3 Levels of an Avid Reader and How to Become One
How to Level Up Your Reading from Habit into Mastery
Becoming an avid reader doesn’t happen overnight.
Like any other skill, reading regularly and effectively requires time and practice. Whether you’re just starting out or want to take your reading habit to the next level, understanding the different stages and levels of a reader can help you effectively grow.
I was once not a reader at all.
I don’t pick up a book and even wondered why people enjoy reading books. I mean, there are many games out there, and it’s fun to play, but why do people still choose books? Why do people still want to read rather than doing something more enjoyable?
Until I realize that reading is actually the game.
Reading is the guide, the quest, and the path to achieving success. That’s where I started reading more and more. Until I achieve mastery in reading, which is to become an avid reader.
Here are the 3 levels of an avid reader and how you can gradually move through each stage.
0. The Non-reader (Reading 0)
Traits: Reads when they have to.
The non-reader doesn’t like books. They still enjoy scrolling social media and watching random YouTube videos. Reading still feels like a chore here. Even picking up a book feels like a burden.
Now, there’s an easy way to move from here.
1. The Casual Reader (Reading 0–1)
Traits: Reads once or twice a week, usually for a minute or two.
A casual reader picks up a book more than the non-reader.
Often when there’s extra time or a specific topic catches their interest. They might finish a few books a year, but reading isn’t a regular habit yet. Reading is still hard at this level.
Even so, they are interested in reading and finishing a book.
How to achieve this level:
Find Books You Love. Casual readers are often motivated by enjoyment. Focus on finding books in genres or subjects that really interest you.
Set a Low Bar: Don’t force yourself to read a certain number of pages or books. Start small with just 5–10 minutes of reading each day. Even one sentence is great.
Experiment with Formats: Audiobooks, eBooks, or short articles are great for fitting reading into a busy schedule.
The main key here is to enjoy your reading session.
2. The Regular Reader (Reading 1)
Traits: Reads consistently, prioritizes learning and growth
A regular reader has built a consistent reading habit, finishing several books a year and often turning to reading as a source of knowledge and self-improvement.
They might keep a reading list or set goals for how many books to read in a year. They shared some books and enjoyed talking about them too. Reading doesn’t feel like a chore and more into their needs.
This is where I call it, The Habit of Reading.
They enjoy reading, start to love it, and are ready to take it to mastery.
How to Level Up:
Create a Reading Routine: Make reading a daily habit by incorporating it into your routine. Whether it’s 15 minutes before bed or while having your morning coffee.
Track Your Progress: Tracking helps you to make a good habit chain and motivates you more in your reading journey.
Diversify Your Reading: Start opening yourself to new genres. Different genres are like puzzles that could help you become creative and understand from different perspectives.
The main key here is consistency.
3. The Avid Reader (Reading 100)
Traits: Reading is a core part of life.
An avid reader has made reading a core habit, consuming dozens of books a year.
They not only read for pleasure but also for personal growth, knowledge, and deeper understanding. Their reading is intentional, and they often reflect on what they’ve read to apply it in their daily lives. Their lifestyle and identity are now a reader.
They can’t live without reading.
How to Reach This Level:
Set Reading Goals: Avid readers often have specific reading goals. These could be a number of books to read in a year or specific topics to dive deeper into.
Reflect and Apply: Don’t just read, but reflect on what you’ve learned. Take notes, highlight key insights, and actively think about how the lessons apply to your life or work (active reading).
Build Your Identity as a Reader: At this level, reading isn’t just a hobby. It’s part of who you are. Sleep with books, join the book community, and share your reading experience.
You can all achieve this with ease.
Wherever you’re starting, the key to becoming an avid reader is consistency and commitment.
By starting small, building a routine, and gradually expanding the scope and depth of your reading, you can level up yourself from a non-reader (Reading 0) to an avid reader (Reading 100).
Now, you don’t need to worry about where to learn all of this.
I’ve made a free course to help you level up from reading 0 to 1. The Habit of Reading helps you find the book you love. Start small and build the habit and identity of the reader. There’s an implementation guide too that you can access through the PDF.
If you wanted to take it to the next level, feel free to join my course from reading 0 to 100.
The Mastery of Reading. It includes all of The Habit of Reading Course. And it helps you to stick it into your daily routine, learning active reading and deep reading every session of your reading. And most importantly, to apply it in your professional life.
Happy reading!
Essential Resources for Your Journey 📚
The Mastery of Reading (Paid) | Download here
A Step-by-step Guide to Mastering Your Reading Habit from 0 to 10030-day Simple Habit Tracker (Free) | Download Here
Track Your Daily Habits with Customizable MonthsLife-changing Blueprint (Free) | Download Here
How to Change Your Life with Implementation GuideMy Booknotes (Free) | Download here
Understand What You Read with Implementation Guide