The Reading Journal

How reading make us happy in 2022 — and what we would change

Four qualities stood out among readers most satisfied with their reading in 2022: Flexibility with reading goals. Confidence in personal reading preferences. Willingness to give up on a book. And reading out of desire, not obligation.

Who did we read with in 2022?

What’s better than falling in love with a book? Having someone to talk to about it! Here we dive into book clubs, introverted readers, and how readers found community in 2022.

How we kept track of books we read in 2022

Nearly all respondents recorded their reading in 2022 through official book tracker apps, custom tools, social media platforms - or a combination of all three.

How did we read in 2022?

Respondents didn’t limit themselves to a single reading format: nearly all mixed hard copies, e-books, and audiobooks to meet different needs.

How we found books to read — and where we bought them — in 2022

Recommendations were the most common - and beloved! - form of book discovery. (Spoiler alert: Personal suggestions were far more effective than algorithm-driven ones.)

The reasons why we read books in 2022

There are many things respondents loved about reading, but one motivation rose to the top: To immerse myself in a story.

Reading vs. watching TV — how to make the trade and why

Making this decision was, for me, one that was not about the number of books I could read if I gave up TV. Instead, it was about doing something great for my brain and building a healthy habit.

The best novellas and short books for summer reading

This is an appreciation post for shorter reads. Consider this collection our grateful nod to brevity: short stories, novellas, and novels—all 200 pages or less—that we can consume in one sitting.