Reading train - Improve your reading skills - How to make a good habit of reading books?

How to make a good habit of reading books?

Hi! Friends, I want to make a good habit of reading books whenever I'm free. Please tell me some tips to become a book worm. Also suggest some books of interest.

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Buy a book, when you get bored, sit down and read it. Simple as that. As far as what, it depends on your interests. Do you like horror? Try anything by Stephen King or Dean Koontz. Check out what they have at the grocery stores. You can find some good paperbacks by bestsellers there. Or try some of the classics. Go to a library and just browse. If you want to read, you will be entertained.
The main thing to do is set aside time for reading. After a while it'll become a habit. Asking other people what books they like is a good idea - it's easy to be overwhelmed by books if you walk into a bookshop or library. For some suggestions, try this link http://ask.metafilter.com/38907/Bring-me-to-the-edge-of-my-seat-and-then-push-me-over
The real key is to find an author, or genre, that you really like. From that will come the NEED to read. Most of us bookworms can't bear to be without a book on the go.
I find if you read a book which you generally find interesting then your instantly become involved, and will WANT to read it in every spare second of the day. I'm really into true crime, and thriller books so John Grisham to me is a good read, as well as the traditional horror writers such as Stephen King. I think once you find the genre which is best for you, you will soon learn that becoming a book worm isnt something you teach yourself, if your interested in the story, your want to read it till the end! Generally i read before I go to sleep
Find out what it is that interests you and read about it...this is the only way. Reading about anything just to read may bore you and shy you away from reading altogether. So if horror stories interest you, than buy or read books by Stephen King....if conspiracy/war stories, then check out Tom Clancy... Personally I like to read about guerrilla warfare and I have tons of books about Che Guevara, Fidel Castro, the IRA, PLO, Arafat, Noriega, etc etc....good luck!!
You cant just decide to develop a habit. If you like reading books then you dont need TIPS to become a bookworm.
Hello there, I have a large selection of books, but hardly find the time to read them. When the kids are at school, it's tidy up time, then work, then shopping, after that there isn't much time left. cos when the kids come home, you don't get five minutes peace. Go to bed earlier and read, I hear you say, as soon as my head hits the pillow, I'm gone, thats it day over. All those books sitting on the shelf, waiting to be picked up.
try multi tasking - i.e. when riding the bus or tube, read! When waiting for someone or something somewhere, read! Half your evening in reading and television sections and grow the reading part gradually until you can trow that damned TV out. Spend more time away from the computer - that's a tough one ;-) Essentially, observe yourself for the first few days and learn to understand your habits. Idle time is reading time. Do your chores more purposeful to avoid them stretching across the whole day. That's all stuff to allow you time to read... but wait - that's not the most important thing! You have to love to read first because if this is "work" for you, you won't be able to concentrate long and as soon as your mind wanders, reading becomes difficult as you need to keep going back to previous lines etc. So I guess the most important thing is to find the kind of literature that keeps you interested, hooked, spellbound, tied to the pages... Be not afraid to put away a book that doesn't do it for you! Read the first 20 to 30 pages or so and if it doesn't grip you, take the next one! Reading something you don't enjoy is a waste of time! Recommendations: Neal Stephenson, Snow Crash; Thackeray, Vanity Fair; Collins, The Women in White; Martel, Life of Pi; Millman, Way of the Peaceful Warrior; Cave, and the Ass saw the Angel; Dostojewski, Crime and Punishment etc.
What I usually do is I read 50pp of a book everyday when I get home (I do have a backlog of unread books numbering about 150! I'm trying to lessen it though by a book a week). About the books that you read, you may want to start with the classics (I kept dissing them before, however, when I read Dostoyevsky... Boy, was I wrong!).
Becoming a bookworm starts as a child. We were read to every night by my Dad and we were surrounded by books as we were growing up. I still have a few of my favourites. I have my first copy of the myths of ancient Greece and Rome which I apparently got for my 6th Christmas - I loved Pandora's Box I remember. When I could choose books for myself, I moved onto the school stories by Enid Blyton (Mallory Towers/St. Claire's), I read every Asterisk the Gaul graphic novel - this is before they were called graphic novels and had a penchant for strip carton books like B.C., Garfield, Hagar The Horrible etc. As an older teenager my adult preferances kicked in and I read every Star Trek novel I could lay my hands on, it moved into general science fiction and I also like biographies. I'm currently reading a book called Madman, a thriller set in and and around the Sea of Galilee two thousand years ago, I have six books backed up waiting to be read, one biography and the rest are science fiction. If you like humour in your sci-fi/fantasy, try Tom Holt. If you haven't got the money go buy loads of new books, they can be a bit pricey, go to your local library, they usually sell books and start at 10p, it's rare that they go above 40p. It's handy if you're not sure whether reading is going to suit you.
