reading out loud to you? I was speaking with a friend once, and she asked how people like me could read for hours in end. She asked "don't you get sick of the sound of your own voice?" and that was such an eye-opening question for me. She heard the words being spoken whenever she read, she didn't really visualize anything at all. I had no idea it could be like that. For me, I don't hear the words. I don't see the words on the page. It's like I'm in the matrix and the experience gets fed directly into my brain and I can see and feel and hear everything and there's even this 6th sense sometimes that I can't describe. When I have to suddenly stop reading a good book, it feels like pulling my head out of a giant bowl of very firm jello. I think this is the main difference between readers and non-readers. It's not that one is more "enlightened" or have "good habits" or is an "intellectual". It's just more enjoyable for some (and more work/effort for others) on a very fundamental level. Not reading is not a shortcoming.

Sorry for the massive reply!

(edit: formatting)

• "Foundation" by Isaac Asimov is one of the only 3 novels I have read, that are were not part of my school course.
• Another one was some romance novel that I got as a prize for some competition I can't remember and I managed to force myself to read it until the end. Needless to say, I didn't like it. The setting was probably Victorian Era.
• The third is an English translation of the Light Novel "Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei", which I am not sure when I intend on completing.

I am a very sloow reader. Foundation was a pretty thin book and I took months. I tend to read a little, imagine it, dream on it and have fun that way and this one turned out to work really well for that. I thought of checking out the Prelude and other parts in the series, but never went ahead with it.

I have seen myself getting intrigued by the thought the writer (may/may not have) put into the worldbuilding aspect and find myself exploring the same in my mind.

My habits: I read what I feel like, when I feel like it. I remember having borrowed picture encyclopedias from school libraries as a child and just leisurely reading them. Those things were pretty fun too.

• i read fairly regularly. 60-120 minutes per day
• i like reading mostly nonfiction, generally textbooks or other learning material. I'll also read whatever books my SO recommends, and whatever the current book is for a book club im in.
• I'm young enough that ill be working the rest of my life and this means I'm just trying to learn new skills and hopefully be able to retire someday
• I've gotten better over time. I set aside a dedicated block of time for distraction free reading. I make use of pomodoro timers to help stay focused.
• economics 101: time is a scarce resource. It is limited in supply and everyone wants more. Be very intentional with your time. How you spend time naturally shows what you currently value. Maybe that means you will value reading, but maybe that means you will value something else. Think about what you spend time on says about you, and if you don't like what something says then fix it.

I just read because I enjoy it. Around 20-30 per year. This year it's looking out to be around 25. I wouldn't read if I didn't like doing it. I don't think it makes much sense to force yourself into it. Sometimes I read historical stuff but usually it's fiction of some sort. Historical fiction, fantasy, scifi. I'm a student so I suppose that helps.

What helped me read more was getting an e-reader. It's just so much more pleasant than regular books and the selection is much larger.

I don’t read much for entertainment. Never have. The focus on “reading is super important” is honestly pretty stupid in my opinion. 99% of the shit people are reading is probably trashier than any other form of entertainment but people act like its a mark of a superior intellect because they are flipping through pages of a book.

I also find the physical act of reading a book to be incredibly distracting from consuming the information therein. I read much more efficiently and enjoyably using digital platforms than I ever did with printed media. I’m in my mid 30’s and probably an outlier for my age group in regards to how I feel about books.

Its just another form of entertainment, should not be put on a pedestal, and is really just as valid (or invalid) as any other form of entertainment—if you don’t find yourself drawn to it then don’t beat yourself up about it. No one is going around belittling people for not watching enough movies during a given annum; why treat reading a book like it’s some great and noble act?

• What are your reading habits like? I try to read at a minimum a chapter a night. That said I read a lot thanks to my commute to and from work 3x per week. I seem to read about a book a week. I do it for pleasure and I've gotten better about not finishing books. Though I will probably finish a book even I'm not loving it. It has to be bad for me to not finish.
  In being an avid reader I think it's important and valuable in reading some stuff that isn't as fun (mostly classics). That said I think people who don't read much can steer clear easily. It's a hobby and do whatever you like doing the most.

