How to Choose a Book to Read

If you’re anything like me, choosing which book to read next out of all the available options can be a very daunting task.

Going alphabetically seems like the best way to work your way down the shelf, until you get to D and realize that will be a good two years until you can read anything other than Charles Dickens. As enjoyable as Dickens may be, reading the same author each and every day can make even your favorite novel read like the dictionary.

Instead, choose your next book at random using the random number generator.

Here’s how it works: Count the number of unread books you have. (This will be a lot easier if you separate read and unread books.) If you already have an idea of what kind of book you want to read — namely fiction or non-fiction — then only count the number of unread books in that section. Jot this number on a Post-It note and affix it to your bookshelf for future reference.

Fill in the random number generator form as follows, replacing “278″ with the number of unread books you have, and click the “Get Numbers” button.

It will return one random number from within the range you specified. Return to your bookshelf and read the book associated with that number. (For example, if it returns “8″ you would read the eighth unread book on the shelf.)

Since, presumably, you eventually want to read every book that you own, this is a great way to add some variety and even inject some anticipation into your next reading selection.

(Photo by saltygal.)