25 Fun Reading Goals to Challenge You This Year

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As a book lover, it’s always exciting to have a To Be Read (TBR) list. That way, whenever you finish a book, you always know you have another one coming up. And since the coronavirus pandemic is still keeping many of us at home and socially distanced even into 2021, there’s more time to cozy up with some awesome books.

But you can double the satisfaction when you throw in a fun reading goal, especially one that you can work toward alongside friends or colleagues. Whether you’re an avid reader or you want to read more this year, a reading challenge is always a fun way to get your TBR list done. 

How to Set Your Reading Goals

While you may be excited to jump right in and tackle your reading goals, it’s best to sit down and figure out a few things first, such as: 

1. What is your goal? 

Knowing why you want to read is important. The reasons vary: you may just wish to read more books, so you set a goal of finishing 50 books in a year. Or, maybe you want to broaden your perspective, so you want at least 30% of your reading list to consist of titles by authors from other countries.

The important thing is that you have your own goals to move towards. The more targeted (like a specific number, genre, etc.), the easier it will be to stay focused on your goals.

2. How will you track your progress? 

If you set a goal, you need some way of tracking and evaluating your progress. A simple way to record your progress is by using the Goodreads tracker. You might also try using a simple spreadsheet, a Word document, or a reading journal. 

3. Do your research. 

One of the most exciting parts of starting a reading challenge is doing the research. You can browse the Internet for book reviews and blog posts where other book lovers like you recommend their favorite reads. 

25 Reading Goals to Tackle This Year 

Now that you’re ready, check out some of these fun ideas to inspire your own reading goals. Note that for challenges that specify a number, such as, “Find 10 things,” you can always adjust them by choosing your own number.  

  1. Pick 10 professions you are interested in. Then find 10 books that feature each of these professions. 
  2. List 10 identities different from yours, such as people of a different religion, race, gender, nationality, sexuality, etc. Then read 10 books written by authors who hold one of these identities. 
  3. List 10 countries you’ve always wanted to visit. Find one book set in each of these countries. 
  4. Pick one genre that you’ve never really tried or enjoyed. Find book recommendations for that genre and aim to find at least one book that you fall in love with.
  5. List 10 classics you’ve always heard about but never read. Read one of them in between every other modern-day book in your TBR list. 
  6. List two or three authors that you love, even though you’ve only read one of their books. Then, add two more books for each of these authors to add to your reading list this year. (For example, my first L.M. Montgomery book was Anne of Green Gables. But I found myself downloading everything else she wrote into my Kindle, and I’ve loved nearly everything!) 
  7. List five things you’re interested in, across a broad range of subjects. It could be French history, microbiology, or starting an online business. The possibilities are endless! Then, compile a reading list that delves into these five topics. Include both fiction and nonfiction options. Then spread these books out to read over a given time. 
  8. List down one or several literary awards and read all books you can find bearing that badge. For example, you can find books with the National Book Award, the Carnegie Award, Coretta Scott King Award, or the Newbery Award, and proceed from there. 
  9. Pick a genre you want to focus on for 2- or 3-month periods. For example, for the next two months, you may want to read only children’s novels, then science fiction, then romance, etc. 
  10. Read books whose titles start with every letter of the alphabet. They can be from any genre, or you can up the challenge by choosing a specific genre. For example, for A, you can read Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt, then The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson for B, then Children of the New Forest by Captain Maryatt for C, and so on. 
  11. Read five books written by authors of five different nationalities. For example, you might have books on your list written by American, British, Chinese, Australian, and Norwegian authors. 
  12. List down 10 historical figures you are curious about, and find a memoir, autobiography, or biography about these people. Decide whether you want to read these ten books one after another, or interspersed with other genres. 
  13. Analyze the last five books you’ve read, and list down what they have in common. Then, find five books that contain opposite traits. For example, if you find that the last five books you read were nonfiction, aim to read five fiction books next. If your last five books were written by male authors, try to read five books written by female authors next. 
  14. List and read five books about a given historical period. For example, if you choose ancient Greece, the next five books you read can include fiction or nonfiction books about that era. 
  15. Satisfy your travel bug: pick ten books that each features a specific country, and read them in the order as though you were traveling through them. For example, if you imagine traveling to Europe, then to Asia, you can arrange your books in this order. These can be either fiction or nonfiction books, too. 
  16. Another way of enjoying travel through books is reading books that actually feature travel. Decide what mode of transportation you’re interested in: sea travel? travel by train? air travel? Are are you looking for a getaway in nature, or a city tour? Include a selection of classic and modern books. 
  17. List down 10 movies you love that are based on books. Read at least five of those books. 
  18. Think back to your childhood. What did you want to be when you grew up? Read either a fiction book with the main character who works that field, or a nonfiction book about that career. 
  19. Read one book published in every century starting from 1000 A.D. 
  20. Read one book published for every year since you were born. 
  21. List five major historical events, whether throughout the world or in your country. Then, read one book each, fiction or nonfiction, that covers those events. 
  22. Find ten books about World War II and read them in chronological order. Include fiction and nonfiction books if possible. 
  23. Read at least one book written by someone from every country in the world. If this sounds too ambitious, start with those written in English and work your way up to translations from other languages. 
  24. Ask ten relatives, friends, or colleagues to recommend their favorite book. Include those that may not necessarily have the same interests as you. Pick at least five of these to add to your TBR list. 
  25. List down five issues you feel strongly about. Then, read one book that agrees with your views and another book that disagrees with your thoughts about the subject. 

Have Fun With a Reading Challenge

Tackling your reading goals, whether by yourself or with friends, is a great way to expand your thinking. Consider journaling the things you learn so that, years from now, you can look back at this growing time and reflect on the ideas that stood out to you. 

Remember, just in case you don’t accomplish everything on your list, be sure not to beat yourself up. Learn to celebrate the little victories as they come!

Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!

 

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