The hottest Reading habits Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Literature Topics

My 22 Rules for Reading

The Honest Broker • 13497 implied HN points • 28 Feb 26
đź“š Literature Reading habits
  1. Treat reading as a lifelong daily habit aimed at gaining wisdom, not just job skills, credentials, or social signaling.
  2. Deep, sustained reading yields unexpected practical and intangible benefits—people take you more seriously and new opportunities often follow even if that wasn’t the goal.
  3. Be intentional: use clear rules and a reading plan for choosing books and retaining what you read so your reading actually shapes your thinking.

What Not Reading Does to Your Writing

Counter Craft • 4846 implied HN points • 22 Feb 26
đź“š Literature Reading habits
  1. Relying on TV and film thinking makes prose read like a camera transcript instead of a mind, so scenes lack interiority, clear perspective, and end up full of generic gestures. This kind of "TV brain" prose feels flat and tells you nothing deeper about characters.
  2. Prose has strengths film doesn’t: it can show interior thoughts, shift perspective, manipulate time, summarize, and digress to deepen meaning. Good fiction uses those tools instead of playing every scene out in real time.
  3. Writers who don’t read tend to repeat information, bloat sentences with redundant metaphors, and miss what prose can do; the simplest fix is to read widely to learn craft and how to reveal character and story efficiently.

How to Make Use of the Books You Don't Read

a newsletter for infovores. • 61 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
đź“š Literature Reading habits
  1. Try a quick random-sampling game: pick 10–15 unread books, pick a random starting page for each, and read ten pages from each to sample many books fast.
  2. That short, low-effort sampling often relieves buyer’s remorse and makes it easy to decide what to keep, toss, or replace with modern tools like ChatGPT.
  3. Stripping away context and embracing serendipity reveals unexpected value because marketing or framing can hide good parts, and you don’t always know where you’ll find what you need.

Books as Art Projects

Counter Craft • 397 implied HN points • 05 Dec 25
đź“š Literature Reading habits
  1. Books can be made as art objects — creative formats and special editions turn reading into a tactile, collectible experience you want to keep on a shelf.
  2. Many readers like small, pocketable books, and independent publishers are responding with well-designed, compact editions that are cheaper and easier to carry. That portability often matters more than expensive deluxe finishes.
  3. The internet feels flatter and is increasingly full of cheap AI-generated text, so people may seek out real, handmade things like printed books or live events. Authors can stay online while also experimenting with unique physical projects that only work in the real world.
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Why is Harry Potter quite so influential?

The Common Reader • 2232 implied HN points • 27 Jan 25
đź“š Literature Reading habits
  1. Harry Potter has a special charm because it mixes ordinary places, like King’s Cross station, with the idea of magical adventures. This makes readers feel like they can escape into a wonderful world.
  2. Many adult fans of Harry Potter visit places like Platform 9Âľ, which shows how much the series means to people of all ages. It's not just a children's story; it resonates with grown-ups too.
  3. The popularity of Harry Potter is on par with classic books like 'The Hobbit' and 'Alice in Wonderland,' highlighting its impact on modern literature and culture. People connect deeply with the characters and stories.

2025 in Books

Investing 101 • 110 implied HN points • 20 Dec 25
đź“š Literature Reading habits
  1. Keep an antilibrary mindset: unread books are a research tool that remind you how much there is to learn, and embracing that humility fuels ongoing reading and writing.
  2. Modern capitalism is distorted by short-term, shareholder-first incentives that can wreck institutions. New technologies like AI risk being amplified by speculative short-termism.
  3. Reading widely—especially science fiction and reflective philosophy—helps you explore big questions about individuality, collective consciousness, and faith. Making reading a habit also models curiosity for your children.

The Monday Media Diet with Jared Ray Johnson

Why is this interesting? • 723 implied HN points • 02 Jun 25
đź“š Literature Reading habits
  1. Reading novels can be more satisfying than consuming news, which often leads to frustration. It's good to focus on stories that inspire thought and creativity.
  2. Everyone should try to read more often and deeply, even if it's been a long time since they picked up a book. It's okay to start fresh, no matter when you last read.
  3. Apps like Doji use AI in creative ways, such as helping you visualize luxury clothing on yourself. They make shopping more engaging and can change how we approach fashion.

