Those who will not meet your goal this year

[afv011]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

6) Did not have one
7) Gave up on it

Seriously, what's with the "goal" obsession around here?

Free-range readers unite!!

Agreed, my only goal was to enjoy myself reading and, as such, I have certainly succeeded.

[DiapDealer]

To be clear: I didn't mean to imply that keeping lists and making reading goals was in any way silly or weird. It's just that I'm a bit surprised how common the practice apparently is among readers. I guess I've never needed any incentive to read as many books as humanly possible in the amount of free time I have to do so. That's just a given.

To those who have met or exceeded their goals... I salute you! To those who have fallen a bit short... better luck next time; don't get hung up on it.

[cjr72]

For the most part reading is a leisure activity for me, so there's no setting of goals pretty much by definition.

[DianNC]

I probably won't set a goal (my family teases me about reading so much as it is), but the keeping track idea intrigues me. I might try it for 2013 -- just a quick jotting of titles in a note-to-myself of some sort. Wouldn't want anything too elaborate (that would take away from my reading time!).

[latepaul]

Originally Posted by cjr72

For the most part reading is a leisure activity for me, so there's no setting of goals pretty much by definition.

I know what you mean but people play sport as a leisure activity and they might set themselves goals - personal bests and so on.

Having said that, I am actually re-considering for next year setting any goals at all. Bottom line for me is whether it adds or detracts from the fun. I think it both motivates me and affects my choice of reading (I'm more likely to pick shorter books, especially toward the end of the year!) so I'm not sure yet what I'll do in 2013.

[morriss003]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

6) Did not have one
7) Gave up on it

Seriously, what's with the "goal" obsession around here?

Free-range readers unite!!

No kidding!!

[Chi Cygni]

I am so not setting up a goal next year. Back to free range for me indeed. It was a 1 off to estimate. Been there, done that, almost got the tshirt, so...

[twowheels]

Originally Posted by jbcohen

3) Some events got int the way, unforeseen events such as a family vacation where you will not be sitting with your nose to the reader screen where you thought that you might have your nose to the screen;

I suspect that putting my nose to the screen would slow my reading pace a bit.

[DrNefario]

This year was the first time I'd had an annual goal, an hat was only because someone pointed me at the fiftyfifty.me site and it seemed a good idea. I'd have estimated I read 25-30 books a year, normally, so 50 was a genuine attempt to challenge myself.

I'm not going for anything so concrete next year, but I sometimes like to follow lists to give myself some ideas where to go next. I've been reading through the Hugo winners slowly, for several years, for instance. And my memory is not what it used to be, while my book collection is bigger than ever, so it seems wise to keep track of what I read, what I want to read, and what I want to buy.

[jgaiser]

Originally Posted by Chi Cygni

I am so not setting up a goal next year. Back to free range for me indeed. It was a 1 off to estimate. Been there, done that, almost got the tshirt, so...

This... I've set goals for the past two years (100 in 2011 - which I never came near - and 75 in 2012 - which I've already surpassed), but it's really taken away some of the fun of reading. Next year, I'll continue to record the books I complete on Goodreads and LibraryThing, but I'll not be concerned about reading a number.

[usuallee]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

6) Did not have one
7) Gave up on it

Seriously, what's with the "goal" obsession around here?

Free-range readers unite!!

+1 If it becomes a job it stops being fun. But I don't begrudge those who like to set goals, I just know myself well enough to know that it would make reading less fun. I do keep track of how many books I read on goodreads (if you're interested, 41 books, 16,914 pages so far in 2012, slightly more than 2011).

But for me personally if I put a goal to read say 50 books in 2013, I would obsess on it, avoid the lengthier, meatier tomes of both fiction and nonfiction that I've been interested lately in favor of shorter light reads, and just generally turn it into a wretched chore.

[Apache]

I just realized, I do have a goal for reading. My goal is to start another book when I finish the book I am currently reading.
Apache

[caleb72]

I had a couple of slow periods - both when a particular book was heavier going than I expected.

I'm not too worried about the book total/page count challenges though. I like keeping track, but I'm not heart-broken to miss such a challenge. In the two years I've set a goal, I haven't reached it. Oh well.

I'm more interested in all the sub-challenges I set myself. Next year I'm focusing on paperbacks that I have in my bookshelf and haven't read yet (new), classics (again), indie read/reviews (again), short stories (new) and award winners (new).

These challenges are more to focus my reading. For next year I've also started putting together a suggested reading list for some of the challenges to make it easier to bounce from book to book.

At the moment, these challenges suit a purpose for me. I don't find them a burden - it's actually fun to watch the progress of the challenges over the year. It's a game I play with myself in the time between finishing one book and picking up another.

[Asawi]

Originally Posted by caleb72

For next year I've also started putting together a suggested reading list for some of the challenges to make it easier to bounce from book to book.

I do something similar. The challenge part of it is to read things I might not have thought of reading otherwise. Making reading lists is to make it easier for me when I get into one of my slumps when everything is just BLAH! and nothing seems fun or interesting. I then go to my list and pick something (one or more books). Still thinking BLAH! but since I at some point thought it was worth getting on the at list, why not give it a go... And whaddayaknow, I may actually end up having a good time!

[mediax]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

6) Did not have one
7) Gave up on it

Seriously, what's with the "goal" obsession around here?

Free-range readers unite!!

I'm with you on that one - when did reading become a competitive sport???