How to Get Into Reading: Start With a Book You Want to Open
Pick a book about something you already like. Read for ten minutes. If you want another page, keep going. That is enough for a first session.
Your first session
One book
Try a sample first
Ten minutes
Put your phone aside
One bookmark
Leave a place to return
Follow your interests
Skip the list of books you think you should read. Start with the kinds of stories, games or subjects you already choose for fun. A librarian can help turn those interests into a book.
Sample before you commit
Read the first few pages at a library, bookshop or in an ebook sample. Does the writing make sense to you? Do you care what happens next? Try another book if the answer is no.
Make the first session small
Try ten minutes after something you already do, like lunch or brushing your teeth. This is a starting suggestion, not a target you have to hit. Five minutes works too.
Leave the next page within reach
Put a bookmark in and leave the book where you plan to read. Next time, open it before choosing something else to do. If you miss a day, just return to your page.
Start with what you already like
- Mystery shows
- A mystery with short chapters
- Games with big worlds
- Fantasy or a graphic novel
- Real people's stories
- A memoir or biography
- Learning how things work
- Nonfiction on one favorite subject
A few quick answers
Which book should I read first?
Choose one that interests you and has opening pages you enjoy. There is no required first book. Borrowing or sampling lets you try a few without buying them all.
What if I get bored?
Try a different story, a shorter book or a graphic novel. You do not need to finish every book you start.
Do audiobooks count?
Audiobooks are another way to enjoy a book. If your goal is to spend more time with stories, choose the format that fits your day.
Read it with the Guild
Read with friends, wherever they are.
Read with friends online, track your books, decorate your digital bookshelf, and meet new readers. ReadersGuild is like a 24-hour book club inside your personal library.
“I built this to read with my friends a thousand miles away.”
Fabio JonathanFounder of ReadersGuild
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Further reading: Australia Reads: tips for getting into reading.
Any session lengths or routines suggested here are starting points, not a formula.