By Pete Williams

It’s not as taboo of a discussion subject as sex or salary.

But I’m guessing most of us would be embarrassed to admit how few books we read.

In 2008, I kept track for the first time. I decided I would not count fitness books, which I read for review purposes and for my radio show. They tend to be short and I usually skim the workout photos and charts.

I also did not count children’s books. There’s nothing more important than reading to your kids and I’m proud to say I rarely miss a night of that. But such books, no matter how many, tend to be short.

I also did not count books I skimmed, read a few chapters online, or did not finish. Nor did I count technology-related books I read for instructional purposes or any books read for my own book research.

My 2008 reading total: 14 books.

That’s pathetic and embarrassing, especially for someone who writes books. How can I complain that more people don’t purchase and read my books when I’m no bookworm myself?

I didn’t set a goal for 2009 and perhaps that was my first mistake. I’m proud that I read the entire seven-book Harry Potter series aloud to my son Luke and decided that should count toward my total.

Still, even counting the J.K. Rowling saga, I managed only 26 books in 2009 – or just one every two weeks. Not counting Rowling, I finished only 19 books, just five more than in 2008.

That’s unacceptable, a lousy example to set as a father and a writer. That’s why I’ve set a goal of reading 52 books for 2010. After all, people far busier than I am manage to average a book a week. There’s plenty of compelling, fascinating material to read.

At least 80 percent of my reading must be non-fiction and non-sports. The other 20 percent can be anything.

Like any goal, it’s important to put it in writing, state it publicly, and hold myself accountable. So there it is: 52 books by New Year’s Eve.

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 2nd, 2010 at 8:40 pm and is filed under Sports Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.