How To Read 40+ Books In A Year (Without Ever Sitting Down)

The Struggle Is Real

"What?” I told myself in frustration as the sentence came to an end.

Time to read it again.

Starting from the top, I attempt to read the paragraph for the third time a row in the new book I was starting. The first time through, all I could think about was everything I had to do and how I needed to finish this chapter already. The second go around, I couldn’t stop listening to the music in the coffee shop and singing along with the lyrics. As I tried to read the third time, the words were entering through my eyes and exiting my brain while registering absolutely no meaning.

Why is it so hard for me to focus?!

I have struggled with sitting down and reading my entire life.

At first, I thought that it was my mental capacity: maybe I just wasn’t smart. Next, I slowly started to think that practice makes perfect, and I would get better as time went on. However, I was 24 years old, had a bachelors degree and yet I still hated reading.

You Too? 

Am I alone? Is anyone else in this boat with me?

You see an awesome book in the store and think, “I would love to read that!” You buy the book (even though you have a list of 7 books on your shelf that you have yet to open) and decide that you will start reading it tonight! You sit down somewhere comfy – maybe you grab a cup of coffee – and you open to the first page. If you’re lucky, you’ll find yourself lost in the first few pages and very much interested in the subject.

However, by page 10-11, you have reread the same paragraph four times, your back is starting to hurt from sitting so long, the subject is still interesting but reading seems boring – and your phone has dinged multiple times begging you to reach over and check it.

You set the book down and take a break, only to find yourself playing on Instagram/facebook/youtube/twitter for an hour before you decide to turn Netflix on and call it a night. The book will collect dust on the table until you have company over and you decide to throw it on the book shelf, along with the other 7 books on your read list to never be opened again.

I hate reading.

Seriously, I can’t stand it. For every reason mentioned above – I hate reading with a passion. I’m simply not good at it. It’s so much work for me to read a book.

However, there’s one problem: I WANT to read! There are some awesome books out there – and I know that reading is good for you!

I want to read, but I stink at reading. What’s a guy to do?!

The Challenge

A few years ago, a buddy of mine (Corey Jones) had posted a blog that he had read a ridiculous amount of books (like 400) in one year. My mind was blown. My first thought was, “that dude has no life whatsoever.”

However, as I read his blog, he mentioned something I had never thought of: audiobooks.

I had heard about audio books before, but I had only ever thought of them in connection with reading real books – an exercise I avoided like the plague.

Yet, audible was having a special for a free trial, and with nothing to lose I signed up.

Progress

At first, I had a goal to simply finish ONE book (if you stink at reading, you know this alone is a big accomplishment).

I downloaded the app and immediately got hooked. I LOVED audible! It’s more than just someone reading to you – it’s someone (often the author) reading with enthusiasm! You can hear body language and they can stress what they truly want to with the tone of their voice!

I found myself done with the book in no time – and I set a new goal: 12 books in one year. However, that same year I finished 20+ books!

In 2018 I realized that I was somewhat of an aggressive reader. I loved books and I wanted to read 20 more this year – so I set myself the same goal. Yet, as the end of December approaches – I have tallied up a total of 43 books read this year alone!

Improved Life

So much of my life has gotten better since I found audible. I have SO much more knowledge on SO many subjects! I am constantly reading books about my career, my marriage, my finances, religion, psychology, history – and even fiction for personal entertainment!

My hope for writing this blog is not at all to brag (I literally just told you that I suck at reading lol. That’s nothing to brag about). Instead, I hope that I can inspire/challenge you the same way Corey Jones inspired me! Reading has improved my life in so many ways; I can’t imagine not reading something every day.

If you, like me, hate reading with a passion and are tempting to try out audio books – here’s are a few tips:

Tips For Starting Audiobooks

1. Just do it.

            Nike got it right: Stop making excuses. Download audibleand go at it! Set a simple goal: listen to a book for 20 minutes. The more you do it, the more you will find yourself hooked on it.

2. Buy some bluetooth headphones

            Theyre super cheap now on amazon – AND you get a TON of stuff done while you listen and move about flawlessly without a dumb cord in your way. Here's a link to buy the one's I have (super cheap, reliable, and awesome quality). 

3. Use audible.

            I’m not getting paid to promote audible – I just think they’re the best company out there. They’re customer service is AWESOME – and you can literally return any book at any time for any reason. I’ve heard other people say you can use other apps and websites.. I’ve tried them all, and nothing compares to audible.

4. Avoid boring books

            That being said, if you DO use audible – you can return the book for any reason. Don’t force yourself to read books that are dry and boring. Even though EVERYONE says, “dude, this is a classic” – it might not be a classic for you. Return that bad boy and read books that are fun and interesting to you. This isn’t school; you don’t have to earn AR points or do a book report. You’re an adult now – you can read what you want!

5. Ignore the haters

Do you know how many times I heard, “You didn’t actually READ the book.”

