A Book Reading Methodology

I’m in a bit of a situation. I have been fortunate enough to get quite a few books for free from my church, while they were getting rid of stuff they didn’t need. I have also bought a bit of books too, but I didn’t really read through the books I got. 

From what I can tell, this is a relatively common problem among book lovers in the Christian community. We run across a title, or are recommended a book by a pastor or Christian teacher. We then buy the book, knowing we’ll read it eventually. We start the book, get 30 pages, love it, and then the next book is in immediately in our shopping cart. 

It’s a problem. I doubt I have the end all solution, but I have a few points to consider. We don’t want to be in the place where we have 500 plus books having read only ten of them. 

Some committed to reading will choose to read for 2 hours a day. They’ll stick to that plan and read through books like that. If that works for you, great. Love it. And I fully support you. 

But for me, that doesn’t work. I get easily distracted. So when I’m reading for a 2-hour commitment, I don’t really have a goal in mind. The goal may be 2 hours of reading, but I’ll get distracted. I get up to get a cup of water. I’ll check Facebook really quickly. 

I have another solution in mind. Just something to consider.

I need numbers. So when I read, I need to see the page numbers that I have to read, slower but surely decrease. I need to know that when I’m reading a 200 page book, eventually I’ll only have to read 150 pages; eventually I’ll only have to read 75 pages. And finally I’ll have 20 pages left, and then zero. And finally I’ve accomplished my goal of completing the book. 

So what I have done for my college reading and Christian book reading is determine how many days I have to complete the book and then divide by those days, to determine what pages I have to read each day. 

If I want to finish a 400 page book in two weeks, I divide 400/10. Ten days (5 week days). Weekends are gap days. Therefore I read 40 pages a day. Very doable. Now I have a numerical goal in mind. Today: get 40 pages done, no matter what. Now the goal is in mind, and will eventually become 20 pages, and then 10, and before you know it you’re done. You’ve read the 40 pages and you’re done with day’s reading.

A 100 - 200 pages book can be read in a week. 300 - 400 page books can read in a solid two weeks. If your reading a massive tome (600 - 800 pages) give yourself three to four weeks. That will allow around 25 pages a day. Again, quite doable, not a hard task to accomplish.

If the time permits, you may be able to read two or three books and complete all of them within two weeks, because you only read about 35 pages in each book. 

A reason to use this method, is because you will comprehend and remember more of your reading if you read 25 pages, rather than 78 pages. You’ll more likely than not retain more with this method of reading.

(Book length)  /  (Desired days to complete)  =  (pages to read per day)

         350          /                  10                        =                 35 

This method is super customizable. If you want to compete a 400 page book in a week, you can do that. 

Remember to be committed to reading the required pages per day. If you have some extra time, do not read more than a page or two above the required reading; you don’t want to throw yourself off schedule. Keep the schedule, commit to it, and you’ll crank through books consistently and neatly. 

Anyways. I hope this helps some. God bless you in the reading of many books.