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I have pretty similar thoughts as what you described. I have approximately 50 unread books on my shelf. I wrote all the titles on paper and cut them up and put in a container. Then when it’s time to choose the next book I pull out two and choose one.

I struggle with book choosing anxiety as well! I've recently started using Libby (through my library) as an online reader, and I've found that having a 21-day loan period and a set number (I think 10 or 15) books I can check out at once has helped me to feel less overwhelmed with selecting books. I tend to pick 3-5 books at a time, and only "check out" new books once I'm done with those.

In terms of choosing books in general though, it's always a hard one. There are SO many good books out there, and never enough time! But it's helped me a bit to prioritize whatever book excites me most in that very moment, and accepting that it's okay to leave the others for another time, or never read them if other books catch my eye more.

FOMO is a huge problem in the internet age because we have so many options. It is important to be ok with good enough experience, rather than needing the best possible, because that will be different for every person and impossible to predict. Monday morning quarterbacking is always perfect and never helpful going forward.

I use a complex mix of methods for choosing books. r/suggestmeabook, r/fantasy, r/printsf, r/romancebooks, r/yalit, r/horrorlit and r/historicalfiction all provide both a search function which can be used for words like best or favorite, and also the opportunity to request specific suggestions from long time readers.

I also use best of the year articles from reputable newspapers and lists of awardwinning books. I also have a local bookstore with a staff suggestions shelf that keeps me in touch with new releases. i have found some favorites there.

When I used to read on Kindle, I would read in order of purchase. With physical books, I take a quick glance and just pick within 5 or 10 seconds! I think you’re taking it quite seriously, reading is supposed to be fun so make the choosing of next reads fun too!

A few things came to my mind as I was reading your post.

Why do you read? Are you trying to improve something like language or understanding other perspectives? Do you read for entertainment, relaxation, or to escape? Is it just another thing on your To-Do list?

Do you set any goals or join any challenges? I do both of these things to help guide my reading each year. I have infinite choices so focusing on a theme, genre, or my TBR pile helps narrow choices for me.

It's also OK to take a break from reading, we all have seasons in our lives when it's more stress than benefit to do certain activities.

I used to read to be better at my job, so my books reflected that and I rarely read for pleasure. Now, I'm retired and I primarily read for pleasure, but I also want to continue to learn things, so my book choices reflect that.

I find getting clear on the purpose of any activity is helpful to decide how you participate in that activity and how much time you dedicate to it.

Classics aren't for everyone. One of my goals last year was to read some classic books, ones on the everyone should read before you die lists, and for me it was torture. They weren't hard, they were just annoying, but I slogged through them because they were part of a goal I set. I no longer feel like reading these books will enhance my life in any way. I may try more in the future, but I will DNF them if I don't enjoy them.

I’m going through something similar right now; I’ve gotten three or four new books just this week, including classics I haven’t read yet (pride and prejudice, picture of Dorian grey, etc.) and I’m like 30 pages into all of them 🫣 I want to read them all at once lol!

I got you, fam. Choice paralysis is a documented scientific phenomenon.

So I have a full excel spreadsheet that records every single one of my books, and all the books written by the authors of those books in a side-column, so I can break it into an easy visual list.

I break the books up the same way I have them on my bookshelf. So organized by author (last name first), then within that section by series (if they wrote any, with individual works going at the bottom) then the books in publication order within those sections.

The only time where I don't follow this process is when it's a multi-author series - like, I'm not going to put my Ian Fleming Bond books 3 shelves down from Benson. So I shelve them amongst the authors by series title instead.

Then I start at the top of the list. So Adams, Douglas. First series in the list is of course the HitchHiker's Trilogy, so I read The HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Once done, I then skip down to the next name on the list - in this case, Adams, Taylor (No Exit). Then Austen, Jane (Pride and Prejudice). Barker, Clive (Books of Blood, volume 1... real whiplash there coming from P&P).

By doing this, I don't have the chance to get bored of a particular author's style unless I get a run of similar authors - and if that happens, read the first, then skip to the next dramatically different author. And when I hit an author that I've read all the books I own (So example, Buehlman, Christopher - I only own Between Two Fires) I kick over to my To Buy column, and place an order for Those Across the River. Because I already know I like his style, so it's a safe bet I'll like the rest.

When trying a new author I've never done before, I try to research what is considered their 'best' work, and start with that, as long as it isn't breaking up a series. If I don't like that, I don't bother with anything else they wrote. And if I start with their 'best' and reach a point where the 'lesser' works aren't doing it for me anymore, I stop, and consider my collection by them 'done' unless they unveil a new masterpiece that has the rest of the world talking.

That being said - don't feel too bad about those 90 page rage quits. As a general rule, if I'm not fully hooked (or at least determined to slug it out to the end) by the halfway point, I'll often ditch a book and move on. Usually closer to 25% - if by then they're not wowing you, the rest often won't be any better.

I feel you, I guess the older we become the more tangible our own mortality is and the awareness that our time here is pretty limited. What works for me against these spiralling thoughts is acceptance, there are too many books out there and no one will be able to read them all. And it doesn't matter anyways. I'd say show no mercy in weeding out the books you think are "meh" and pick those that sound like a real treat. There must be some good reads among them. I'm reading Alice in Wonderland atm and I enjoy it a lot. Probably gonna pick some classics soon, Quiet on the Western Front, Crime and Punishment, Where The Red Ferns Grow being some I can think of from the top of my head.

