How to Read a Book a Week (Even With a Busy Schedule)

How to Read a Book a Week (Even if You Have Zero Free Time)

We all know the statistics: successful CEOs read an average of 52 books a year. But when you’re working 50 hours a week, managing a household, and trying to maintain a social life, finding the time to read 300 pages a week feels impossible.

Here is a realistic guide on how to actually consume a book a week, even with a packed schedule.

1. Stop Reading Books Cover to Cover

This is the hardest habit to break. You were taught in school that you have to read every single word. In non-fiction, this is a mistake. Most non-fiction books are a 30-page idea stretched into a 300-page book to justify the publishing cost. Give yourself permission to skim chapters that don't serve you.

2. Leverage the Power of Audio

Turn your commute, your workout, and your chores into reading time. If you listen to audiobooks at 1.5x speed during a 30-minute commute each way, you will easily finish a book every week without dedicating any "extra" time to it.

3. The 20-Page Morning Rule

If you read just 20 pages first thing in the morning, you will finish a standard 250-page book in 12 days. It takes about 30 minutes. Do it before looking at your phone.

4. Quit Bad Books Quickly

Life is too short to read bad books. If you aren't hooked by chapter 3, put it down. The sunk-cost fallacy is the number one reason people fall behind on their reading goals.

5. The Ultimate Hack: Read Book Summaries

If you want the knowledge of 52 books a year but genuinely don't have the time, book summaries are your best friend. A high-quality summary strips out the fluff and gives you the core frameworks in 20 minutes.

With InsightStack, you can literally "read" a book a day during your lunch break.