• What do you like to read? Mostly fantasy or SciFi. Ive been branching out into more traditional fiction genres and I'll read some historical things from time to time. I'm not tied down to a genre but I find poorly written fantasy can get carried by cool concepts or world building.

• What kind of stage of life are you in, and how does that affect it? I just started my career and I've been reading all my life. My mum made sure I would read since I was quite young and I liked it. I've had ups and downs ans I definitely read more now than I did in high school and university thanks to my long commute.

• What else? I'll reiterate, do what you like even if it is to not read. Live life your way. That said, if you wanna get into reading, setting yourself a page or chapter target daily is a good place to start. Don't worry about how many books you read in a period. Sit back and find enjoyment in what you are reading or did read, not stress in what you didn't read.

I'll throw you a book recommendation because it's always gotten me out of a reading slump: the Scorpio races by Maggie stiefvater. It's targeted at younger folks but I think it's an extremely enjoyable read still and has plenty to Enjoy for anyone

On a screen only, in epub format. 10 books or so per year. Almost entirely non-fiction. In theory a chapter at a time. Often in the hour before eating, when I'm most awake and able to concentrate.

As to how I get hold of the book, first I check the Open Library on the Internet Archive. If it's not there (often the case) then I pirate it in about 3 clicks from the usual places.

BUT: if the book is recent and the author is still active, then I will also pay for the book on Amazon or wherever it's cheapest. While reading the epub I pirated earlier. That's only fair. The last time I did this was literally yesterday.

I spend most of my day reading, as a translator. But it's almost always stuff that I wouldn't read, if not being paid to.

If counting only books that I read for fun, I guess it's ~2 books/month? Typically fantasy light novels. I also read a fair bit of manga (~5 chapters/day).

Beyond those LNs I think that the last book I've read was in September; Um Copo de Cólera (lit. "a glass of rage"), from Raduan Nassar. Short but good first person story.

I'm almost 40. I'm... tired. I don't read stuff to feel myself cultured; I read stuff when I need to (because of my job) or when I feel in the mood to do so.

As a kid I loved reading. Huge book eorm, in my teenage years I could find less and less time for it and eventually stopled reading regularly. Nowadays I am an avid webnovel reader.

At night, Kindle paper-white, one book at a time. Some nights i read for an hour, some just a few minutes. If it doesn't hold my interest, I move on.

I read every day, before bedtime, and in bed. I can't fall asleep without reading something. This has been a lifelong habit. I still also study techie books for my career. I pretty much self trained foir that by reading books.

Mostly non-fiction. History, music criticism and artist bios, current science. Been reading anarchist literature recently.

I am old, 65. It has affected my reading habits, but not completely; I have fewer commitments, more time on my hands.

Is this positive? I have quit automatically picking up the tablet and reading when I wake at 2 am, and try to go back to sleep again.

I am very picky about what I enjoy. I suggest you try lots of genres, types of books, find something you enjoy. If that's graphic novels, enjoy that: if it helps associate reading with fun instead of being a task, great.

I read for work and fun.

I like a number of different genres, historical novels, fantasy, SciFi, thriller, and many more. No crimes or romances, and biographies are a waste of paper 99% of the time.

I'm married with adult kids, and having a family and work curbs my reading time.

I started reading digital books a few decades ago, and have roughly the same amount of real and digital books, both in the five digits range.

I'm a fast reader. As a kid, I read a few novels a day. All libraries within bike range knew me, and I rarely needed a library pass. I still read faster than others, and I switched to reading English books (English is not my native language) to intentionally cut down my reading speed to 100 to 200 pages per hour. I currently proof read and edit English books for fun.

I really love reading. When little, my mom said I read my way through the kids section in the library in like a year then moved on to the grownup side.

But then I had kids, and read magazines, short stories, and comics because I didn't have uninterrupted time.

Now, when I do have a book I read it while husband is watching TV, we both have entertainment time that way. If we go to the beach I bring the e-reader, and read on days off - still a lot of comics as I'm still busy, and I love them, but more library books than when the kids were kids.

