Starting April 2008 I set myself the challenge to read fifty books in a year (April to April). My goal was to radically increase my knowledge by developing a habit of reading. In the past I’ve read novels and found that at around 10,000 pages I would just stop. For my fifty book challenge I set myself a minimum of reading for fifteen minutes a day.

I’m unable to determine how many books are the equivalent of a university degree. Surely fifty comes close. Reading is a great way to learn. In contrast to a presentation reading involves you in a conversation with yourself. One idea out of a book is enough to move you forward in life and something to be grateful for.

The 2012 challenge is in progress and I’ve committed to 50 books which hasn’t been done since 2008 (the intervening years were more “going through the motions”.

My results over the past years have been:

  • 2008: 53 books,
  • 2009: 22 books,
  • 2010: 20 books, and
  • 2011: 11 books (cut short from Apr-Mar to Apr-Dec but still a low number).

Currently reading

#CoverDescriptionFinishedRating
1.My Grammar and I (Or Should That Be 'Me'?): Old School Ways to Sharpen Your English by Caroline Taggart My Grammar and I (Or Should That Be 'Me'?): Old School Ways to Sharpen Your English by Caroline Taggart

 Not yet finished
2.Good to Great by Jim Collins Good to Great by Jim Collins

 Not yet finished
3.The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

 Not yet finished
4.A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire, #3) by George R.R. Martin A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire, #3) by George R.R. Martin

 Not yet finished
5.Think And Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill Think And Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

 Not yet finished
6.Stephen King's The Dark Tower: A Concordance, #1 by Robin Furth Stephen King's The Dark Tower: A Concordance, #1 by Robin Furth

 Not yet finished
7.Stephen King's The Dark Tower: A Concordance, #2 by Robin Furth Stephen King's The Dark Tower: A Concordance, #2 by Robin Furth

 Not yet finished
Data from Goodreads

The Rules

My rules are simple. You can of course make up your own.
  1. Read 50 books in a twelve month period. The length of a book is unimportant but it must clearly be a book.
  2. The following typesof books count:
    1. Autobiographies or biographies
    2. Personal development or self improvement
    3. Historical narratives
  3. The following formsof book count:
    1. Hardbacks or paperbacks
    2. Electronic books
    3. Audiobooks
  4. Books can be read concurrently i.e., I don’t have to finish one before starting another.
  5. Any book read more than once counts each time. I’m a different reader the second time around.
  6. For each book post a comment on what I liked about it.

See also

There are various websites with information on a ’50 book challenge’.