Printable reading log and reading challenge for adults

The short answer

A reading log is a simple list of the books you read, with dates, pages and a line about each. To use one, pick a daily reading moment, mark each day you read, write down every book you finish and check your pace once a week. A small daily goal, like 10 pages, is easier to keep than a big yearly number.

How to use a reading log

1. Pick a daily reading moment. After dinner, on your commute or in bed; the same moment each day makes starting easier.
2. Mark the tracker each day you read. A number of pages or minutes is enough.
3. Log every book you finish. Title, dates, pages and a star rating take under a minute.
4. Check your pace once a week. Behind? Lower the daily target instead of skipping the habit.

How many pages a day for your reading goal?

Books a year	Pages a day (300-page books, every day)	About
12 (one a month)	10	15 minutes
20	17	25 minutes
26 (one every two weeks)	22	30 minutes
52 (one a week)	43	1 hour

Reading speed varies a lot with the book and the reader; the times assume about 40 pages an hour for typical fiction. See how many pages you should read a day for more on choosing a number.

Reading challenge: 24 prompts for adults

Use these as a menu for the year, not a checklist you must finish. One book can count for more than one prompt.

1. A book under 200 pages
2. A book over 500 pages
3. A book a friend has told you to read
4. A book set in a country you have never visited
5. A book translated from another language
6. A memoir or autobiography
7. A book published before you were born
8. A book published this year
9. A book from a genre you usually skip
10. A book of short stories or essays
11. A poetry collection
12. A book about a skill you want to learn
13. A book you started once and never finished
14. A book with a one-word title
15. A book by an author from your city or state
16. A book recommended by a librarian or bookseller
17. A book that was made into a film or series
18. A book about history you know little about
19. A book about science or nature
20. A book you can read in one weekend
21. A book with a blue cover
22. An audiobook for your commute or walks
23. A book about habits, work or everyday life
24. Reread a book you loved years ago

Keep the habit going

A log shows the pattern; a routine keeps it going. Try the personal 30-day reading plan, read about good reading habits or learn how to focus while reading.

Frequently asked questions

What should I write in a reading log?

The title, author, the dates you started and finished, pages and a one-line note or rating. Short entries are easier to keep up than full reviews.

How many books should I aim to read a year?

Choose a number you could reach with 10 to 20 minutes a day. At 20 pages a day, a 300-page book takes about two weeks, so 20 to 25 books a year is a realistic goal for many adults.

Do audiobooks count in a reading log?

If your goal is to enjoy books and keep a habit, yes. Log the format next to the title so you can see your mix.

What is a reading challenge?

A list of prompts, like a book under 200 pages or a book set in another country, that nudges you toward books you might not pick otherwise. Use it as a menu, not a checklist you must finish.

Sources and evidence

1. Harkin et al. (2016): Does monitoring goal progress promote goal attainment? — Recording progress improved goal attainment across 138 studies.
2. Mol and Bus (2011): To read or not to read: a meta-analysis of print exposure from infancy to early adulthood — Across 99 studies (N = 7,669), leisure reading was moderately to strongly linked with reading comprehension and spelling, more so at older ages.