How to actually finish a book

Screens have atrophied our reading muscles. Here’s how to get them back.

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September 13, 2026 2:30pm EDT

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Nearly everyone I know wishes they read more, myself included. But a lot of us are feeling like somewhere between college and this stage of adulthood, we didn’t just lose the habit…we got bad at it. I know I’m not the only one who sits down to read a book or even a long article and feels like my brain is spitting the sentences up as I go.

The good news is that it’s entirely possible to become a better reader, as Adam Clark Estes recently reported for Vox. It starts with reducing friction so you are able to read more (which means using an e-reader or keeping a book on you at all times), and embracing other types of friction that can lead to deeper comprehension. Finally, he writes, remember that reading can be fun and easy: “You don’t need to read everything like you’re trying to get a good grade.”

This kind of writing is made possible by our Vox Members. If you would like to support Vox’s independent journalism, please consider becoming a Vox Member today.

—Rachel Wilkerson Miller, senior editor