Let me guess—you want to read more books, but life’s busy. You barely have time to catch your breath, let alone sit down with a 300-page book. I get it. You’ve got work, family, obligations, and before you know it, the day’s gone.
You’re not alone.
It’s easy to think, “I’ll get to it later,” but later never comes. And the books pile up. The list of things you want to learn gets longer. You feel like there’s no time for personal growth, no space to get ahead in your career.
But what if I told you there’s a way to read more books, even with your packed schedule?
I love books.
My love for books started young. In third grade, my relatives from the US would send their old books, and that’s when I first read How to Win Friends and Influence People and Writing Well. Those books opened up a whole new world for me.
By high school, I was so hooked on books that I once spent my entire week’s allowance at a garage sale buying books—2 pesos each. I ended up having to walk 10 kilometers every day because I had no money left for fare. But it didn’t matter. I had books.
My classmates thought I was “intelligent” because I always knew things they didn’t. I was constantly in the library, reading encyclopedias—back then, only rich families had those at home. Books gave me an edge, a window into knowledge that wasn’t in our textbooks.
But here’s the truth: it wasn’t just intelligence. It was curiosity. A drive to keep learning, to understand more. And that curiosity has stayed with me.
You Don’t Have to Be Like Me
I’m not here to tell you how much I read and make you feel like you’re not doing enough. This isn’t a race. It’s not about who can read the most books in a year.1 It’s about showing you that it’s possible, even with your schedule.
I believe you can do this too. You don’t need more time. You just need to use the time you already have in a way that benefits you.
And trust me, the benefits are worth it.
Why Reading Matters for Your Career
Let’s get practical for a second. Why should you care about reading more books? How does it help your career?
Here’s the simple truth: The world’s moving fast. New skills, new strategies, new tools—if you’re not learning, you’re falling behind. Reading gives you access to people who’ve spent years mastering a skill or concept and condensed it into a book you can read in a few hours.
It’s like having a companion in your pocket.
Every book you read expands your knowledge. It sharpens your thinking. It opens doors to new opportunities. And when you bring that knowledge into your work—whether it’s leadership, public speaking, or just thinking strategically—you stand out.
You become the person people look to for ideas, for solutions. And that’s how careers grow.2
How to Read More (Without Extra Time)
So how do you do it? How do you read more books when you’re already stretched thin? Here’s my system:
1. Find Time in the Cracks
Forget about blocking out hours to read. That’s not realistic for most people. Instead, find the cracks in your day. The moments where you’re waiting for something, standing in line, or just sitting idle. Those add up. Read while waiting for your coffee, while you’re on the bus, or even during lunch breaks.
2. Combine Reading and Listening
If sitting down with a book feels impossible, try audiobooks. While you’re walking, driving, or even cooking, you can listen to a book. Audiobooks let you “read” while doing other things, turning what feels like wasted time into learning time.
3. Read With Purpose
Don’t just pick up any book. Choose ones that matter to you and your career. When I’m preparing for a workshop, I dive into books about the topic—whether it’s storytelling, leadership, or communication. Every book I read ties into something I’m actively working on.
4. Capture Ideas, Not Details
You don’t need to remember every detail. Instead, focus on the ideas that hit you while reading. I use Evernote to jot down thoughts and ideas that pop up as I read. It’s less about memorizing the book and more about sparking new insights that help you in real life.
5. Turn Reading Into Action
The whole point of reading is to do something with the information. Apply what you learn. Test it out at work. Share new insights with your team. The more you use what you read, the more it sticks—and the more valuable it becomes.
Read: How to Read More by Austin Kleon
You Can Do This
Look, life’s busy. I’m not going to pretend it’s not. But I believe you can find time to read more if you really want to. It’s not about reading for the sake of reading. It’s about leveling up—personally and professionally.
Don’t wait for the perfect time. Don’t think you need hours. Start small. Find those moments. And before you know it, you’ll be reading more books than you ever thought possible.
