Kathy Hamilton How many books will you read in your life? For avid readers, the act of reading is as much a part of everyday life as eating lunch or having a shower. But still, no matter how fast you read, you can never read them all. Which got me thinking…
I’m a huge advocate of reading books you love. For me, reading is a pastime that should be enjoyed and should never be a struggle. That’s why I will always be on the sidelines cheering for books that make you love reading. Reading isn’t a competition, some of us read fast and some of us don’t. That’s fine. Whatever works for you is the best way to approach reading, in my opinion.
However, when we turn to the question of “how many books will you read in your life?” Well, the speed you read books can play a huge part. It’s a simple case of numbers. Say you can read one book a week. That’s four books a month on average. Times that by the number of years you’re averagely expecting to live and you’ll get a number. That’s the number of books you can expect to read in your life. That number will obviously increase or decrease based on the speed you get through the average book.
In a recent article, LitHub created a neat breakdown for working this out. Based on your current age, your reading pace, and your projected life expectancy, it tells you how many books you have ‘left’. When I tried it (I discovered I’m a “voracious reader”), I was informed that I can expect to read roughly 2,800 books in my lifetime. And that got me thinking.
When you realise that you have less than 3000 books left, the question of ‘how many books will you read in your life?’ becomes a lot more loaded. Don’t you think? To me, the choice of what book to read becomes important. As is re-reading a book. If I dedicate time to rediscovering a book I have consciously decided not to read a new one. But it still knocks one book from my remaining tally. So, how can I make sure that I don’t accidentally waste one of my 2,800 books?
I think it’s about the quality of the experience rather than the pressure to read the ‘most’ or the ‘bestsellers’. I already thought this way to a certain degree. I am protective of my free time and like to use it in ways that truly bring me joy. So I decided a long time ago that reading books that didn’t appeal to me, or that I wasn’t enjoying was not a priority.
Thinking within this finite boundary has, contradictorily made me feel free. I am free to be picky about the books I choose to read. Free to discard ones that I am not enjoying. And free to ignore the pressure to read ‘worthy’ books. Ultimately, for me at least, I think any book that I enjoy has been worthy in some way. If I only have 2,800 books to read, I am going to make sure I enjoy them!
So, what does that mean for your reading habits? When you think of the question “how many books will you read in your life?” what comes to mind? Perhaps you feel differently to me. That this finite number means you shouldn’t waste time on frippery books and should concentrate on books that will teach you something. The big ones. I totally get that point of view too.
Reading brings such a sense of fulfilment to me (and I assume you since you’re reading this book blog!). When I decide to slow down the pace and spend a while getting stuck into a weighty tome, like Middlemarch or an equivalent, it gives me a huge sense of gratification. However, so does the quick joy of a fast-paced book. I’d miss those light, bright and airy books if I forwent them entirely to concentrate on serious novels.
Whatever you like to read, however you choose to read the question “how many books will you read in your life?” will always mean different things. But I think it’s a brilliant reminder that no one can read everything and that choosing to be exclusive with our choices, our time and our experiences is important. It doesn’t matter if you read one book a week, or one book a year. Pick books that make your heart sing and you simply can’t live without. After all, if reading brings you joy then that’s all that really matters.
