# how many did you read this year?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-did-you-read-this-year/386299
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [January 1, 2007, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-did-you-read-this-year/386299 "2007-01-01T15:02:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2007, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-did-you-read-this-year/386299/21 "2007-01-02T02:23:35Z")
[QUOTE=bluethree]
I’ve been keeping track of the books I read off and for about eight years. I started because I kept finding myself in the library, looking at a book jacket and wondering if I had already read the darned thing. Also, I’d sometimes get 1/3 of the way into a book before I realized I’d read it before.
[/QUOTE]
Oh, I’ve been there.
That’s why I got so hooked on Chain Reading, a website that was allowing me to put books in a “to be read” list and such. It’s gone, though.
That’s how I knew that I had read so many books since I joined. My number does include a couple of shorties like the Little House books (first time I’ve ever read them).
For those who journal, how do you do it? How much information do you track?
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### Author:  [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2007, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-did-you-read-this-year/386299/22 "2007-01-02T12:37:58Z")
I’ve kept track of my books read for several years now. I read 62 books this year. It would have been more if I could…I dunno, go to a library or buy books in English easily. Anyway, it turns out that if you work three hours a week during the summer and live in a small village where you’re the only person who speaks your native language…you have a lot of spare time for reading.
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### Author:  [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2007, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-did-you-read-this-year/386299/23 "2007-01-03T00:58:49Z")
i wouldn’t say journal them. that is way to much work.
i did see a blank book journal in the bookstore when i decided to do this last year. it seemed like too much trouble to deal with. i ended up using a blank wire bound book i had around the house. remembering to write down the books was the toughest part.
usually i finish a book right before i go to bed. remembering to bring the book back to the library for name and page count… sometimes that would slide a bit.
i did put asterisks next to the books i reread. as i am math challenged it took me 4 tries to come up with a total. finally 2 totals matched.
this year i may just go with title and date. after the count difficulty i didn’t even try to page total!
i hope y’all will give it a go this year. it is good to know i’m not the only bookaholic.
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### Author:  [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2007, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-did-you-read-this-year/386299/24 "2007-01-03T01:08:33Z")
[QUOTE=jsgoddess]
For those who journal, how do you do it? How much information do you track?
[/QUOTE]
Excel file. I just track date finished, author and title.
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### Author:  [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2007, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-did-you-read-this-year/386299/25 "2007-01-03T01:51:53Z")
I’d like to say I’ll journal, but the fact is I probably won’t… Too much trouble and I read too many books. I have some small spiral notebooks around here somewhere – I think I’ll get one of those out and dedicate it to book tracking. Just the title, author and date.
That Chain Reading site sounded cool. Too bad it closed down.
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### Author:  [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2007, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-did-you-read-this-year/386299/26 "2007-01-03T05:24:45Z")
**elfkin477,** inspired by the link you posted I’m going for the 50 book challenge in 2007. Thanks! I’ve also started my very first[Live Journal page](http://shoshanapnw.livejournal.com/) to track my reading this year (i.e., to make myself write more than author, title, and rating tick).
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### Author:  [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2007, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-did-you-read-this-year/386299/27 "2007-01-03T12:14:37Z")
I’ve never actually counted or listed the books I’ve read. I go to the library once a week and get three to five books, so I would estimate that I read in the neighborhood of 200 last year.
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### Author:  [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2007, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-did-you-read-this-year/386299/28 "2007-01-03T15:07:44Z")
The year before last I decided to keep track of the books I read. Just the title, author, and one line description/assessment. I was a little disappointed at the fact that I couldn’t really remember what I had read in past months/years, and thought it might be interesting to look back over years later. I’m kind of amazed that I kept it up for 2 solid years.
Last year’s total was 55, 33 nonfiction - 1 repeat.
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### Author:  [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2007, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-did-you-read-this-year/386299/29 "2007-01-03T15:15:04Z")
Last year I kept a fairly faithful record. This year was more sporadic. Much more sporadic. Over 150, probably, since that was about what I read last year. I read probably 100 new books a year, and am always re-reading.
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