If I'm reading Classics, it's to revisit (or, more likely, actually read) something I was supposed to have read in high school or at uni but blew off (& survived the class anyway) because teenagers are real know-it-all jerks sometimes.

I will occasionally do a "Classics Catch-Up" choice, but I'm more likely to read something escapist or "easy" when I have very little time to myself. That meant a lot of YA and graphic novels at one point; more recently, it means romance & erotica. Between the YA/graphic novels phase and now, I was really into nonfic.

If I get into a slump, I read short story anthologies and essay collections.

I got a list, I add books whenever they come to my attention and have something interesting to offer. I add titles even when I am not actively looking for books. I never run out this way.

I deal with the same thing. I get anxious because I have such short amount of free time, so I only want to read good books. And I think for the same reason, I mostly only read classics because they are always a safe choice. Thankfully I actually enjoy classics. But yeah I understand what you are going through. Looking for a solution for this myself.

I'm in my early 30s too, and in recent years, I've come to value my time significantly, so I have absolutely zero anxiety over dropping something that I am not finding enjoyable. Books, movies, TV series, whatever. You can literally never obtain more time, so why deliberately waste your most precious resource on garbage?

For a reading system, I have a stack of books I've purchased and not read. I try not to let it go too high. When I'm picking what to read next, I target books that are standalone first, and then books as part of a series, because some of the series books means I actually have to read 3 other books I bought/read years ago and don't remember that well before I can read the 4th book that I purchased and haven't read. I target to finish at least one book a week, so I'll take the total number of pages and make a daily reading goal for myself. If I'm borrowing any books, then those are top of my list so I can return them to their owner and not keep them for 6 months.

I'm not big on clutter, so when I'm done with the books, I filter them into a "to shelf" stack or "to donate/sell" stack. I take care of them once I run out of space in my little stack, so about once a quarter.

I typically just steel myself and go through the current book I've chosen. Unless the book is so bad I return it, I take it piece by piece.

A good mindset I get in is thinking about how while I may have a lot to do, if I do a bit of each all at once, nothing will get done.

So just take every book one at a time and think about how far you've read, rather than how much more you have left. It's a great way to positively reinforce your reading habit.

Well I'm not sure how you're currently choosing books, so I don't know how helpful this will be, but here is how I do it:

Step 1) I don't read reviews. These days I barely read the back blurb. I follow a lot of indie/well-curated bookstores and get news letters about new releases, author talks, etc. I don't read them in depth, but rather scan, keeping my eye open for anything at all that sounds remotely interesting. Bonus points if the same book gets showcased a lot. Then I will usually, eventually go take a look at it.

2. When I look at the book, I look at the cover and the endorsement blurbs. I will skim the summary a little, if I'm like, IN the bookstore looking at a book that hasn't been on my radar at all. They don't always determine whether I will read a book (or enjoy it if I do), I'm just telling you what I do. I look to see if it's won any awards or been shortlisted for any. I don't tend to like Booker winners, and I do tend to like Pulitzer winners... If you notice any trends like this among the books you enjoy, take them into account.

Step 3) This used to be the main way I chose books but as I gained more understanding about what I liked, I relied on it less-- Open to a random page and read it. If it is interesting to you the whole time, even without context, you will probably like the book. Don't read the first page, it has to be random. Usually a lot of effort has been put into the opener even if the rest of the book isn't great.

Step 4) Over time, find people who share your reading tastes. I only really have two, and one of them I'm not really in touch with right now. But either of those people could recommend me anything and I know I will read it and enjoy it.

But I think maybe if I had to give any advice, it's this: If you aren't liking a book as much as you want to be liking it, then put it down right away. At page 50 instead of page 90. Put it down before it makes you mad. The more you do that, the faster you'll calibrate your tastes and be able to put my above advice into action (if you want). Happy reading!

Mine isn't exactly anxiety but I struggle with choosing books and so I end up with horrendous ones a lot of the time

One strategy is that I read 2-3 books at a time. In case one is boring you have a second one to not drain your reading desire. (this help if you dislike DNFing as well)

My newly developed strategy is that I write down a number of titles I'd like to read this year. The number is my reading challenge of the year. This help reduce my 1000+ wishlist to a manageable number (this year it's 40 for example)

The thing with the list, is that I don't stick to it like gospel. I update it once a month or so based on new recommendations, so it doesn't become a job. Most of it stays the same, but aroung 5 change and so your list becomes more targeted towards favorites, but it also gives that sense of accomplishment as you see the list shrinking as you go through it. (unlike my wish list wich keeps growing infinitely.)

I hope this helps somehow.

I look for books I want to read on Libby and place a hold. I have a backlog of books on hold so I just always read whatever is available next!!

I use a number generator because sometimes I have so much anxiety I can't pick one from my tbr pile and just stop reading altogether. I don't cheat the rule and it became a fun little game over the years.

Audiobooks :

I just try to find anything someone kind of thought might be enjoyable.

Currently listening to all Hugo award winners since the 50s.

Then ... stop reading the classics? It sounds like you don't like them, and that's ok. Just read what you want to read, for fun, for enjoyment. Not what you feel like you're supposed to.

I do get anxiety about what book to read next and think about other books while i'm reading one, because I want to read so many books and there's not enough time in a lifetime to read them all, but ultimately I choose something and I read it. If i'm not liking it I generally DNF and move on. I don't need to be blown away by a book to finish it though. But it sounds like you're hating the classics, which is fine, just means that's not what you want to read and that's ok.