3 Books I Want to Read in January 2022

If you’re a Goodreads user, you’ve probably already decided on how many books you’re reading this year for the Goodreads challenge.

Every year, I choose a very specific number of books that I want to read. I do the math. I calculate how many books do I have to read every week in order to complete the challenge. And how many hours do I have to spend every day to read that amount of books.

And every year I struggle to complete the challenge. Even when I make it small, like in the past two years.

That’s why this year I decided to focus on reading as much as possible every day and keep updating my Goodreads challenge every time I read a new book.

This way, I don’t feel the pressure to read a specific amount of books. I’m just reading what I want to read and updating that number as I go.

Because if I put that kind of pressure on myself to read X amount of books a week, I’ll feel guilty if I don’t. And that will take all the fun out of reading.

If you turn something you do for fun into something you have to do, it will take all the fun out of it and will lead you to stop doing it.

*This article contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any of the books through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.*

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

The song of Achilles is a retelling of the Trojan War as a romantic tale between Achilles and Patroclus, two men who couldn’t be more different.

Achilles, son of the cruel sea goddess Thetis and the legendary king Peleus, is strong, swift, and beautiful, irresistible to all who meet him.

Patroclus is an awkward young prince, exiled from his homeland after an act of shocking violence.

Brought together by chance, they forge an inseparable bond, despite risking the gods’ wrath.

I first heard of this book back in 2015, when a friend recommended it to me. To be honest, it never interested me before.

But after studying Greek mythology in college and reading books such as The Iliad and The Odyssey, I finally added it to my tbr list. And I want to read it this month.

Get this book here.

No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline by Brian Tracy

I don’t even know how I found this book, but as soon as I read the title, I knew I needed to read it.

As someone that struggles a lot with being productive, this book seems to be one that will help me stop procrastinating and be productive.

Each of the 21 chapters in this book shows you how to be more disciplined in one aspect of your life, with end-of-chapter exercises to help you apply the “no excuses” approach to your own life.

I hope that by reading this book, I stop trying to find excuses not to work and finally see progress in my self-development journey.

Get this book here.

How to Read Like a Writer: 10 Lessons to Elevate Your Reading and Writing Practice by Erin M. Pushman

Since I am trying to read more this year, I got out of my comfort zone.

Through NetGalley, I found this book that is going to be released on the 13th of this month.

How to Read Like a Writer is an accessible and effective step-by-step guide to how careful reading can help you improve your craft as a creative writer, whatever genre you are writing in.

Pairing published readings with practical, critical and creative exercises, this book helps writers master key elements of their craft.

As a reader and writer, this book intrigued me. It appears to be something that can help me not only become a better writer, but also a better reader.

Get this book here.

Follow my reading progress on Goodreads.

What books do you want to read this month? Let me know in the comments!

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