Over half of Australians wish they read more, according to a study by Australia Reads, which identifies key barriers and strategies to help turn that wish into reality.
Common Barriers to Reading
The Australia Reads study cites the following as common obstacles:
- Difficulty finding time to read
- Low literacy
- Struggling to find suitable books
- Lack of an encouraging environment
- Competing priorities
- Difficulty concentrating
Strategies for Incorporating Reading
Starting Materials: Author and academic Melanie Saward recommends beginning with comics or graphic novels, then progressing to adventure stories and fantasy.
Finding Books: Experts suggest asking friends, family, librarians, or bookshop owners for recommendations.
Flexibility: It is acceptable to abandon a book if it is not being enjoyed, according to Saward.
Time Management:
- Audiobooks can be listened to during commutes, chores, or exercise, according to Professor Bethany Driscoll.
- Reading before sleep can be a relaxation technique, Saward stated.
- Setting a daily goal, such as 20 minutes of reading, is recommended by Temwani Mazaba.
- Professor Driscoll suggests treating reading as a mindfulness practice with a ritual.
- Ms. Mazaba noted that reading may feel tiring initially as the body adjusts.
Online Communities: Social media platforms like TikTok host reading communities (e.g., BookTok) that can assist in finding books. Ms. Mazaba founded a book club after a TikTok post. Professor Driscoll observes that online trends influence publishing, such as copycat books in popular subgenres.
"The time allocated for reading is more significant than the volume of pages or books completed." — Dr. Julian Novitz
The Role of Goal-Setting
Julian Novitz, an academic director at Swinburne University of Technology, identifies reading more as a common New Year's resolution. He notes that while specific goal-setting—such as reading a certain number of books or pages—can be motivating for some, it also carries the potential to transform a recreational activity into a task.
Dr. Novitz suggests that numerical reading goals may be perceived as work rather than leisure. He emphasizes that the time allocated for reading is more significant than the volume completed. Dedicating a specific amount of time, such as half an hour before bed or an hour daily, is presented as a potentially effective goal.
He proposes re-imagining reading goals to focus on the reading experience rather than solely on quantity—for example, committing to exploring new genres or authors.
Reported Benefits of Reading
Reading has been associated with:
- Reduced stress
- Reduced loneliness
- Reduced mortality
- Increased self-esteem
- Improved sleep
- Increased empathy
- Improved critical thinking
- Lower blood pressure
- Increased focus
Dr. Novitz states that reading is associated with benefits for wellbeing, particularly when it replaces screen time. He notes that avoiding screens for at least an hour before sleep can provide advantages for mental health and sleep patterns.
Audiobooks as an Alternative
While audiobooks offer an alternative method of engaging with stories, Novitz distinguishes them as "distinct experiences." Some experts indicate that listening to books appears to trigger similar, though not identical, brain responses compared to reading physical texts. For many individuals, the ability to "read" while engaging in other activities is a key appeal.
Individual Reader Experiences
Clara Pribadi, a 32-year-old from Adelaide, has not yet met her 2025 reading goal. Last year, she read over 50 books, exceeding her target. As of November, she has 10 books remaining to reach her current goal. Pribadi attributes her slower progress to recent life changes, including a new job and a new dog. She stated that not meeting her reading goal is not a concern for her, as she perceives the activity as primarily for enjoyment.
Pribadi uses the BookTok community to connect with others who share her interest in reading. She finds sharing her goals on BookTok provides enjoyment, motivation, and a basis for discussion. Her New Year's resolution includes reading at least one author of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) each month. She also finds that a goal of reading at least one page per day is more readily achievable than a high numerical target.
For Pribadi, engaging with diverse experiences and perspectives through reading is a primary motivation. She contrasted reading with movie viewing, describing the latter as passive observation, whereas reading is characterized as an immersive experience.