You don't have to read books if you don't enjoy them! Everyone is different. I read really fast and effortlessly (learned to at the same time I was learning to speak, it's a language not a skill for me) so it's a better pace for me personally than other forms of entertainment.

But of my kids, fewer than half read for pleasure. There are so many other ways to use your time that are just as good for you or better.

Audiobooks, baby. 1.75x speed (1.25x speed if there’s a heavy accent involved or it’s information dense).

I try to never do chores without an earbud in and a book or podcast going. (Makes dishes so much more enjoyable.)

Edit: spy books by John Le Carre really revived my love for books in older age.

I read in bursts really I can go weeks/months without then go through 6 or 7 books in a week. I've always been a very fast reader and if something interests me enough to give it a look I tend to read the entire series at once.

I think the biggest factor for me is if it grabs my interest or not quickly if something doesn't I don't try and force it just wait for the next thing that might.

I am in my 40s, kids, office job, etc. I have read 114 books so far this year, and am aiming for 120. Every one of those books are books I enjoyed. If it doesn’t grab me, I put it down. I put one down yesterday after two chapters.

I have always been an avid reader. Buying an ereader (kobo) has been the biggest game changer for me. I carry it everywhere and use it constantly. I can check ebooks out from the library and they automatically load on my device. If I go for a walk, I’m reading while I do it. I read during my rest times during a workout. If I have 3 spare minutes, I’m reading a book. Are most of my books “fast food” from a literary perspective? Absolutely. Sci-fi, fantasy, and romance are my jam! I’ve never not been a reader. Books were an escape as a teenager and never stopped being a huge part of my life, even decades later. I listen to podcasts or audiobooks when mowing the lawn or doing dishes, but those 114 have been ebooks or paper books. However you consume them, finding what you love is huge for building the habit.

I occasionally read non-fiction, but it’s actually work to do it. The best way to read is to find a good story and let it sweep you away! Stuff that is harder to get through is going to create a little friction. That friction makes you hesitate to pick up the book. That next YouTube video or TikTok is going to be easier at that point. If reading is work, you’re less likely to do it. Trying to read “good” stuff has caused me to slow down.

Just like any hobby or leisure activity, my interest peaks and wanes. Marie Kondo said it best, "if it's not sparking joy, yeet it out the window".

Pretty sure that's exactly how she said it.

Personally, I tend to enjoy listening to audiobooks over reading. I keep a looooooong list of books that look interesting so I can pick a title when I feel like reading. Note, I don't call it a "to-read" list because I am not going to read them all. I will never read everything on the list unless I stop adding to it at least ten years before I die. And that approach to a to-read list does not spark joy. From the get to, recognize this is not a list to ever be "completed" by design.

I go back and forth between reading novels and difficult non-fiction books. Also, I read in the morning with coffee and in the evening with non-caffeinated tea.

When I fall out of my reading habit, I restart it by reading a page-turner. Stephen King, Neal Stephenson, whoever.

When reading a difficult book (philosophy) I treat it like a serious undertaking, something I might not be ready for. I have a dictionary nearby. I'm here to learn, to struggle. And it's like a sport. But an extremely edifying and satisfying sport. It's like climbing a mountain. Some philosophy books require reading like three other philosophy books first. These are geniuses talking to each other, and I just get to watch.

And when I'm done with a difficult book, I follow it up with a page-turner. Alastair Reynolds, some comedy novel, or whatever.

I never read a book "just because it's a classic." That's no fun. There has to be something about the book that makes me want to read it.

And I try not to read multiple books at the same time. I'm currently breaking that rule.

Edit:

Also, find your niche. I never feel guilty about not reading. I just love all the experiences and ideas I get from books. You do it for the love of it. So find the kind of book you love. History (of Europe, of technology, of whatever), spy novels, whatever!

I have always enjoyed reading, but for the first 40 years of my life I just didn’t do much of it. It felt like a slog; difficult to focus and stick with it, though I always felt gratified when competing a story.

Then I discovered audiobooks. Something about the way my brain and lifestyle are, it just works. I read tons of books now. All fiction. I’m not crazy.

I love it. One the walk to work or bus rides I listen constantly. I take several hour walks in the mountains and listen the whole time.

