20 Books a Year: Why I Do It and How You Can Too

You probably hear it all the time: successful people are readers. And after stumbling across Tim Urban’s “The Tail End,” I was hit with a cold reality check. If stick to my 5-books-a-year pace, I’d only read 300 more books in my lifetime, assuming I have another 60 years. That number felt tragically low.

 

Only 300 left? No way. I needed to up the ante. 10 felt doable, 15 ambitious, but 20? Now that was a challenge I could get behind. And guess what? 20 books is totally achievable, even for the busiest souls. Here’s how I’ve managed to conquer that mountain of paper each of the last 3 years:

 

Fueling the Bookworm

• The Ever-Growing List: Heard a friend rave about a book? Jot it down and don’t wait — you will forget. My mental queue fills up with recommendations from people I admire, because you really are what you read, right? Podcasts are goldmines too – Tim Ferriss, Rich Roll, Guy Raz… they’re always dishing out literary gems.
• Amazon Cart – My Literary On-Deck Circle: Whenever a title catches my eye, I head to Amazon, read the blurb, scan reviews, and then… add it to my cart. It stays there until I’m ready. At any given time, you might find 2-3 chilling in my cart, 2-3 on my nightstand, and 2-3 actively being devoured.
• Revisiting Old Friends: Every year, I reunite with a few all-time favorites like:
  • Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
  • Siddhartha by Herman Hesse
  • The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
  • Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman
• Trust me, you’ll glean something new each time. Timeless lessons hit differently depending on where you are in life’s journey.

Keeping it Fresh

• Genre Roulette: Forget nonfiction marathons! I crave fiction too, and often need it to keep things interesting. Science fiction, thrillers, novels – you name it.
• If you’re looking for that next legendary page-turner, Dune is the OG sci-fi epic the recently-released movie only hinted at. So drop that lame business book and go pick it up!
• Quick Bites: Throw in a few shorter reads to boost your numbers and keep things spicy. Neil Gaiman’s 200-page wonders are perfect for palate cleansers before diving back into heavier topics. You won’t be disappointed by his beautiful prose in these short classics:
  • The Ocean at the End of the Lane
  • Stardust
  • Coraline
• Concurrent Reading: Stuck in a literary rut? Pick up something else! Don’t force it. Try something new if your current list is feeling one-note. As you’ve noticed, I’m all about keeping things fresh.

Finding Hidden Reading Nooks

• Travel Time is Reading Time: forget attempting to work on planes. Crap Wi-Fi and split focus often make it frustrating to stay on task. Enter audiobooks! Jim Collins narrating his own work with fervent passion? Sign me up!
• Here are some of my favorite audiobooks by Jim and others:
  • Good to Great by Jim Collins
  • Great by Choice by Jim Collins
  • Built to Last by Jim Collins
  • Shoe Dog by Phil Knight / narrated by Norbert Leo Butz
  • 48 Laws of Power by Robert Green / narrated by Richard Poe (this guy is epic)
• Kindle, My Traveling Companion: Sure, I love the feel of paper, but Kindles are travel lifesavers. They’re lightweight, and you can download samples before committing to a whole book. And of course, the most ideal for outdoor reading with its glare-free display.
• Hacking Screen Time: We’re all couch potatoes scrolling endlessly. Ditch the phone! Leave it in another room and keep a book close. When the Instagram-checking itch strikes, read a few pages instead.

Pre-Sleep Rituals

• Screen-Free Wind Down: Before bed, ditch the tech and grab a book. It’s my go-to pre-sleep routine.
• Leave the Heavy Lifting for Daytime: Too much non-fiction before bed is a recipe for insomnia. Choose something that transports you to another world and lulls you to sleep.

No Excuses Zone

“I don’t have time”, “I can’t focus”, or “I read at work” are just excuses. Remember, you get to choose your books, so make them fun and insightful. It might feel like a chore at first, but trust me, as your reading muscles strengthen, you’ll feel your mind sharpen and your communication skills blossom.

 

Keep a running list of books you’ve finished in the calendar year and display it somewhere visible. Maintaining a simple checklist is a powerful tool for personal accountability and record-keeping. In fact, you can read about the potency of checklists from one of my favorites this past year, The Checklist Manifesto.

 

20 books might seem like a mountain, but with these tips and a sprinkle of commitment, you can conquer it too. So go forth, bookworms, and conquer the literary world, one page at a time!

 

Bonus Tip: Don’t forget to share your journey! Book clubs, online communities, even just recommending your favorites to friends – it all fuels the love of reading and helps others discover their next literary adventure.

 

Share your favorites with me and don’t forget to join my mailing list!