📖 10 Biggest Problems Readers Face (From 700+ Responses)

🚧 All Readers Face The Same 10 Problems.

I surveyed over 700 people and asked them “What's your biggest obstacle when it comes to reading?”

I then used AI to summarize the 10 most common responses.

Here’s what readers struggle with:

1) Finding the right books. 

Choosing which books to read is one of the most common complaints I hear from readers. Each year over 3 million new books are published but I’d be willing to bet that 99% of them aren’t a fit for you. This is something even skilled readers struggle with. Fortunately, there are strategies and tactics you can use to find and prioritize your reading list (like the Reading Funnel).

2) Finding time to read.

Everyone I know says they would read more if they “just had more time.” To solve this problem, you either need to find time in your busy schedule or make time by prioritizing it over other activities. I truly believe that everyone can find 1-2 hours of reading time in their schedules, even if they’re super busy (that doesn’t mean you have to read 2 hours a day I’ll just show you it’s possible).

3) Staying focused while reading.

You would think that once you’ve found a great book and some free time, reading would be easy, but then distraction hits. It could be a phone notification, a random thought, or something else that stops you from reading. Fortunately, there’s a small yet powerful strategy for dealing with distractions that will allow you to quickly get back to focusing on your book (the Distraction Catcher technique).

4) Finding motivation read more.

It’s hard to read more when you feel like you lack the motivation to do so. But what if there was a way to increase your motivation? And what if you could do it in less than 5 minutes? It’s possible, and several students have said this lesson was a game-changer for them.

5) Not remembering much from the books you read.

Do you ever feel like you’re reading one book after another but not retaining any of the information? It’s like putting gold coins into your pocket but your pants have holes in them. Luckily, there are simple science-backed strategies that can help you improve your retention and even comprehension at the same time.

6) Not knowing how to take notes in books.

I’ve tried dozens of different note-taking methods, including the super complex ones. But none of them worked, so I created my own R.E.A.D. system for taking notes. You can apply it to print books, ebooks, and even audiobooks. I also include a step-by-step process for each one. This is one of the most popular lessons in the course.

7) Building a consistent reading habit.

Building any habit is hard, but it doesn’t have to be. Yes, it takes effort to build a reading habit, but there are tips that will help make it easier. I’ve read dozens of books about habits and applied the best lessons I’ve learned from them to reading (such as habit stacking, habit cues, and tiny habits).

8) Not knowing how to speed read or if it even works.

Traditional speed reading does work, but it has several limitations. It isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. There are only certain times you should use it, otherwise, you’ll just be wasting your time. I’ll break down how to speed read, when to do it, and what speed reading gurus don’t tell you.

9) Not knowing how to take advantage of AI.

Artificial Intelligence is one of the most important inventions of our time, but most people don’t know how to use it or what to use it for. Fortunately, it’s quite easy to use and can help you get 10x your reading life.

10) Applying lessons from books to real life.

The true goal of books isn’t just to read them, it’s to absorb their lessons and apply them to improve your life (especially if you’re reading self-improvement type books). If you’re only reading books, that can turn into a form of productive procrastination.

If you resonate with any of these obstacles, don’t worry.

I’ve struggled with all of these problems and more.

The good news is, they’re all easy to fix and I share solutions to each of them in The Art of Reading.

It’s my self-paced course that will teach you all of my best reading tips, tricks, and tactics in 2 hours.

You’re going to spend over 22,000 hours reading books in your lifetime.

It’s worth spending 2 hours to learn how to do it well.

Join 450+ students and become a better reader today.

Reminder: The course is currently 40% off and there are 2 days left to get it.

After that, I’ll close enrollment and won’t relaunch the course for a few months as I work on making it even better. But if you get it now you’ll get instant access to the course and all future updates for free.

-Alex

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