“If you want to hide something from a Nigerian, put it in a book.” You’ve probably heard the joke, and maybe you even laughed. But plenty of Nigerians read: the tailor who listens to audiobooks while sewing, the banker who reads on her phone in traffic on Third Mainland Bridge, the student who finishes a novel a week on a cracked screen. The secret isn’t having more time. It’s having a system.
The easiest way to build a reading habit is to read a small amount, even 10 pages or 15 minutes, at the same time every day, with a book you actually enjoy. Consistency matters far more than speed or volume. Over a year, 15 minutes a day adds up to more than 90 hours of reading, which is enough for many books.
Key takeaways
- Anchor reading to a daily routine and start small.
- Keep a book (or an e-reader or audiobook) with you at all times, including in traffic.
- It is fine to quit books you don’t enjoy. Enjoyment sustains the habit.
Why reading is worth the effort
Reading builds knowledge, vocabulary, focus and perspective. It lets you learn from people you might never meet. Studies have also linked reading fiction to improved understanding of other people’s thoughts and feelings, although the size of that effect is still debated by researchers.
9 ways to build a reading habit
1. Set a tiny daily target
Start with 10 pages or 15 minutes. It is small enough to do on your busiest day.
2. Attach it to an existing routine
Read after morning devotion, during lunch, or before bed instead of scrolling. See how to build habits that stick.
3. Use “dead time”
Lagos traffic, bank queues and waiting rooms are perfect reading windows. Keep an e-book app or audiobook on your phone.
4. Start with books you’ll enjoy
Don’t start with the hardest classic. Pick topics that excite you, whether that’s business, biographies, African fiction or self-development.
5. Put your phone away
Put it on “Do Not Disturb” or in another room while you read. Distraction is the biggest enemy of deep reading.
6. Quit books freely
If a book hasn’t gripped you after 50 pages, move on. Forcing yourself through a boring book is how reading habits die.
7. Join or start a book club
Book clubs, both online and in cities like Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, add accountability and make reading social.
8. Track what you read
Use a notebook or an app like Goodreads. Watching your list grow is motivating.
9. Mix formats
Audiobooks count. So do e-books. Choose whatever format fits your life.
How to remember what you read
- Write a 3-sentence summary after each chapter.
- Teach it: Explain one idea to a friend or post about it.
- Apply one idea from every non-fiction book within a week.
Books to start with
Here are some widely recommended, accessible titles: Mindset by Carol Dweck, Atomic Habits by James Clear, The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel, and Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe for a classic of African literature.
Try this this week
Choose one book from the list above, or any book you’re curious about. Set a target of 10 pages a day and attach it to something you already do daily. Tell one friend what you’re reading so they can ask you about it next week. A little accountability goes a long way.
Frequently asked questions
How many books should I read a year?
There is no right number. Twelve books a year, about one a month, is a realistic and rewarding goal for most busy people.
Do audiobooks count as reading?
For learning and enjoyment, yes. Research suggests comprehension of audiobooks and print is broadly similar for many types of text.
Related reading
Written and fact-checked by the Mindset.ng Editorial Team in line with our Editorial Policy. Last updated: 23 September 2026.
