My Seven Rules of Reading

How I'e effortlessly read over 20 books a year for 13 years

I've never had a year of reading like 2023. My life changed last year, and I give almost all the credit to the books I read.

Let’s talk about a few numbers. 

• In 2023, I read 38 books.

• I rated 20 of those books (53%) 4 stars or above (out of 5 stars).

• Typically, I read around 20 books a year.

• Between 2010 and 2022, I read 275 books and rated 108 (39%) of those four stars or above.

Yes, I keep a detailed log of my reading. Remember, my bio says I'm a "recovering CPA." Relapse is a part of recovery. Leave me alone.

To me, reading is a habit. It’s like eating and sleeping. I can't imagine living without it. I didn’t stumble into this habit. I have some very specific rules that have guided me. More on those rules in a moment.

I often get asked, "What was the best book you read this year?" I don’t think about my reading in that way. I typically think in terms of notable categories. Here are a few examples from 2023:

1. Most eye-opening: Same as Ever

2. Most convicting: Discipline is Destiny

3. Most inspiring: Turning Pro

4. Most surprising: Anatomy of Peace

5. Most engaging audiobook: Elon Musk

6. Most confusing: Going Infinite

7. Most thought-provoking: The Outward Mindset

8. Biggest waste of time: The Creative Act

9. Guilty pleasure: Beastie Boys Book

10. Book I recommended the most: Leadership and Self-Deception

Photo by Tim Wildsmith on Unsplash

I have seven rules for reading. These rules are my system. I love the results this system produces.

This system is perfectly designed. The only problem is it's perfectly designed...for me. Will it help you? Hopefully, you will find one or two things inspiring.

My seven rules for reading. This is how I effortlessly read over 20 books a year for the last 13 years:

1. Read only what you want to read when you want to read it. (Let curiosity guide you.)

2. Never guilt read (i.e., don't read a book because someone tells you to).

3. Never brag read (i.e., don't read a book to impress someone).

4. Embrace Audible.

5. Put down boring books (this is rare because of rule #2; I did this last night. Sorry Cormac McCarthy…Stella Maris wasn’t doing it for me).

6. Never force yourself to remember anything from a book. (If you don't remember anything, that's the author's fault, not your fault.)

7. Don't feel pressured to create book notes (Subscribe to Blinkist. They've already summarized the book for you).

James Clear would be proud. I have applied his four rules of behavior change. I've made reading obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying.

The word "should" never enters my mind when reading. I have experienced the benefits of reading so often that I naturally do it. As I said above, reading is like food and sleep.

A few other details (but not rules) might be helpful.

• I most often read at night before bed (10 to 15 minutes).

• I almost always read with a pen to underline key ideas and write little notes. This helps me remember a lot of ideas from books (regarding rule #7).

• I read for extended periods while on airplanes.

• Reading on airplanes is the closest thing to "grit your teeth and do it" in my reading routine.

• I have (pretty much) given up on podcasts and now listen to books when driving (as a host of two podcasts, this is concerning, I know).

• I listen to books while walking.

• I always listen to Audible at 1.5x or 1.7x speed.

• I watch a lot of television, especially during the baseball season.

• I don’t read much on the weekends.

• I average between 6 to 8 hours of sleep a night.

• All of my reading costs me about $700/year.

Of my seven rules, one stands out as the most important. The first one. Read only what you want to read. Curiosity is the best motivator.

Letting curiosity guide me has been a game changer. If I don't want to read, it's probably because I'm violating rule #1. 

If you struggle to read, I wonder if you need to give yourself more freedom to let curiosity be your guide.

Bottom line: no other form of learning has added more value to my life than reading. I know there are other ways to "learn." YouTube, MasterClass, virtual seminars, live seminars. I’ve done them all, and they’ve all helped. But to me, nothing has helped more than reading.

Reading is a "treat yo self” day for your brain. It’s for you. It keeps you sharp. It keeps you fresh. It keeps you interesting.

This year, “treat yo self” and give your brain what it wants. Find some exciting books and make this your best year of reading ever!