For the last 18 years I’ve had a goal that has eluded me. It just seemed too impossible, until last year. What was the goal? Reading a book a week.
Typically, I would read 2 books a month and on some better years 3 books a month, but the mythical book a week was always out of reach.
Since this would be the year I would turn 40 I wanted to mark the milestone with a personal growth milestone…reading a book a week.
Maybe you are wondering…what’s the big deal? Who cares if it’s 52 books or 12 books? I understand where you’re coming from…I kind of feel the same way about people who run marathons. Personally, I wouldn’t want to walk 26 miles much less run it! But they push themselves to do what others think is impossible.
Reading 52 books a year feels to me what I imagine running a marathon feels like. It takes a deeper level of commitment and determination than just the casual reader or jogger pursues.
As a lead pastor, one of my primary roles is teaching. Because of that responsibility, reading is more than just a goal, it’s an occupational requirement. We have very intelligent people at church who are looking for thoughtful content.
I need a constant stream of new material to help them and myself grow. My aim is that every year builds upon what I’ve already learned instead of just repeating the same content year after year. I feel a deep sense of responsibility to God and to the people who have entrusted their spiritual care to me. I want to help them become the person God wants them to be.
Reading, in my mind, is the best way to grow. Of course, it’s not the only way to grow, but from a pure content perspective I’ve found more value in reading a book than spending an hour or two with the author. Why? Their book is more focused and they are forced to give you their best thoughts in a succinct manner. Reading allows you to spend time with any person who is alive or dead and get their best thoughts by reading their book(s) all for around $15.
Before you jump into pursuing a book a week I want to give you a few things to think about, just like you would probably want to know what would be involved with running a marathon before you start.
Here’s what I learned…
1. It’s possible
I used to think people who read a book a week must have lived with a book in their hand or had learned advanced speed reading techniques. I didn’t live with a book in my hand and I’m certainly not a speed reader.
The good news is you don’t have to be either…you just have to be consistent.
2. Consistency is the key
In previous years, I would read when I had free moments, like on vacation or traveling. But honestly, who has free moments? Actually, everyone! The problem is what we fill those free moments with. Many people default to tv or social media.
During this year of reading I watched very little tv and found myself less and less on social media. After the kids went to bed I set aside an hour to read. I found that I could get through about 50 pages an hour (I told you I’m not a speed reader). Most books are around 200-250 pages. So I could actually get through a book in 5 days without reading on the weekends.
How many books could you read if you just set aside 30 minutes Monday-Thursday for reading? I think you would have your best year ever!
I’m not telling you to give up tv entirely…just 30 minutes a day.
If you asked my kids or wife if anything was different or if they sacrificed in any way by me reading a book a week I guarantee you they would say, “No.” How do I know? I asked them.
In fact, I still had plenty of time for all of my other hobbies…beekeeping, fishing, and hunting.
You can read more too if you make a sacred appointment on your calendar.
In case you’re wondering, I didn’t read at work either. I wish my schedule allowed for reading at work but it doesn’t. Why? I’m working just like you. My reading time is the same time yours would be.
3. Audio books were a huge help
Despite our best laid plans we get sick, kids get sick, we have unexpected meetings, we have to work late and we just can’t keep our reading appointment.
But do you know what is constant in all of our lives? Drive time. Maybe it’s the commute to work or running errands but we spend a lot of time in our cars. Why not make the most of it by listening to books?
Maybe you feel like audiobooks are cheating…I felt the same way until I realized my snobbery was keeping me from growing. (Do you know less about the content if you listened to it vs. read it?) Biographical books are perfect audiobooks for commutes and long trips. You still get the content and you’ve redeemed time that otherwise would have been wasted.
Because I chose to allot my drive time with books I rarely listened to a podcast. If I sacrificed anything this year by reading a book a week it was podcasts.
4. It’s not necessary
Is running a marathon necessary? Will you still get all of the health benefits from running if you “only” participated in 5Ks? Absolutely.
A marathon isn’t necessary to be healthy and reading a book a week isn’t necessary to be a growing person. Don’t misunderstand me…I’m not saying reading is unnecessary, just a book a week.
I imagine running a marathon you would miss some of the scenery along the way because you are focused on getting through the race. If you saw something you wanted to look at a little longer you couldn’t because you had to keep your pace. I felt the same way with reading a book a week. Some books I would have liked to have reflected on a little more but I needed to keep a certain pace to get through my goal. I also didn’t feel like I had time to absorb and assimilate everything I was learning. It takes time for growth to catch up with you.
I don’t regret it. It’s just a faster pace than what I can absorb. 52 is not a magic number, it’s just a bragging number. Going forward I like the personal growth mix of 2-3 books a month, the episodes from my favorite podcasts (which I really missed), a conference, and a few unique learning experiences.
What’s the right mix and absorption rate for you?
5. Focus creates more focus
Focus in one area brings focus to other areas. Once you start getting traction in one area of your life that momentum begins to bleed over into other areas. No matter what the area is when you start growing it begins to encourage growth in other areas. Why? You feel the power of momentum.
Accomplishing this goal helped me to accomplish other goals along the way. For example I lost 15 pounds this year. What could a little focus in one area of your life do for you this year?
What would happen if you set aside just 30 minutes a day Monday – Thursday to read? Not sure where to start? Check out these books.
