14 Short Books for Busy People Who Want to Read More

No matter how much you like to read—and how much we know reading is great for our brains—it can still be hard to find the time and attention to finish a book. Even as an avid reader I have found myself daunted by bestsellers that could double as door-stoppers and have struggled to stay with plodding plots that couldn’t hold my attention between sporadic reading sessions.

My secret to reading more? Short books and fast reads that still pack plenty of intellectual punch. From short story and essay collections that are easy to pick up and put down to novels and nonfiction works with compelling, fast-paced narratives, here are 14 short books to add to your to-read pile this new year.