I know people are joking when they say this, but I usually respond by saying, “You found a comfortable place to sit down and, for a few hours, were able to read a book. I was able to read a book WHILE:

·      Doing Laundry

·      Mowing my grass

·      Cleaning my house

·      Walking My dog

·      Driving/Running errands  

We both retained the same information; the only difference is that you were stuck sitting there while I was able to move around and get stuff done.”

I’m not knocking people that prefer real books……        until they start knocking me for using audio books ;)

Ignore those haters – they’re just mad that you’ve found a way to get smarter and save time while going it. Stand up for yourself, and brush that dirt off your shoulders Jay Z. :P

Top Suggestions:

With all this being said, let me share with you some of the GREATEST books I’ve read in 2018 that I think you would enjoy:

The Best Question Ever – Andy Stanley

There is a question out there that you can apply to any situation, any circumstance, or any problem you are having; this question will change everything for you and really help you to live the best life you could possibly live.      (Confession, this is not on audible.. but it is so good that I forced myself to sit down and read it. Fortunately it’s super easy to read!

Extreme Ownership - Jocko Willink, Leif Babin

            This book should be required reading for every single human being, ever. Super good. FLIP side – if you are a leader (working with people a ton), their follow up book is 100% just as good – “The Dichotomy of Leadership.

Crucial Conversations – Joseph Grenny, Al Switzler, Ron McMillan

            How can you tell someone the truth without hurting the relationship? This book is a must read for everyone that may have problems having difficult conversations and facing conflict.

Gay Girl, Good God – Jackie Hill

            I have never described a book as beautiful, but this is absolutely that. Not only does it shed biblical light on a controversial topic, but the author reads it in this spoken-poetry-flow that will make you want to keep listening and never put it down.

Total Money Makeover – Dave Ramsey

            Dude, I purpose didn’t feed into the Dave Ramsey fan club the same reason that I don’t watch Star Wars: EVERYONE talks about it, overhypes it, and gets on my last NERVE talking about it. Turns out, there’s a reason: it works. This guy reminds me of myself and low-key gets on my last nerve, but he absolutely makes sense – and it really has changed the way I handle finances. If you’re in debt or struggling, check it out!

My Story – Elizabeth Smart

            This is like an 8 hour book, and it was so good that I couldn’t put it down and read it in like 2 days. It jacked me up mentally (because I literally read about 2 psychopaths stealing a little girl from her home and keeping her tied to a tree 24/7), but it was totally worth it.  Not even gunna lie people…… I shed tears. THIS is a good one.

FINALLY: Hot To Lead When You’re Not In Charge –

            This book is pretty good – I got a lot of things in here that I already knew but just needed to be refreshed of. The only reason I HAD to include it is, out of all of the books above, this is hands down the best narrator to listen to. 

How many books will you read this year?

As I said, this blog was not meant to braggy – but more of a challenge. Every year people commit to working out, going to the gym and eating better to improve their bodies. I challenge you to do take that same approach to your mind. Exercise your brain this year. Commit to reading some books, and get lost in knowledge. Tell people what you learn along the way and start great discussions with others.

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one.” - George R.R. Martin

Designer Fig Leaves

I grew up poor.

I know a lot of people say that – and to be fair, I don’t really think I was that poor. In fact, growing up, we wore clean clothes, received cool Christmas presents, and always had food on the table (even if that food was beans).

However, if you would have asked me, I would have told you that I was pretty poor. Why? It wasn’t about the quantity of things that I owned – but rather the quality.

My friends were at the mall school shopping and buying Jordan’s while I was across the street at Walmart trying on Shaq’s brand. My friends would get picked up in a brand-new SUV driving directly in front of our little Pontiac that was overheating. My friends would eat steaks and grill out shish kebabs while my family had 1,000 ways to reuse beans (seriously, we ate them ALL THE TIME!).

As an adult, I am not complaining about any of these things. Looking back, I wasn’t poor at all.  I only felt poor when I constantly compared the things that I owned to what other people owned.

Then it happened.

When I arrived home from school one Friday afternoon, my mom told me that she had been to the Goodwill and left some clothes on my bed (we shopped at the Goodwill way before it was cool and acceptable). Thinking nothing of it, I walked into my room – only to see light from heaven shining down on my KOBE BRYANT LAKERS JERSEY!

Amazing! Not only was Kobe my favorite player – but these jerseys were CRAZY expensive! Some of them would costs up to $100-$200 – all for a silly jersey! Not only was this a Kobe Bryant jersey – but it was “real” – which means it had a Nike check in the top left corner (as opposed to a rebok or some other knock of brand… Nike was the only thing my friends cared about).

I was THRILLED. Finally! I would be able to wear this thing proudly and actually fit in! I was beyond excited to wear it to school the following Monday. In fact, who needed to wait until school? I’ll wear it Saturday! Better yet – I’ll wear it to church on Sunday!

Slowly but surely, Sunday morning arrived and I woke up way too early. I put on some blue jeans, my tennis shoes – and my #8 Kobe Bryant jersey. I was so happy to be strutting it around that I didn’t even wear a white t-shirt underneath it! I walked in those church doors with my thirteen-year-old chest puffed out, shaking every person’s hand that was humanly possible.

