One of the biggest obstacles to reading books we enjoy is that we think we should read books even if we don’t enjoy them—specifically, the idea that if we start a book, we must finish it. This is nonsense, of course.

If you want to build a stronger reading habit, ...

For a weight-loss hack, it goes like this: As soon as you order a meal at a restaurant, ask immediately that half of it be put in a to-go box once it’s ready and only the other half served to you. It’s basically a stricter version of portion control.

We can apply the same ...

Preview the book in order to vet whether or not it’s worth investing your time in.

• Use book summaries. Find apps that give accurate and concise summaries of many of the most popular books out there and are constantly updating their li...

Use your commute to and from work to build/strengthen your reading habit.

• Tip #1: Rather than setting out to spend your entire commute listening to an audiobook, just pick one leg of the commute. Making time to read more doesn’t have to mean giving up on ...

This one applies specifically to non-fiction books, especially contemporary self-help and business style books. Stories support the ideas but rarely are they necessary.

A good general principle to follow if you want to read more is to read more efficiently. And judiciously ...

When reading with a pencil—underlining, making little notes, etc.—you tend to be more engaged with the book, which in turn leads to a more enjoyable experience.

It also leads to better memory for the book long-term, which contributes to a more satisfying experience...

A Book Buddy can take a lot of different forms:

• It can basically be a book club of two, where you read the same book at the same time and meet regularly to discuss it.
• It can also be a friend with whom you share similar taste in books and occasiona...

Strategically place books you’re reading in different physical locations. 

After a while of reading in specific locations, the locations themselves become associated with the act of reading, and then cues for the behavior.

A Commitment Device is a psychological technique to help us stay committed to our long-term aspirations when faced with short-term distractions or temptations.

When embarking on any new goal or habit, never rely on willpower and good intentions alone to see you through.

One of the best ways to establish and stick with a new reading habit or commitment is to boost your motivation with a reading tracker.

The point of tracking isn’t primarily to hold you accountable, it’s to provide positive reinforcement, and therefore motivation, to ...

As you read online, look for people whose writing you admire. Then, sign up for their newsletter or somehow try to follow their work regularly. They usually can’t help but talk about and recommend what they’re reading.

You also want your own system for capturing their recommendations a...

To master the art of reading and become an expert reader, you must begin thinking about reading beyond the basics of what you learned in school, and instead, start to see it for the extraordinarily complex, multi-dimensional skill that it is.

There’s no bet...

Imagine how much more motivated you would be to continue your reading habit if you could easily recall the big ideas and main points from the vast majority of the books you read, able to discuss them intelligently and apply their lessons to your life and work?

A really good...

Many people say they want to read more, or be a reader, or build a reading habit, but have no idea what they want to read.

Solve this by creating a Reading Bucket List. Spend a half-hour or so one day and jot down as many books as you can think of that...

List various reasons why reading is fun or enjoyable or important. As you stumble on things that seem especially meaningful, try to elaborate on them.

Because the more clear and specific you are about why a reading habit is valuable to you, the more it will become a part of...