First find books that are interesting to you. Carry a book at all times when you are out. This way if you have a few moments you have a book to read, very good if you ride busses. If you find it difficult to read long books find a book of short stories. I joined the local library so I could try out different authors without having to buy books. Charity shops are also a good place to find cheap books. You will find that once you have a few good authors the stories will be compelling and you will have trouble putting them down. If you begin to read something and it is hard going or plain boring don't try to stick with it, find another book. I read the following authors so have a look you might like one: Stephen Coonts - spy novels Terry Pratchett - a take off on life, classed as Fantasy Dan Brown Terry Brooks - Fantasy Jeff Lindsay - A bit strange but good Isaac Asimov - Sci-Fi Lots of others. If you find an author you like there is usually a list of the books they have written in the book so you can look for other titles.
Set aside some time for reading, for example after a meal, then it will also give the meal chance to digest. Turn the TV off, and sit down with a coffee, tea or whatever. I would not recommend reading horror stories in bed though. Finding something you are interested in or an author you like may take some time. Something short, or a collection of short stories to start with, to help get you into the habit, then maybe graduate to the classics.
Start with the most you like, eg. comics, encyclopaedias, whatever that can stimulate your interest. I started with comics and i'm now a real bookworm. I cannot recommend any book because my favourite could be not interesting for you. Go to the bookstore and take a look. Just remember, do not start with heavy things like politics or philosophy except if you're crazy about it
Get someone to read with you, or start reading a book that someone you know is working on. Being able to talk with someone else about their take on the book, and thinking about it critically yourself, makes the experience more rewarding. And don't think that it needs to be award winning literature, either. Getting into the habit of reading anything can lead to the habit of reading everything. Some quick reads (heavy on sci fi and fantasy): Enders Game, by Orson Scott Card The Color of Magic, by Terry Pratchett American Gods, Neil Gaiman
Read on public transport. Read instead of watching TV. If you're not enjoying a book and you've given it a chance - put it down and read something else. Don't feel obliged to finish something if you aren't enjoying it.
Take a book with you wherever you go. We are always waiting in line for something so have a book with you to pass the time. Also if something interests you or you enjoy the style of a writer write it down to look up later so you will always have a new read lined up.
I try to spend a couple of hours each day reading, it tends to be when I'm on the Bus travelling to and from work and when I'm in bed trying to go to sleep. The best way to find out if you like an author's style of writing is to borrow a couple of books - full length or a collection of short stories - from your local library, or go into a charity shop (as they all tend to sell books).
I love to read and make sure I always have a book with me, as well as a bookmark.
Well to get into reading you have to find a book that really catches your interest and most of the time the author of that book would have other books written that could also be great reads for you. Find a type of book you like to read such as fantasy, science fiction, fiction, nonfiction, historical fiction, etc... If you enjoy reading fantasy I highly recomend any of Tamora Pierce's books to read, especially Terrier the newest book to her collection. J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books are great too. There are so many great books out there to read that I could list but that would take too long...
What you need to do is make time in your schedule for reading and when you have that get a gripping book. Try The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams or any other book that fits your genre of interest. Try to read a book without putting it down. I've tried it and it works really well.
Read at bedtime...thats the best time for me, since my kids are both in bed, and its kind of my "me" time. I like drama books mostly and chick-lit
you can read before you go to sleep every night and if you have time before you get out of bed in the morning. And by far the best book I have ever read is Twilight by Stephenie Meyer there is also a sequel New Moon.
