Book Shelf guide
How to track your reading and read more books this year
To track your reading, keep three lists (want to read, currently reading and read) and for each finished book note the dates, a rating and a line about how it made you feel. Set a yearly goal you can beat, such as one book a month, and check your pace every few weeks. Tracking works best when it takes seconds, so log progress when you put the book down.
What to record for each book
A reading log can be as simple as a list of titles. A few extra details make it far more useful later:
- Status: want to read, reading, read, or did not finish.
- Start and finish dates, which show your pace and how long each book took.
- A rating, out of five, so you can find your favourites again.
- A mood or one-line note: "cosy", "couldn't put it down", "slow middle". Future you will thank you when recommending books.
- Favourite quotes, with the page number.
Don't feel you must finish every book. Marking a book "did not finish" and moving on is how readers who read a lot keep reading.
Setting a reading goal you'll actually hit
Yearly challenges are motivating, but a goal that's too high turns reading into homework. Base it on last year, then add a little.
| Books a year | Pace | Roughly per day* |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | One a month | 10 to 15 minutes |
| 24 | One a fortnight | 20 to 30 minutes |
| 52 | One a week | 45 to 60 minutes |
*For an average-length novel of about 300 to 350 pages, at a typical adult reading speed. Short books and audiobooks count if you want them to; it's your goal.
Habits for reading more
- Always have the next book ready. The gap between books is where reading habits stall.
- Anchor reading to a routine: ten pages with your morning coffee, or in bed before the phone.
- Carry a book everywhere, or an e-book on your phone, for queues and journeys.
- Read more than one book: a heavy one and a light one, so there's always something you're in the mood for.
- Quit books you don't enjoy. Life is short and the to-read pile is long.
Tracking books in Book Shelf
Book Shelf is a free reading tracker in your browser. It opens with a few sample books you can clear.
- Add books from the Add tab: search by title, author or ISBN, use Scan ISBN with your camera, or type a book in by hand. Mark it Want to read, Currently reading or Read.
- Log progress with Save progress, or time a reading session, and tap I finished it! at the end.
- Rate it and add mood tags, dates and favourite quotes.
- See your books on a 3D shelf, with your challenge progress and stats.
- Share your year in books, your challenge card or what you're reading, or recommend a book to a friend.
- Can't decide? Shake the TBR jar on Home for a random pick.
Book details and covers come from Open Library. Your library stays in your browser, with CSV export and backup. Book Shelf Pro, a one-time $2.99, adds custom shelves, deep stats and past years' Wrapped.
Common mistakes
- A goal set from someone else's numbers. Base it on what you read last year.
- Finishing books you hate. Mark them did not finish and move on.
- Logging only titles. A rating and one line make the log worth keeping.
- Waiting for long reading sessions. Ten minutes a day adds up to many books a year.
- No next book lined up. Keep a short want-to-read list.
- Letting the counter spoil it. If the challenge stops being fun, lower it.
Questions
What should I track in a reading log?
At least the title, author, status and finish date. A rating, mood tags and a one-line note make it much more useful later.
How many books should I aim to read in a year?
Start from what you read last year and add a little. Twelve books a year, one a month, is a popular and achievable first goal.
Do audiobooks count towards a reading goal?
It is your goal, so you decide. Many readers count them, especially for books they would not otherwise get to.
Can I scan a book's barcode to add it?
Yes. Book Shelf has Scan ISBN, which uses your camera to read the barcode on the back of the book.
Is Book Shelf an alternative to Goodreads?
For personal tracking, yes: shelves, ratings, a yearly challenge and stats, kept privately on your device rather than in a social network.
Is Book Shelf free?
Yes. Shelves, search, the reading challenge, stats and this year's Wrapped are free. Book Shelf Pro adds custom shelves, deep stats and past years' Wrapped for a one-time $2.99.