The morning went as expected: I saw my friends, goofed out and stayed on the border of trouble while in Sunday school, and went upstairs for worship and the sermon.

That entire morning, I felt like the man with the plan. I was all that and a bag of chips! I felt great in my Kobe Bryant jersey -  it totally gave me more confidence!

Then it happened.

I don’t remember the person who said this to me, but I absolutely recall the conversation and the feelings I had afterward. (No, I’m not trying to hide someone’s identity or protecting anyone… I genuinely didn’t even really know this person’s name haha).

On my way out, someone pulled me aside and said, “Kevin, do you agree that we should give God the very best that we have?”

“Yes,” I said, sort of confused and thinking that I was in trouble.

“Look at what you’re wearing. Is that really giving your best to God?”

Speechless.

To this day, especially as a minister, this moment still haunts me.  

Instead of taking time to encourage a 13-year-old kid who woke up early on a Sunday morning and went to church all on his own – the only thing this person saw was, “He isn’t dressed right.”

Not only that, but they worded it in a way that said I wasn’t giving my best to God; however, that was my best! That Kobe Bryant jersey was probably the most expensive thing I owned – and my most prized possession.

Clearly, I had given my “best” – and yet it wasn’t enough. I remember going home and seriously thinking, “Maybe my best isn’t good enough for God.”

What Are Clothes?

There are few conversations that will bring up passion and zeal in me than one of dress code.

What are clothes, anyway? In Genesis, we see clothes first appearing after Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the fruit He commanded them not to.   

⁶ When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. ⁷ Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.                          -Gen. 3:6-7

So, from the very start, we see that clothes happen to be a ripple effect from our sin: something that we hide behind because we are ashamed of who we are and what we’ve done.

We buy clothes to cover our nakedness.

We buy clothes to cover our shame.

We buy clothes to cover our insecurities.

Fast forward thousands of years later and you will find mankind doing the same thing that Adam and Eve did: hiding behind fashion and finding their identity inside of it.

How Subjective

Have you ever sat and thought about how subjective the topic of fashion is, anyway?!

I mean, who decided when bell bottoms were “in” and when they were “out?” Who made the decision to approve of blue jeans that could be zipped off at the knee and transformed into shorts? Most importantly, what is the final word on whether or not it is acceptable to wear socks with sandals?!

In 1 Samuel 16, we see God telling Samuel to meet a man named Jesse and search among his sons for the new king of Israel. After just seeing Eliab, Samuel was impressed at the man. I imagine that he must have had a nice suit on – with matching cuff links and alligator shoes. It was in verse 6:

⁶ When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”

However, contrary to Samuel’s thinking, God tells him to completely disregard his appearance! Look at the very next verse:

⁷ But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Here we learn a foundational truth about people: the outside doesn’t reflect the inside.

Eliab had everything and looked amazing – and yet God chose David, a younger, weaker, smaller kid who tended sheep. We also know that David goes on to be someone that is known as a man after God’s own heart. Did he look the part? Clearly not. However, his outward appearance had nothing to do with the condition of his heart.

Right to the Heart

As a follower of Jesus, I have seen many people get wrapped up into things that God really doesn’t care much about. We spend so much time focusing on the OUTSIDE of someone’s appearance: their clothes, their smell, their speech, their hair, their tattoos – that we fail to realize that none of it matters.

I have known some of the best people with the biggest hearts for others who look like they just joined a biker gang. I have known some of the rudest, ugliest people who look like they just came from the red carpet!

I think it is crucial that we stop caring so much on outward appearances and start focusing on things that God cares about. Isaiah 1:16-17 says:

Wash yourselves and be clean!
    Get your sins out of my sight.
    Give up your evil ways.
¹⁷ Learn to do good.
    Seek justice.
Help the oppressed.
    Defend the cause of orphans.
    Fight for the rights of widows.

Authenticity

There is an old, lovely hymn sung at the church that I work at called, “Just as I am.” The main message in the song is simple: God accepts us exactly how we are and takes all of our baggage that we try to hide. We don't have to change anything - it is God that will change us. For this reason, we made an agreement years ago to stop caring about what people wore and care more about who people are.  

Maybe you are a person who enjoys dressing up and can’t think of anything other than wearing a suit to church; maybe you are a person who (like me) doesn’t own a suit and only wears a shirt because stores won’t let you in if you don’t. Regardless of where you stand on the spectrum: come as you are.

Don’t think less of someone because they don’t dress up – and don’t think down on someone because the dress a bit nicer. We are all human, and we are all struggling and broken in this world. No one person is better than another person – and how silly to think that fig leaves might somehow change that.

My challenge to you, if you are still reading this, is to stop looking into your closet or into your mirror – and to start looking into your heart. There you will find the true reflection of who you really are, and you can allow God to start shaping and molding that person into who He wants them to be.