Yes, You Can Read 100 Books a Year

I sometimes find it fascinating, and a little frustrating, when I hear people insist that nobody can possibly read 60, 80, or even 100 books in a year.

The argument usually goes something like this: “They’re not really reading those books. They must be skimming them.”

I know firsthand that this simply is not true.

My wife reads more than 100 books a year. When you walk into our home, the first room you see is what we call the reading room. There are comfortable sectionals, different levels of lighting and books covering the walls. There is no television in that room.

She usually has smooth R&B playing softly while she reads. I prefer New Age music when I am reading. She tracks her books through Goodreads, and reading is simply part of her lifestyle.

I think sometimes we underestimate what other people can accomplish because we cannot imagine ourselves having the discipline to do it.

That is a mistake.

I have never reached 100 books myself. I normally read about 25 books a year, and even that has had a tremendous impact on my life. I have intentionally surrounded myself with people who read, and when I was dating, finding a woman who enjoyed reading actually mattered to me. Today, every other weekend, my wife and I make a trip to a bookstore.

There is also plenty of room in the average person’s schedule to read more.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Americans spent an average of about 2.6 hours per day watching television in 2025. That works out to roughly 18 hours every week and more than 900 hours over the course of a year.

Imagine redirecting even a fraction of that time toward reading.

Pew Research Center reported in 2026 that 75 percent of American adults had read at least part of one book during the previous year. There is obviously an enormous difference between reading one book and reading 100, but reading at a high level is not impossible. It is a matter of priorities, habits and discipline.

I have always believed that leaders are readers. I would not say that reading automatically makes someone successful, because success is far more complicated than that. However, accomplished leaders frequently describe reading as an important part of how they continue learning, spotting ideas and expanding their perspectives. Research and interviews involving high-performing CEOs have similarly emphasized curiosity and continuous learning as important leadership behaviors.

Reading has certainly changed the way I think.

Books expand your perspective. They introduce you to ideas you may never encounter in your everyday environment. They can also change the way you approach problems. Instead of seeing every difficulty as a crisis, you begin seeing some problems as puzzles waiting to be solved.

You also do not have to read the same kinds of books I read. I am primarily a nonfiction reader. My wife loves fiction. Both have value.

The goal is simply to start.

If you are looking for a place to begin, I recommend Jon Gordon’s The Power of Positive Habits. Gordon focuses on developing practical habits designed to improve your mindset, growth and performance.

Start with one book. Then read another.

Turn the television off occasionally. Put the phone down. Find a comfortable chair and give yourself 30 minutes.

You may discover that reading 12 books a year is possible.

Then 25.

Then 50.

And yes, for someone willing to make reading a serious part of their lifestyle, 100 books in a year is absolutely possible.