Turn the telly and computer off - both are time eaters. You'll be amazed how much you can read in an evening or times when you take the opportunity to read. If you don't have a favourite author or genre a book of short stories that catches your eye can be a good way of reading the works of a variety of writers. Once you know who/what you like there are websites that can suggest similar writers - www.fantasticfiction.co.uk is excellent for this. Visit your local library - if you're not paying for the book then you might be more likely to be adventurous. Literature courses are a good way of learning about new writers - you will be given a reading list which will (probably) force you to try writers you may never have considered - this is good. It did me a lot of good and introduced me to the classics and modern fiction. My personal likes are 19th century fiction: Charles Dickens, Emile Zola, Gustave Flaubert, the Brontes, Jane Austen etc. Modern writers that I enjoy include Jonathan Coe, Alexander McCall Smith, Isla Dewar, Emily Barr, Khaled Hosseini. I have a 360 page on which I review books - this may be helpful. Good luck. I love to read and you can't beat a good book.
Congratulations for wanting to read books. First, you should choose your titles and read several books at one time: read an easy book in the tube or in a bus; read books with a good story at other times, or read some philosophy (maybe start with "Sophie's choice"). Personally I used to be up quite early in the morning, then have breakfast and read for at least half an hour before going to work : this is a very relaxing habit and you are very receptive at that time of the day.
- Buy only one book at a time. This will ensure you don't procrastinate on starting reading by spending time choosing which one to read first. Set a rule for yourself that you can only buy a new book once you've finished all the ones you have (unless you pick one that is really so bad that you feel you can't stand to read it - if so, force yourself to write a review on Amazon explaining why - that will ensure you don't use that as an excuse simply for temporary boredom or impatience or laziness). - Buy a bag or backpack that has a sleeve pocket for laptops in it, with easy access with one hand (so you can read for just 10 mins standing up on the bus if need be). - Put your one book in the bag, and carry it with you at all times whenever you leave your home. - Then read on the bus, the train, riding in a car, on airplanes, waiting rooms, in queues. When meeting friends for just a few drinks in a relaxed pub, get there early and read with a beer while you wait for them. At home: - When you leave for work in the morning, put a post-it note on the TV screen with the name of the book on it, to remind you to get out of the habit of coming home and just switching on the TV and sitting in front of it all night (all too easy to do). It will be easier to not switch it on at all & start on the book & leave the TV off, than it will be to switch it off and start on the book once you've started your evening watching TV. - Make a comfortable, separate, cosy, area for you to read in your home if you have the space, that will encourage you to want to sit there & relax with a good book. - If you don't have the space, then put a bookshelf with all your books in a prominent spot in your lounge or bedroom (wherever you spend more time), so that you're constantly and naturally passing it, and drawn to look at it. This will encourage you to, whenever you look at it, think "ooh, I feel like reading that, or looking at that". ---And the final and most important, general tip, is don't buy books you think you ought to read, but only books you really want to read! This is especially important if you're keen on reading non-fiction. And make sure you intersperse your non-ficton reads occasionally with just something that's easy reading, entertaining, fiction. No matter how motivated you are, you wouldn't force yourself to only watch documentaries on TV or at the cinema would you? Occasionally you need just an easy going, no thought needed, random hollywood blockbuster or comedy. The same applies to books - they don't all have to be worthwhile works of literature, and when you allow yourself a bit of cheap escapism, you'll return to the more serious stuff a little rejuvenated. As for recommendations, it really depends on your personal tastes, whether you prefer fiction, science fiction, non-fiction, poetry, biography, serious, humorous, etc. (as per tips above, it's important you choose what you really want to read, not what someone else wants to share - sometimes of course they may be the same thing). However, I personally have thoroughly enjoyed and/or had my life enriched by reading the following: "Murder in Samarkand - A British Ambassador's Controversial Defiance of Tyranny in the War on Terror" by Craig Murray "Love Always, Petra" by Petra Nemcova "For Tibet, with Love: A Beginner's Guide to Changing the World" by Isabel Losada "What Dreams May Come" by Richard Matheson The "His Dark Materials" trilogy by Philip Pullman "Ancient Wisdom, Modern World: Ethics for the New Millennium" by the Dalai Lama XIV Bstan-'dzin-rgya-mtsho Pretty much anything by Terry Pratchett for random, easy going entertainment. "Authentic Happiness" by Martin E. P. Seligman And of course, remember, that none of the above are rules, just tips to get started getting the habit (so to speak)...once you've got the habit, you can pretty much let nature take its course, and buy several books at a time, read books that aren't immediately appealing to you but based purely on recommendations, etc... Hope this helps...don't forget to vote for your favourite answer ;)