This year I read The Expanse Series, Dune (Frank’s), Snow Crash, The Bobiverse, and part of another trip around The Wheel of Time. Audiobooks bring me so much joy.

I read quite a bit, though it's notched down a bit since my wife and adult son got me back into playing WoW in the evenings (we used to be away into it, then stepped away for some years). Like others have said, my book reading is 100% for pleasure, and I don't feel bad if I don't read, except that I feel reading is healthier downtime than WoW or TV.

A key for me is having some consistent times that I read. Most important for me is that I read in bed for about half an hour before going to sleep, and I find that that routine helps me go to sleep (I have trouble shutting my brain off). I take the dogs for a jog/walk on weekend mornings, and also consistently read for a while after I get back.

I read almost exclusively science fiction with a dash of fantasy. I'm an older guy, nearing retirement, and the only factor there is that our kids are grown and I can afford a gardener, so I have more free time than when I was younger.

I'm reading when I'm traveling longish distances by train. Which isn't often but it makes the rides way better. Currently I'm reading up on some political/economical stuff.

I'm out of university for ~3 years and I noticed I have regained my appetite for learning new stuff. So I'm reading stuff that I want to know more about.

I tried to have a more regular routine of reading but similar to you it made me read less because it felt like a chore. And I realized that it's for entertainment and personal growth, which I'm fine with going at its own pace.

I never got how people read more than one book at once but if it works for you that's great! I feel like I'd just forget what the other books are about while I read one of them.

I got back into reading about 8 years ago. I used to read a lot as a kid/teenager. At some point I realized how much time I was spending scrolling through things on the internet and decided to try and read books with that time instead.

At first I set a goal to read one book a month. I got a library card so it was free. I found the loan timeframe actually helped, since it had a due date. Audiobooks have been great too, since I can listen while doing things around the house. I made my goal the first year. Then each year after that, I try to match or surpass the previous. I’m currently at 38 books this year!

I like to read fiction but mix some nonfiction in there too. I mostly gravitate towards fantasy.

As for life stage, similar age, with a partner, and no kids, so I have quite a bit of leisure time.

For reading habits, I have tried to allow myself to put books down and not force myself to finish if I’m not enjoying it. I used to try and power through, but would end up dreading reading. So now, doesn’t matter how far into the book - if it’s no longer interesting, I’m done and move on to the next.

I don't read as much as many people strive to, and that's by design. Growing up, books were all the rage, and in some ways still are. Reading one book a week was the kind of thing people bragged about. There's like this aura to books where people think they're these precious things which at most can be "imperfect" (cue flashbacks of school book report assignments), and what they don't tell you is how prone to being junk they can be depending on who someone is. How does someone think something like, say, the complete L Ron Hubbard collection is going to influence the experience? I read to map out the rabbit hole, not just because words exist, though the medium doesn't matter.

I practically don't read for fun. Not that I dislike reading, but it's generally rare to find books that interest me, and I simply don't have time to look for interesting books. Last I found an interesting book, I breezed through it in a couple days.

Anyways, most of my reading happens through academia, reading scientific papers and such. There's a lot of interesting scientific research going on that flies under the radar because it's not clickbaity enough for popsci websites to pick up on it. I have a feed set up on Pubmed to send me emails every day on new papers from different topics. Every day or two I glance through them and it there's something that catches my eye, I'll read it more thoroughly.

I wouldn't generally encourage people to read scientific papers, since they're really quite dense and requires a lot of practice to get good at reading, but it's an easy way to read something while being productive. And I've become increasingly convinced over time that the general population needs at least some experience with scientific literature, given how much of the science gets twisted in the game of Science Communication Telephone

I know someone personally who can finish multiple thousand-page books in a single day, I’ve always been jealous. They are now a librarian, and I’ve asked them many of the same questions you’re asking.

I recommend getting:

• the Libby app (and several library cards)
• a Kindle (or similar device)
• purchase fresh paperbacks

Figure out which format works best for you.

For me, as I’ve gotten older I’ve found that audiobooks allow me to be the most productive, while consuming books. I still have books I will read on paperbacks, but they allow me to take risks on books I wouldn’t want to dedicate as much time and effort toward.