2025 Year in Books

From the Desk • 9 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
đź“š Literature Reading habits
  1. Thirty-three books were read in 2025, more than in 2024 and 2023, and the year had the highest average rating so far.
  2. Libraries and Little Free Libraries were a big part of the reading life—twelve books came from the library and seven from Little Free Libraries—encouraging serendipity, saving money, and cutting down on shelf clutter.
  3. There was a clear reading strategy: abandon books that aren’t working, follow impulse picks when they catch interest, and curate favorites across fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and a small did-not-finish list.

2024 in Books

Investing 101 • 73 implied HN points • 21 Dec 24
đź“š Literature Reading habits
  1. Carrying a book everywhere helps make reading a habit. Whenever there’s free time, it’s a great chance to dive into a book instead of scrolling on your phone.
  2. Setting up routines can create more opportunities to read, like listening to audiobooks during travel or combining family time with reading. It’s all about finding that balance.
  3. Reading not only helps with personal growth but also influences your kids. The more you read, the more you can inspire them to value books and learning too.

Free Audiobook and Analog September Announcement

From the Desk • 18 implied HN points • 20 Aug 25
đź“š Literature Reading habits
  1. You can now get my self-published audiobook 'Under the Long White Cloud' for free on Apple and Google Books. It uses AI narrators, so there's no charge.
  2. Next month, I'm trying an 'Analog Month' where I will use less technology and more traditional methods, like reading physical books and using a paper calendar.
  3. If you want to join me in going analog for September, feel free to share your experiences. I'll include them in my October newsletter.

Books I Read in 2024

From the Desk • 18 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
đź“š Literature Reading habits
  1. Reading has become more challenging due to distractions and life's demands, especially with young kids around. It’s hard to find time and focus to get lost in a book.
  2. Returning to old favorite books can reignite the joy of reading, as familiar stories often bring comfort and engagement. Some classics can really pull you in, no matter how many times you've read them.
  3. It's important to prioritize reading only good books. If a book isn’t engaging or enjoyable, it’s okay to put it down and move on to something better.

2021 Reading Retrospective

Holodoxa • 39 implied HN points • 22 Feb 22
đź“š Literature Reading habits
  1. The author completed around 220 books in 2021, with a focus on non-fiction works, and mostly consumed books in audiobook format.
  2. The author highly recommends using Goodreads to track reading progress, post reviews, and engage with other readers.
  3. The book 'The Genetic Lottery' by Kathryn Paige Harden delves into the relationship between genetics and social outcomes, challenging prevalent beliefs and offering thought-provoking insights.

Turnaround #5: How do I read

Turnaround • 59 implied HN points • 26 Aug 19
đź“š Literature Reading habits
  1. Reading easy books can help you get back into the habit of reading and give you a sense of accomplishment.
  2. Asking voracious readers for book recommendations can lead you to unexpected and insightful reads that algorithms might miss.
  3. Setting aside at least an hour each day for reading can help you form a habit and make significant progress in covering various topics.

Reading Well

The Map is Mostly Water • 2 HN points • 17 Jul 23
đź“š Literature Reading habits
  1. Reading is a solitary and intimate act that allows the author to model the world for you.
  2. Embrace the visceral quality of reading mostly fiction slowly to be influenced by excellent works.
  3. Consider starting many books, completing few, re-reading favorites, and building a diverse home library.

Antilibrary: The Secret of the Humble Manager

TeamCraft • 0 implied HN points • 31 Jul 23
🚌 Education Reading habits
  1. Managers in tech often fear being seen as frauds, leading to a lack of humility.
  2. Building an antilibrary can help foster humility and curiosity by seeking out books outside your expertise and challenging viewpoints.
  3. Utilize your antilibrary as an intuition pump by exploring unread books and letting your imagination create diverse meanings and messages.