Read like Dan: A lifetime of books and the lessons we can learn

How many books have you read in your lifetime?

It seems nearly impossible to know the answer, unless you’re Dan Pelzer. You may have heard the story that went viral of the retired social worker from Columbus, Ohio who tracked all of his reading from 1962 to 2023. In total, he read 3,599 books—mostly library books—and recorded them on a piece of paper that was, itself, 109 pages long. After he died on July 1, his family hoped to pass out his list at this funeral, but it was just too long. Instead, they published his reading list at what-dan-read.com, and the rest is history.

Dan’s story isn’t just inspiring—it’s a blueprint for anyone who wants to read more, explore widely, and build a meaningful reading life. 

How you can read like Dan

1. Make it a daily habit.

Dan set a habit of reading at least 100 pages per day. You can aim for 100 pages, or even just 5 minutes. Once you set aside time and get started, 5 minutes might turn into 10, might turn into 20...

Making reading part of your daily routine is the best way to get through more books. And “reading” in the nontraditional sense counts, too! Listen to an audiobook when you do the dishes at night or let a soothing narrator lull you off to sleep.

Another simple trick is to swap one session of scrolling for reading. You won’t regret it and you’ll probably feel better, too.

2. Expand your horizons.

Like all of us, Dan had his reading interests, but he didn’t limit himself—he read widely from fiction to nonfiction, spanning almost every genre and era. Read your favorite genres and authors, of course, but don’t be afraid to step out of the box and try something new. Maybe even try the exact opposite of what you’d normally read to see what you think. You can always put down a book that’s not working for you.

If you need suggestions on what to read next or new-to-you titles, subscribe to Libby Life and get a weekly email on Saturdays filled with fun picks from librarians and book experts.

3. Pick a reading tracker that works for you.

Dan tracked all of his reading by hand and typed on pieces of paper. If you have a notebook or journal, jot down your latest reads there. You can even use the Notes app on your phone, snap pictures of your books, try out tags to organize your titles in Libby, or use a more formal tracker like StoryGraph.

4. Get a library card.

Dan was an avid library user, borrowing most of his books for free from Columbus Metropolitan Library. If you don’t have a library card yet, September is the time to get one! It’s Library Card Sign-Up Month, and this year’s theme is "One Card, Endless Possibilities."

You can borrow physical books from your library along with more unexpected items like museum passes, bikes, games, cookware, and so much more. You can also use your library card to access ebooks and audiobooks on the Libby app without ever leaving home.

The books that Dan read

Want to see Dan’s full reading list? Check out all 3,599 books and see a sample of some of Dan’s books below.

Tar Baby by Toni Morrison
🎧 Audiobook

A ravishingly beautiful and emotionally incendiary reinvention of the love story by the legendary Nobel Prize winner.

Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
🎧 Audiobook

A modern classic about the political genius of Abraham Lincoln, his unlikely presidency, and his cabinet of former political foes.

The Rise and Fall of Osama bin Laden by Peter L. Bergen
🎧 Audiobook

The world's leading expert on Osama bin Laden delivers for the first time the definitive biography of a man who set the course of American foreign policy for the 21st century and whose ideological heirs we continue to battle today.

God: A Biography by Jack Miles
🎧 Audiobook

A former Jesuit marshalls a vast array of learning and knowledge of the Hebrew Bible to illuminate God—and man —with a sense of discovery and wonder.

Why We’re Polarized by Ezra Klein
🎧 Audiobook

Klein shows how and why American politics polarized around identity in the 20th century, and what that polarization did to the way we see the world and one another.

Gray Mountain by John Grisham
🎧 Audiobook

From America’s favorite storyteller comes a gripping thriller about a former big-city lawyer who finds herself up against Big Coal—and under attack.

The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by Dalai Lama
🎧 Audiobook

Two great spiritual masters share their own hard-won wisdom about living with joy even in the face of adversity.

King: A Life by Jonathan Eig
🎧 Audiobook

Hailed by The New York Times as "the new definitive biography," King mixes revelatory new research with accessible storytelling to offer an MLK for our times.

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng
🎧 Audiobook

An inspiring novel about a mother’s unshakeable love.

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
🎧 Audiobook

Based in part on Dickens's own life, this is the story of a young man's journey from an unhappy and impoverished childhood to the discovery of his vocation as a successful novelist.

Whether you’re just starting your reading journey or already deep into your personal library, Dan’s story reminds us that every book counts. So grab your library card, track your progress, and let your own list grow.

Don’t have a library card? Hop over to your local branch to sign up this month and explore endless possibilities.

*Title availability may vary.