How to Motivate Yourself to Read (20 Tips & Mindsets)

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Hardcore Literature Lecture Series
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0:00 how to read more books
0:30 confusion is prologue to understanding
6:25 curate your bedside reading stack
9:29 take artist dates to secondhand bookstores
15:22 gift books to those you love
19:27 have a one-page reading quota
22:56 read poetry every day of your life
25:46 pair walking with listening to literature
28:39 draft your bakers dozen every year
32:44 1x language learning project per year
36:35 embrace commentaries and guides
39:11 1x author speciality project per year
42:19 befriend the biggies
45:03 schedule artistic cross-pollination
47:15 make a list of books you won’t read
49:12 discern the personality type of characters
50:27 keep a file of favourite narrative devices
51:09 read fiction as though it’s non-fiction
51:52 change the lens through which you read
52:56 read with great passion
43:17 happy reading

[owenrussell]

I am 16 and I love to read. I try to read as much as I can, but sometimes I don’t due to stress, homework, or just procrastination. In all my time of watching reading tip videos on youtube I have never found a video that supplies me with such good helpful information as this one.

[markstephen]

I am nearing retirement but am determined to make my remaining years as rewarding as possible. You’ve given me some great ideas. Thank you

[tylermileslockett]

These are the types of videos that make me really grateful for youtube. Thanks for fighting the good fight and promoting literature and reading habits Ben!

[DATo_DATonian]

Ask yourself now, in your conscience, if this isn't the guy you would want as your first choice to be your own children's instructor of literature. I am continuously awed by Ben's video presentations. I, more than once during the course of this video, imagined Ben as delivering an introductory lecture to first year university students of literature. Had I, in my youth, been one of those students this lecture would be as spiritually inspiring as my first experience listening to Tchaikovsky's _1812 Overture_ . Excellent and priceless advice, and so eloquently communicated!

[rv.]

I'm halfway through War and Peace and despite it being an astonishingly easy work (by far the Russian novel that I've had the least trouble with) I'm downright frightened by Tolstoy's attention to detail and psychological acuity. At times it feels like I myself have developed a sixth sense.

[cathybrooks]

Chatting to a friend of mine (of nearly forty years), she mentioned she was reading The Count of Monte Cristo. I spoke about Anna Karenina and, lo and behold, she had read that last year. And when I said I was reading Crime and Punishment next, she immediately said Dostoevsky - it's great! I'm so pleased. this is a friendship that is being rekindled due to us living very different lives in different countries (Uk - me, Japan, Spain and Chile - her). We are still very much in alignment but in a new way.

[batman]

My advice is to set a timer for half an hour. If I want to read for an hour, I’ll split the time between two books. I can’t tell you how many books I’ve read using this method. Once you make something a habit, it becomes ingrained within your consciousness. Some people can become intimidated by the large vocabularies found in classic novels, but I look upon it as a learning experience. When I stumble upon an unfamiliar word, I look it up and write it down. I then might choose to use it in my own writing. As a result, I’ve expanded my vocabulary to a very substantial degree.

[yoursunrise_]

I discovered this channel by accident and what a wonderful experience it was!
The way you talk about literature has restored my willingness to read.
I'm going to watch the rest of your videos. Take care

[mikespaulding]

The one page idea is exceedingly good. I have a five minute rule of studying Spanish everyday, I’ve had it for a couple years. Now I’m reading Borges in the original Spanish. Really, I never would have thought I could do that.

[leas]

Our family called it taking a “stress break”. Also here’s an insomniac tip: visualize an empty table. If on this table you see something that you can do something about then get up and write down what you can do about it. If it’s something you can’t do anything about then CLEAR THE TABLE and have. sweet dreams. Love your videos

[lislibrary]

I have fallen in love with your channel. You are one of the most refreshing and informative booktubers out there. I'm planning a video on a similar topic which utilizes a lot of tips from other youtubers, but this video is so unique and jam packed with information that I'm going to direct people here first because it's just that good!! Thank you for making such inspiring content!

[sunnywu]

When life stagnates, your videos are always the go-to places for me. I really appreciate all the work and effort you make!! ♥️♥️

[quayron]

I am struggling to read due to ADHD troubles. Hopefully, your tips will give me the push I need to be a better reader. Thank you!

[rajdas]

I find your videos life-changing. You always motivate us to read and your love for reading shines throughout your videos.

[Kuzglamdring]

"Read one poem every day" - is a great advice! After reading Terry Pratchett's "Mort" in Russian in some moment I've noticed an allusion to 130 sonnet, which I've known in translation. So, I'm on my way on reading Shakespeare sonnets in English now, one sonnet per day. Well, I'm on 36 to date, but I have good feelings and mindset about finishing them. Thank you for inspiration about Shakespeare!

[leedsdevil]

Fellow INFJ here - I just fell into your channel as a recommendation after watching Miriam Margolyes Dickensian Christmas on Youtube. As a recent retiree, my first reaction was a feeling of despair at the inadvertent reminder of my enjoyment of reading and goals unachieved, the collateral damage of life. However, in continuing to watch your video essays and lectures I realized that I need not look at the goals not met as irredeemable failures. I've set the goals up again for my future, starting with joining the Hardcore Literature Book Club. Thank you for reigniting a lost love.

[amitaspoetry]

Benjamin, the lifelong reading habit involving reading a poem, a short story and and essay a day is gold! Thanks for sharing that and for this video. I’ve already been doing part of this but to commit to it everyday is building a palace of treasures! And smaller increments of reading certainly keeps one passion to read alive rather than making this a required chore.

[Eyespy]

This is one of the best vids I’ve watched in 2022. It feels like I’ve got a mentor for how to do life. A mentor that I never had as a teen. Thank you Benjamin 🙏

[adrianasanchez]

I'm currently reading Emma by Jane Austen, in english. As a spanish native speaker I have to say it's been as enriching as it's been challenging. It will take me more than a month, at least.
Thank you for your videos, I've learned a lot :)

[summitsp]

The last several years I have enjoyed co-reading my grandchildren's summer reading lists with them (ages 12-15). We periodically get together to discuss the finished books & have had wonderful discussions! I taught them to annotate, which they found very useful when it came to writing essays during the school year. I'm surprised to discover some books I loved as a child no longer hold my interest, while re-reading classics is much more enjoyable now that I have life experience & a lifetime of reading behind me. It has been an enjoyable experience for us all . [I did have to reread "Gulliver's Travels" this summer (my grandson is studying British Lit this coming school year). I certainly understood its context & author's intent in a deeper way, but still find a little goes a long way!]