Why "Reading Goals" Are the New Step Counts
Counting steps used to be the gold standard of healthy habits. Now? More people are counting chapters, books, and reading streaks instead. What's driving the shift? We asked two experts who have a front-row seat to today's reading habits.
Sarah Gelman, Editorial Director for Books at Amazon, told The Newsette that “while setting and tracking reading goals has been around for a long time, I think there are more tools available than ever before that build both friendly competition and community around reading. I’m seeing more readers treat their reading lives with the same intentionality they bring to wellness goals.”
Her personal favorite way to track is the Goodreads Reading Challenge, where you can see how many books you've read, what percentage you are toward your goal, and whether you're ahead or behind. She went on to say that with the explosion of book clubs, accountability has also been a factor for readers. “As someone who grew up reading books for free pizza in the Book-It program (and trust me, I got a lot of free pizza!), I love seeing reading goals become part of the cultural conversation in a bigger way,” said Sarah.
Brianna Goodman, BOTM's VP and Editorial Director, agreed, saying that the majority of BOTM members participate in its annual reading challenge. The challenge “rewards readers for hitting milestones throughout the year,” going on to say that the “most engaged members cap it off by voting [for] year-end honors for the best book of the year.” As opposed to simply reading to meet a number of books read, the BOTM challenge has categories that ask readers to try reading different genres or check out new authors.
When asked why these goals and challenges are even surpassing the conversation around step counts, Brianna said what is abundantly clear is that we’re looking for ways to combat the negative effects of doomscrolling. “More than list-making, what I think is most important for reading culture is that people find and enjoy books they love, not that it feels like something that has to be optimized or checked off the to-do list,” she said. “Reading is one of the most enduring forms of entertainment in human history for a reason—it’s fun!”
Sarah agreed that two things are happening when it comes to amplification of reading goals. “One is the overall gamification of everything. It’s no secret that humans are driven by goals and rewards. The second is our current focus on wellness, which is broader than just fitness—it really encompasses the quality of life and everything that impacts that. As someone who tracks not only what I read, but how many steps I take a day, how many hours I sleep a night, and how ‘good that sleep is, I totally understand the need to record all of our healthy habits.”
When asked what reading trends they’ve seen lately and are maybe a bit surprising, Sarah said she loves how readers are embracing books with older protagonists, particularly in the mystery & thriller category. Meanwhile, Brianna said that she has been surprised to learn that Americans are buying more fiction than at any point in history. “Recent headlines love to lament that the end of reading is here—but people have been predicting the death of the novel for as long as the novel has been around, and it’s as strong as ever.”
Want to read more without carving out extra hours? Try stacking reading onto moments that already exist: keep a book in your bag for your commute or waiting rooms, read a few pages while your coffee brews instead of reaching for your phone, or turn on audiobooks during errands. Those small pockets of time add up faster than you think—and before long, your reading goal won't feel like another item on your to-do list.
