How to start reading books again as an adult
A recent analysis using U.S. government data found that the share of Americans reading for pleasure on an average day fell to 16% in 2023 from 28% in 2004. For adults who feel the habit slip away, libraries and reading researchers say the fix is often less about willpower than about structure: picking something enjoyable, building a routine, and making reading fit into real life.
The reasons adults stop reading for pleasure vary, according to the report, including fatigue from years of assigned reading in school, limited time, and a preference to zone out on social media. Jacqueline Rammer, director of Menomonee Falls Public Library in Wisconsin, said it can be difficult for people who are really tired and busy to think about getting into reading if it’s not something they’re used to.
Choose a book you’ll actually want to finish
For anyone setting reading goals for 2026, the report recommends starting by choosing a book that matches how you want to feel while reading. Jocelyn Luizzi, a software engineer from Chicago who blogs about books, said, “Your first book should be something that you think will be joyful.”
Rammer and her library staff ask visitors about their most recent book, TV show, or movie that they really enjoyed, then look for similar genres or themes. The report also points to NoveList, a library service that suggests “read-alikes,” and encourages getting recommendations from a range of places such as friends, booksellers and online communities like BookTok.
Set a routine that fits your day
Researchers and librarians also stress timing and friction reduction. Gloria Mark, an attention span expert with the University of California, Irvine, said, “start by scheduling reading into your day,” recommending readers take in about five pages during a lunch break or right before bed. Mark also said readers of physical books should avoid distractions by keeping phones and laptops out of sight.
The report notes that readers can experiment with formats to reduce barriers. E-books are portable, and audiobooks can work for routines such as chores or the morning commute. It also says many people can likely access both for free by downloading the Libby app and signing in with a library card.
Make it social, but don’t force it
The report suggests reading can stay enjoyable even if it is not purely solitary. Readers can try quiet settings, but the report adds that people need not do it alone; some cities host silent book clubs where participants read their own books together in places such as coffee shops and libraries.
As for goals and challenges, the report says setting a reading goal for the year or joining a winter reading challenge at a local library can increase motivation. But it also warns that if these efforts begin to feel like pressure, readers should scale back rather than treat the habit as an obligation.
Shannon Whitehead Smith, a book blogger from the Atlanta area who also works in marketing, said social media and tracking apps can also reinforce the routine. “Seeing all these other people reading motivates me to put my phone down and pick up this book that’s sitting beside me,” she said.
If it drags, switch books
Even with a good plan, the report advises readers not to push through a book that is not working. Jess Bone with University College London, who analyzed the survey data about American adults reading for pleasure, said reading “shouldn’t feel like a burden.”
For people who do keep reading, the report says the habit can help them stay curious and release day-to-day stress. Rammer said her own reading includes mysteries with twists and turns and romances that shift through roller-coaster emotions, and she added that she especially likes books that end with a “happily ever after.” “I think the guarantee of knowing that things are going to end up OK is really reassuring,” Rammer said.