The short, honest answer: there is no "should." The reader who deeply loves and remembers six books a year is not behind the reader who speed-runs sixty and forgets most of them. But let's go a little deeper, because the question is really about something else.
The right number of books to read a year is the number that keeps reading a joy, not a chore.
Why the number is a trap
Chasing a big total can quietly poison the thing you love. You start picking short books to pad the count, skimming to "finish," and feeling guilty for lingering on a book that deserves your time. When the goal becomes the number, reading stops being reading and starts being a spreadsheet.
When a goal actually helps
That said, a gentle goal can be a wonderful nudge — if it's framed right. "Read a little most days" is a great goal. "Read 52 books or I'm a failure" is not. The aim should be consistency and enjoyment, with the number as a loose byproduct, never the boss.
A healthier way to measure
- Did I read most days? Consistency beats bursts.
- Did I enjoy what I read? A loved book counts more than a finished one.
- Did a book stay with me? Depth over volume.
- Did reading add to my life? The only metric that really matters.
If you do want to read more
Wanting to read more is wonderful — just chase it through joy, not pressure. The most reliable way to read more isn't willpower or a quota; it's making reading something you look forward to. Reading socially helps enormously here: when there's a conversation or a connection waiting in your book, you pick it up because you want to.
That's part of why we built Arwy — it connects you with others reading the same book, so reading more happens naturally, not as a grind. If you'd like practical help, see how to read more books in a year and building a reading habit. But honestly? Read at the pace that makes you happy. That's the right number.
Forget the count — fall back in love with reading. Try Arwy on Google Play.