How I didn’t read 100 books in 2019, nor did I intend to

I’ve been reading since I was little. This is how I remember myself in the summer holidays — laid on a blanket in my parents’ front garden with a book or two, basking in the morning sun or hiding in the afternoon shadows.

I have high-school colleagues who remember me devouring books during classes, masterfully hiding the book under the desk. That’s how I now kill a lot of my waiting time in airports, queuing at the store, waiting for the bus. By reading. But that’s also how I recharge myself.

At the end of 2018, I was a bit taken aback by the fact that I barely managed to read 20 books. Not that I have track-records of over 50 books per year, but I just failed to understand how I really spent my time. If reading was the one thing recharging me the most, how did I really spend my year?

New year resolution or not, I was committed not to let that happen again in 2019 and be intentional about my reading. Below are my learnings on how I managed to read more. I also added some of the books that brought these insights.

1. BORROW BOOKS

A fourth of the books I read this year I borrowed from friends. I know that when I’m borrowing things from other people, I will want to give them back as soon as possible, so that always makes me commit to the books I borrow more than the ones I have in my library. I started the year with Becoming and Factfulness, both borrowed. Both well written and easy to read, so that only opened my appetite.

2. BUY BOOKS

This one is not aimed at consumerism, but rather at a principle that HBR also included in this article. If you have unread books at home, the moment you finish a book and you’re wondering what to read next, you can just have good options at arm’s length. No browsing on the internet or asking people for recommendations, both of which are also great tools for finding your next read, but they are also distractions. The chances are that none of this will provide you with a great read in less than 5 minutes, in the way that having books at home does. I grabbed Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal in a library in Eindhoven –while visiting a friend– without knowing anything about the author. I ended up falling in love completely with Jeanette Winterson, and then bought a small anthology of essays on Lovefound in Shakespeare&Co in Paris.

3. READ DIGITALLY

And by digitally, I don’t mean kindle only. I’ve had one for a few years, and it’s my best friend when going on holiday, as I hate to carry around heavy luggage when traveling. In the spring, while backpacking through Portugal, I managed to read my longest read of this year — 576 pages — The Noonday Demon.

However, my daily routine includes commuting, and while I always carry a book with me, I discovered it’s easier to read on my phone — which is big enough for a smartphone — in a crammed bus in the morning. This is how I read Ego is the Enemy and Disrupt Yourself. Indeed, none of them really shook my world, but I made use of my commuting time by reading almost 400 pages on the bus.

4. ABANDON BOOKS

Yes, you read that well. Like people, some books serve you different lessons at different times. Follow your gut, but do give chances to books. Don’t just drop them after 20 pages. Books also need time. Moreover, if you feel a book is too hard to digest, it is fine to alternate it with a light read.

Abandoning books you dislike can enhance your reading pace, if you put your hands on another book that you’ll actually like. I am not sorry for having abandoned Super Thinking and The Power, I made time for other books that I devoured and enjoyed.

5. DEDICATE TIME

We live in a busy era, at least, a perceived busy era thanks to all the tools that connect each of us. Distractions are literally jumping on us every other minute. It’s easier to want to be somewhere doing something with someone, instead of being by yourself. There’s so much in staying in with yourself — even if you read or not. I read Normal People in two afternoons on a weekend, and it was such a joy. The book is a light read, and I can’t say it has a fascinating plot, but it helped me unwind from a couple of busy work weeks.

6. TALK ABOUT BOOKS

I always say I’m an introvert, and it’s mainly because my way of recharging is by being alone, often with books. I do talk easily with people and always make friends, so everybody I know is surprised to hear me saying so.

This last piece of advice is not meant to encourage you to brag about the books you’ve read. Remember, the books you chose to read should reflect your interests. But if you’re curious about what other people read, you will enrich your reading list with surprises. Like I did by reading Men Without Women or Conversations with Myself.

While wrapping up this year, I’m reading Digital Minimalism, which explains much better my need for solitude, especially in this digital age. We are storytelling animals, always in need of connection, however, we are our best selves when being self-reflective, which can only happen in moments of solitude.

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You can see all the books I’ve read this year on Goodreads, where I like to keep track of my reading list. I’m not going to aim at reading 100 books in 2020 neither. I am going to continue to enjoy the books at my own pace and if it happens I’ll read even more books, I’ll let you know next year.