How I Read 3 Books a Week (& Why)… With a Very Average Reading Speed

How I transformed from a reluctant reader to finishing three books a week, building habits, staying motivated and making reading an enjoyable, consistent part of life.

Reading can seem like a luxury, something for when we have time. But, I’ve learned that the real magic happens when reading becomes a habit and a driver. Regular reading has helped me gain knowledge, clarity and perspective. How many books you read really doesn’t matter. For me, it’s merely a motivating goal that keeps the habit consistent. 

Throughout high school to my early 20s, I lost the love of reading I once adored as a child. I didn’t resonate with the required reading, so by the time I was a young adult, I no longer had a regular reading habit.

By my mid-20s, everything changed. Before starting my MBA, I had a few weeks off to reset. I decided to prioritise two things: spending time with my grandma and reading business books to build my frame of reference further. I would have cooking lessons with my grandma in the morning and then settle into reading by her side. I realised that reading took much less time than I thought. 

Now, years on, many assume I’m a fast reader. I’m not. If anything, I imagine I’d be on the slower side of reading speed. I take in every word. Research shows that with an average reading rate, the average book would likely take around 5-6 hours. Meaning with just an hour a day, you can easily read a book a week. Research also shows we scroll social media or watch TV 2+ hours a day, so finding the time for reading might be easier than you think. 

Personally, building a regular reading habit wasn’t luck or discipline alone; it came down to simple strategies that made reading not only sustainable but enjoyable. 

1. Joining the e-library 

Individual books are a relatively affordable investment for many. Buying new books to read regularly can quickly add up. In my first year of regular reading, reading a book a week cost me approximately $1,000, even with mostly e-books. 

I have also used subscription apps such as Everand - best described as the Netflix for books. But, the big difference is that instead of encouraging bingeing, it penalises you for reading too voraciously. If you go over certain quotas, your available titles become restricted (to lesser-known books) until your month resets. So, instead, I joined my local library and borrowed books via its e-book app. It doesn’t always have the most well-known titles immediately available for hire, but this also encourages exploring niche names - all for free.  

2. Setting themes and staying flexible 

I’m a big fan of having themes in your reading. In my first year of regular reading, I read a new finance book a week and gained multiple, sometimes opposing perspectives and learned life-changing lessons. For at least 5 years, I’ve had a key theme to my reading. This year, I wanted to give myself much more flexibility. While I still had themes, I had more than usual and allowed myself to wander into completely unplanned disciplines as my heart desired. This gave me more flexibility to move with my mood, to educate myself on topics in a timely manner, or to entertain my evolving interests and ideas. 

The problem with strict goal setting at the start of the year is that you’re changing all the time. You’re already a different person from who you were at the start of the year. You know more, and your goals or interests might have already transformed. Be ready to respond. Setting less rigid rules could be the doorway to new knowledge and possibilities. 

3. Having a Why

No habit is going to stick if you don’t have a driving motivation behind why you’re doing it. 

There are many reasons to read regularly. For example, research from the University of Sussex has shown that reading reduces stress by 68%. Even outperforming the also highly effective cup of tea, music and walking. Plus, it takes only 6 minutes to see results.  

Research by University of Berkley Professor, Anne E Cunningham, compared the knowledge of TV watchers to that of readers. As a reader, you know more and have better analytical skills, improving your judgement and problem-solving skills. Books, magazines and written text also use more unique words than television. This improves your vocabulary and communication skills. 

If you favour fiction, this has wonderful benefits too. It creates neurological pathways relating to characters that remain after you put the book down. This improves your people skills and emotional intelligence.

For me, these are all bonus benefits. The number one reason I read is for knowledge. I believe books are the gateway to the knowledge that those who have already travelled your path have. I’ve come to feel not reading is like ignoring the carvings in caves that our ancestors left for generations to come. 

4. My motivation to counter clip culture

Short-form content has taken the world by storm. Many now get their news, knowledge and opinions from X, TikTok, Instagram stories or YouTube shorts. Short-form content is designed to hook and often be hyperbolic. Short-form clip culture, often completely out of context, makes people believe they understand an issue or someone’s character in depth. They lack the nuance, in-depth discussion, research and history you find in long-form content like books.   

Reading is doing your research instead of believing everything you see on social media. As we have seen in recent years, clip culture can breed hate for people you likely barely even know. It can make you ignorant of the complexity of other opinions. Read to gain more context for clips you're served on social media. 

5. Out-read AI

I’d love to say reading will help you outsmart AI, but AI will likely continue to outpace our intelligence. However, it is still flawed. It does get things wrong. Large language models, for obvious copyright reasons, don’t share entire books. Merely ideas and what it can sweep from the internet. While you may not be able to out-smart AI, reading, much like countering clip culture, is about learning the context. If you were still in school, it’s like going straight to the primary source instead of hanging your credibility on secondary references. 

6. Read in your prime time productively

I used to be a big believer in reading in the morning. It’s what works best for me. I wake up at 4 am, so I can settle into my reading before the rest of the world starts to rise. When people share with me that they are struggling to read regularly, they consistently tell me they fall asleep. While I used to suggest reading in the morning, I now ask if they are a morning person or a night person. Knowing if you’re what research describes as a lark or a night owl, could be the key to unlocking your real reading potential. 

7. Set a time in your schedule

What you schedule gets done. My regular reading habit is built into my morning routine. Any habit I don’t attach to a time doesn’t get done. Personally, my success (and failures) with any habits I hope to have come down to this. You likely shower, have breakfast or go to bed at a similar time every day. Try to treat reading the same.

8. Have your next read ready

Netflix keeps us hooked because we can already see the episode up next. I find having my next book ready to roll helps take the decision fatigue out of reading. It’s like ending with the start in mind. Instead of trying to completely reset for your next read, you’ve already set yourself up for success. 

Building a reading habit isn’t about speed or volume - it’s about consistency, curiosity, and intention. For me, reading 3 books a week isn’t a display of any kind of talent; it’s a reflection of prioritising knowledge, focus and perspective. By finding your why, creating small but intentional routines, and staying flexible with what you read, you can make reading an effortless and rewarding part of your life.

Books aren’t just stories or information; they’re a gateway to new ideas, deeper understanding, and a richer way of engaging with the world. When reading becomes a habit, it’s no longer a luxury; it’s a practice that shapes how you think, feel, and act. Make time, stay curious, and let the habit carry you forward one page at a time.