We asked top readers from past years to share their perspective, advice, and a few reading recommendations! Here's a few highlights from szy09, our current leaderboard #5.
If you were a top reader in past years, remember to check your email for an interview invite! If we pick your interview next, you’ll win a voucher for a free small prize.
How do you keep track of books you’ve read or want to read?
I track the books I’ve read on The StoryGraph. As for to-read books, I keep a list in my notes app that I update every time I find a book I want to read.
Do you have any special reading habits or rituals?
I stretch for about 5 minutes before I start a reading session.
What advice would you give to someone trying to read more?
This may not work for everyone, but read multiple books at the same time. My current reads are a non-fiction book, a binge-worthy fiction book, a slower fiction book, and an e-book. Excluding the binge book, I will read 2-3 chapters (or 30 minutes) everyday of the others. This may seem like a lot, but by tying the different reads to different parts of my day it becomes pretty manageable. For example, the e-book is for commuting and the binge book is for unwinding at night.
Do you ever get stuck in a reading rut? How do you get yourself reading again?
I get out of it by exploring different mediums of storytelling. While attending grad school I was too stressed out to read a lot, so I would unwind by listening to true-crime podcasts and reading webtoons or manga on my phone. Yes, these are not books, but I could still think critically about them and analyze how effective they were in portraying their themes.
How do you usually find your next read?
If I like a book, then I’ll check the ‘Praise for the Author’ section to discover new authors. I also like to check Reactor’s monthly new releases articles to see if there are any upcoming books that sound fun.
Has a book ever changed your perspective on something? What book was it, and how did it change your thinking?
Yes, Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi. It made me realize how little I’ve thought about the messiness of everyday living for an average person in Iraq. As an American, I think this is something all of us should think about more.
Please recommend a few of your favorite books or authors!
Favorite Reads of 2026:
