Ten Reading Rules to Read More—and Love It

09 Mar 2026 #books

Inspired by Ryan Holiday’s reading rules, I’ve decided to come up with my own to truly enjoy reading.

I’ve had to change my mind about books. From chasing a book count to reading for action and pleasure.

Here are my 10 reading rules:

#1. Always be reading something. At least one page a day. Like Jim Kwik says, reading is like exercise for the brain. And when scrolling and distractions are the norm, reading is a revolution.

#2. Reading over phone time and social media. To reduce my phone time, I use books as conscious replacements. I leave books where I usually leave my phone to break the habit of scrolling.

And after a week off social media, I now read first thing in the morning instead of checking email or social media.

#3. Read two books at once. Balance non-fiction and fiction books. Non-fiction starts my mornings and fiction helps me unwind as night.

#4. Write a book recommendation. While reading a book, write a list of all books mentioned in the book. This is like climbing the inspiration tree as Austen Kleon says in Steal Like an Artist.

#5. Read actively. Write in margins, fold corners, underline, highlight. Your book marks can become a legacy. A book without marks is a book you haven’t read.

#6. Write a 10-idea list. I’m a big fan of 10-idea lists. Instead of note-taking apps, I write 10 ideas that resonate after finishing a book. It forces me to recall and remember what I read. Bonus point when paired with a 7-word summary.

#7. Reread. I’ve had to reconcile myself with rereading. It used to be a sin when I wanted to hit a large book count. The goal is to gain insight, not just hit a book number. Rereading is fine.

#8. Prefer physical books. They give you spatial clues to remember information. You might remember that an important concept is on a left-hand page, near the bottom. eBooks can’t beat that.

#9. No shame in piling books. From How to Be Rich by Ramit Seti, I learned we shouldn’t cut on things we love. I’m not cutting on books.

You’re the books you’ve read. And those you haven’t read yet. Just don’t let your books become “shelve-help.” Build a pile, go through it, then build another one.

#10. Binge-read your favorite writer. I did it when I found James Altucher for the first time. It shows you how their voice change and how your perspective expands.