“I don’t like reading” usually means “I haven’t found the right book yet” — or that school ruined it for you with forced classics and pop quizzes. Getting into reading as an adult is absolutely possible, and it’s one of the most rewarding habits you can build. Here’s how to get into reading if you’ve never enjoyed books, without the guilt, the pressure, or the Moby Dick.
First: Forget Everything School Taught You About Reading
School taught you that reading = difficult books + tests + essays. Real reading is nothing like that. You can read whatever you want, quit books you hate, skip boring chapters, and never write a single essay. The “classics” are optional. Graphic novels count. Audiobooks count. Re-reading your favorite book five times counts. Anyone who says otherwise is gatekeeping, and gatekeeping is boring.
Start With What You Already Like
Don’t start with what you “should” read. Start with what you already enjoy in other media:
- Love true crime podcasts? Try I’ll Be Gone in the Dark or The Stranger Beside Me. If podcasts are your thing, discovering new podcasts and reading pair naturally.
- Into movies/TV? Read the book the adaptation was based on — or books in the same genre. Love sci-fi films? Try Andy Weir (The Martian reads like a movie).
- Gamer? LitRPG and progression fantasy are written for you. The Hobbit is basically the original quest narrative.
- News junkie? Narrative nonfiction — Into Thin Air, The Big Short, Killers of the Flower Moon — reads like the best longform journalism.
- Romance reality TV? Romance novels. No shame — it’s the bestselling genre for a reason, and the good ones are genuinely great.
The principle: meet yourself where you are. The best first book is the one you’ll actually finish.
10 Great First Books for Reluctant Readers
- The Martian by Andy Weir — funny, propulsive, impossible to put down. Science made thrilling.
- Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir — same energy, even better. You’ll finish it in days.
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins — yes, the YA book. Short chapters, relentless pace, zero fat.
- Born a Crime by Trevor Noah — memoir that reads like a great conversation. Funny and moving.
- The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman — cozy mystery, warm humor, easy chapters. A joy.
- Educated by Tara Westover — memoir so gripping it reads like a thriller.
- Atomic Habits by James Clear — if you want practical nonfiction, start here. Clear, actionable, short chapters.
- The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune — warm fantasy hug of a book. Gentle and lovely.
- Sapiens (graphic edition) by Yuval Noah Harari — big ideas in comic form. Proof that “serious” books can be fun.
- Anything by Brandon Sanderson (start with Mistborn) — if you want to fall into a world and not come out for weeks.
Make It Easy on Yourself
- Try audiobooks. For many reluctant readers, audio is the gateway. Listen during commutes, walks, chores. A great narrator transforms the experience — it’s not cheating, it’s a different (and equally valid) way to read.
- Use the library. Free books remove the financial pressure. If you hate it, return it — no guilt, no wasted money. Libby (the library app) gives you ebooks and audiobooks free with a library card.
- Quit books freely. The 50-page rule (or 100 minus your age, if you’re fancy): if you’re not feeling it, stop. Life’s too short and there are too many good books. Quitting isn’t failure; it’s curation.
- Start small. Short books, novellas, essay collections. Finishing something — anything — builds momentum. A 150-page book you finish beats a 600-page classic you abandon.
- Build a ritual. 20 minutes with morning coffee, or 30 minutes before bed instead of scrolling. Attach reading to an existing habit and it sticks.
Join the Conversation
Reading gets more fun when it’s social. Start a book club (even 3 people counts), follow BookTok/Bookstagram for recommendations matched to your taste, or just text a friend “you have to read this.” Talking about books deepens the experience and keeps you motivated. Goodreads or StoryGraph help you track what you’ve read and find what to read next based on actual ratings from readers like you.
Reading FAQ
Do audiobooks really count as reading? Yes. Comprehension and enjoyment are the same; only the input method differs. The snobbery about audiobooks is outdated and wrong.
How much should I read per day? Whatever fits. 20 pages a day = 24+ books a year. Consistency beats volume — 15 minutes daily transforms your reading life within months.
What if I keep falling asleep? Try a more gripping book (boredom causes sleep, not reading), read earlier in the day, or switch to audiobooks while walking. Also: being tired is fine; don’t force it.
Should I read the classics? Only if you want to. Plenty of lifelong readers never touch Dickens. Read what excites you; the “shoulds” are what killed your interest in the first place.
The Takeaway
Getting into reading when you’ve never enjoyed books means: forget school rules, start with what you already love in other media, try audiobooks and the library, quit freely, and start small. The goal isn’t to become a “reader” as an identity — it’s to find books that make you lose track of time. They’re out there. Go find yours.
Reading Slumps: What to Do When You Stall
Even enthusiastic readers hit slumps — weeks where nothing appeals and books feel like chores. It’s normal, not a failure. Remedies that work: switch formats (stuck on print? try audio), switch genres entirely (a thriller after three literary novels), reread an old favorite (comfort reading rekindles the spark), or just… stop for a while. Forcing it prolongs the slump. Often the cure is stumbling on the right book at the right time — keep your “want to read” list stocked so there’s always something tempting waiting. And lower the bar: a graphic novel, a poetry collection, a book of essays — all count, all can break a slump. The goal is enjoyment, not a reading streak.
Leveling Up: From Casual to Committed
Once reading clicks, you might want more. Natural next steps: join a book club for accountability and discussion, set a gentle yearly goal on StoryGraph (not as pressure — as a fun tracker), explore a new genre each quarter, or try reading in a different language if you’re bilingual. Some readers get into annotating and marginalia; others start a reading journal. There’s no “correct” way to be a reader — follow what delights you. The only rule that matters: keep it fun. The moment reading feels like homework, something’s wrong — change the book, not yourself.
Reading Changes Brains
Neuroscience shows reading fiction builds empathy, improves focus, and even rewires neural pathways — the benefits are measurable, not just poetic. The science of reading confirms what book lovers always knew: it’s one of the highest-value habits there is. Every page is literally reshaping your brain. Keep going.
