A Beginner's Guide to Reading:
How to Choose and Read Books When Reading Feels Hard

"I try to read, but I get bored right away..."
"I can never finish a book—I always give up halfway..."
"Everyone else seems to enjoy reading, but I just don't get it..."

If these thoughts sound familiar, you're not alone. And it's not because you lack ability or effort. You simply haven't found the right way to choose and read books that works for you.

This article shares practical, actionable methods that even people who struggle with reading can use to enjoy books without stress.

Why Does Reading Feel So Hard?

First, let's understand why reading can feel difficult. In most cases, these are the common reasons:

These challenges are common to many people. According to various surveys, a significant percentage of adults don't read a single book per month. That means not having a reading habit is more common than having one.

In other words, feeling like reading is difficult doesn't make you unusual. But with the right approach, anyone can learn to enjoy reading.

How to Choose Books That Overcome Your Resistance

The biggest reason reading doesn't stick is how you choose your first book. Keep these points in mind to lower the barrier to reading.

1. Start with Thin Books (100-150 Pages)

Building "success experiences" of finishing books is crucial. Books over 300 pages can wait until you're more comfortable with reading. Start with books around 100-150 pages.

There are many compact, accessible books available. The satisfaction of "I finished a whole book, even if it was short" leads to your next reading experience.

2. Prioritize Topics That Interest You

Instead of "books you should read" or "famous books," choose books about topics you're genuinely curious about. Hobbies, celebrity memoirs, work-related practical guides, trending topics—anything is fine.

When you're interested, you can push through even challenging content. Conversely, even masterpieces won't hold your attention if you're not interested.

3. Browse in a Bookstore and "Flip Through" Before Deciding

Before buying online, try visiting a bookstore and holding books in your hands if possible. Look at the table of contents—do any chapters interest you? Is the font size, spacing, and writing style easy to read?

Read the first few pages and see if you're curious about what comes next—that's what matters. If something feels "hard to read" right away, it might not be the right book for you right now.

Reading Tips for Beginners

Once you know how to choose books, let's look at "how to read." Here are tips to lower the psychological barriers to reading.

1. Adopt the "You Don't Have to Read Everything" Mindset

You don't have to read a book from cover to cover. Skip boring chapters. Stop in the middle if you want. That's all fine.

"But I paid for it..."—that feeling is understandable, but reading out of obligation doesn't help you retain anything. Reading only the parts that interest you is still legitimate reading.

2. Start with Short Sessions (10 Minutes a Day is Enough)

Let go of the idea that "reading means spending hours with a book." Even 10 minutes a day is plenty.

Right after waking up, during your commute, in bed before sleep— deciding "this is when I read" helps turn reading into a habit.

Even 10 minutes a day adds up to 70 minutes a week, 300 minutes (5 hours) a month. That's enough to finish 1-2 thin books.

3. Take Notes While Reading (Better Retention)

Highlighting interesting passages or jotting down simple notes while reading makes information stick and makes reading more enjoyable.

Noting down "I like this phrase" or "I want to try this" lets you look back later and feel "I'm glad I read that."

Paper notebooks, phone apps, or reading tracker tools all work—use whatever's easiest for you. Check out our separate article on how to take effective reading notes.

4. Manga and Illustrated Books Are Real Reading

Do you think "manga doesn't count as reading"? That's not true. Manga is legitimate reading.

There are manga and illustrated books covering history, philosophy, business, science, and more. Starting with these and experiencing "the joy of finishing" is important.

Mindsets for Sustainable Reading

Finally, here are mindsets to help make reading a lasting habit.

1. Don't Compare Yourself to Others

"Someone reads 10 books a month." "I wish I could speed-read."—These comparisons are unnecessary. Reading isn't a competition.

Reading speed and book count vary for everyone. Enjoying yourself at your own pace is what matters most.

2. Stop Thinking "I Have to Read"

When reading becomes an obligation, it stops being fun. Pick up a book because "I want to read" or "this looks interesting"—that's the right spirit.

If you start and find it boring, you don't have to keep going. Switching to a different book is part of enjoying reading.

3. Make Reading a "Reward"

Reading with a cup of coffee, in your favorite spot, after a relaxing bath— pairing reading with pleasant moments makes habit formation easier.

Even if reading itself isn't thrilling yet, if you love "this time," you'll keep coming back.

4. Keep a Reading Log (Sustains Motivation)

Recording the books you read and your thoughts creates a sense of accomplishment that sustains motivation. Seeing "I read 2 books this month" or "I read more than last year" builds confidence.

A notebook works, or use a smartphone app. Tools that help manage reading records make it easy to look back on past reads. These features help maintain motivation to continue.

For more detailed methods on building reading habits, see our article on how to build sustainable reading habits.

Summary: Enjoy Reading Your Way

Feeling like reading is hard is not unusual at all. But by choosing the right books and reading in a stress-free way, anyone can come to enjoy reading.

Reading is inherently free and enjoyable. Let go of rigid ideas about "how it should be" and find your own reading style.

Why not pick up a thin, interesting-looking book today?

Frequently Asked Questions