Do you wish you had a list of every book you’ve ever read? I’m even talking about books you read back in high school. How I wish I could go back in time and tell my younger self to track the books I read. Ultimately, I started documenting the books I finished in 2009.
Does tracking each book you’ve read make a difference? I think so:
- You’ll gain a sense of accomplishment
- You’ll notice progress in your reading habits (both in depth and quantity)
- You’ll be reminded to re-read some of your favorite books
Where to Track Books
I have an old black-cover journal where every year I’d draw a line down the middle. On the left side of the page, I wrote down the books I finished and the month I completed the title. On the right side, I listed the audiobooks I listened to and the month.
In 2018, I started keeping track of my books in a Google sheet where eventually I’ll add my older
For quick access, I have a link on my menu bar of my Chrome browser:
In 2019 and beyond, I have a renewed interest in reading my favorite books from the past 10-20 years. At least I can go back to my oldest lists to start selecting those titles I want to reread.
Tracking Books in Goodreads
In 2019, I started using Goodreads more in order to gather reading ideas. One of my favorite books in 2019 came from a friend recommendation.
If you use the platform, you can create book lists by year. As time permits, I’m adding old books to my lists labeled by year. I’ll still always maintain a spreadsheet-based list as I have more functionality. Still, it’s another possibility.
The Ultimate Reading List
Incidentally, I appreciate influencers who share the books they’ve read. This list by Jim Collins is a gem. Note how many books you’ve read that’s on Jim’s impressive list.
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