Most people who say they do not like reading have read the wrong books. Not bad books necessarily — just books that were wrong for them, usually assigned at school or recommended by someone whose reading taste shares nothing with theirs. The books below are chosen for one purpose: to be impossible to put down for someone who has never found reading impossible to put down before. They are fast, they are gripping, and none of them feel like homework.
Start here if you have not finished a book in years
These are the two books most reliably reported by reluctant readers as the ones that changed things. Both are fast, both are funny, and neither requires any prior relationship with literary fiction.
Non-readers usually have not found the right book yet. They have found the wrong book and drawn a reasonable but incorrect conclusion. The right book changes everything.
If you want something that reads like a TV thriller
Some of the best books for reluctant readers are the ones that feel most like the other entertainment they already love. These have the pacing and momentum of prestige TV — short chapters, constant forward motion, and endings that make it impossible not to read one more.
If you want something short enough to actually finish
One of the barriers for reluctant readers is the fear of starting something they will not finish. These books remove that barrier — all under 200 pages, all complete in themselves.
Who this is for
This list is specifically for people who have been told they should read more, tried it, and found it did not stick. The problem in every case is not reading — it is the specific book. Start with Born a Crime or The Martian and ignore everything else on this list until you have finished one of them. Browse thriller and mystery and nonfiction for more in this register.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What books are good for people who hate reading? A: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah and The Martian by Andy Weir are the two most reliable recommendations — both are fast, funny, and structurally designed to keep you reading. The key is momentum: books with short chapters and constant forward motion work best for reluctant readers.
Q: What books should I read if I have not read since school? A: Start somewhere you have no existing associations. If you enjoyed thrillers on TV, Gone Girl or The Silent Patient. If you liked science, The Martian. If you watched Trevor Noah’s stand-up, Born a Crime. The connection to something you already enjoy matters more than the prestige of the book.
Q: Are there short books worth reading for non-readers? A: Animal Farm at 112 pages and The Old Man and the Sea at 127 pages are both short enough to finish in an evening and substantial enough that finishing them feels like an accomplishment rather than a compromise. Both are also genuinely excellent, which matters — reading something that turns out to be bad reinforces the wrong conclusion.
Q: How do I get into reading as an adult? A: Start with something designed to be impossible to put down rather than something you think you should read. Obligation is the enemy of reading habits. Give yourself permission to read whatever keeps you turning pages, and the habit will follow the enjoyment.
Not sure which of these is right for you specifically? The Pagesmith quiz matches you to books based on your mood, pacing preference, and reading goals — not bestseller lists. Takes two minutes.