How to crush your summer reading goals

Summer reading lists. Poolside favorites. Best beach reads. 

Reading often takes on a sunny spotlight during the summer months.

School is out and some work and personal schedules may lend themselves to sitting down with a good book.

So what’s the best way to tackle those reading lists?

First, remember that reading is like exercising a muscle, said Jared Gibbs, senior instructor and assistant chair of the English Department at Virginia Tech. It may take time to build a reading habit.

“If you are out of the habit of reading, don’t start with ‘Moby Dick,’” Gibbs said. “Instead, choose books that keep you reading. Don’t worry about reading the right type of book, just read what interests you, what keeps you coming back. And if you just can’t get into a book, put it down and find a new one. There’s no shame in leaving a book unread.”

Gibbs offers more tips for sticking to a summer reading routine.

Do summer reading lists motivate people to read more?

Summer book lists are one way to organize that reading, though one doesn’t have to be organized about it at all. I like going to the public library and wandering the fiction stacks, stumbling upon authors I’d meant to read but forgotten about or seeing what jumps out at me from the new arrivals shelves. You don’t always have to approach reading methodically.

What are your best tips for crushing summer reading goals?

I don’t set a goal for a specific number of books to read. Instead, I keep track of the books I have read, noting the title, author, and what I thought about each one. I don’t always have much to say about a book, but sometimes I do. When the summer is over, I can look back on the list of books I have read and feel a sense of accomplishment, no matter the number. If I start with a specific goal in mind — say, 15 books — that goal is likely to be too ambitious and it just sets me up for disappointment.

I also like looking back over a book list and seeing patterns, which helps me see more clearly my own reading habits. When did I read many books quickly? When did I take longer to finish a book? What was happening to allow me to read faster or that forced me to read at a slower pace? My experience has been that this approach helps me to both read more and feel more satisfied with the reading that I do.

How should reading plans be adjusted while on vacation?

A vacation period can be a great time to do a lot of reading all at once. The key is to set realistic expectations. Is your vacation's purpose to read or are you traveling or taking time off work to do other things? A family trip to France is probably not the type of vacation that will include much reading time. But a week-long trip to the beach or to a state park can include more time for reading. 

If you are set on reading a certain number of books while on vacation, then reading should be the main purpose of that vacation — something like a reading retreat. Such a vacation may not appeal to everyone, but it’s a great way to read many books in a short time. It also helps to choose a location with poor internet and cell service, cutting down on potential distractions. 

Some people are in the middle of reading several books at one time, while others may only read one at time. What is the best strategy?  

There’s no one way to be a reader. And one’s reading habits are likely to change throughout the year. There are times when I’m working on three or four books at once. More often, though, I’m just reading two at a time — a more serious or challenging book during the day, and something lighter that I read to relax before bed.