You have to give it to New Zealand. They are some of the biggest readers in the world and have been for decades. In fact, they are trending against the rest of the world a lot of the time, increasing the number of adults who have read a book in the last year from a whopping 85 per cent to 87 per cent.

For such a small country they punch well above their weight and high five to them. It’s common in the world of books for women to be more prolific readers than men. But across The Ditch from where I sit, they thumb their nose at that too with 84 per cent of men having read a book in 2025, compared to 79 per cent in 2021.

But Australia comes close, so don’t count us out, with 75 per cent of the general population having read or listened to a book in the last year. Not too shabby.

A recent report from Australia Reads broke down Australian readers into groups and looked into what stops us from reading books.

It starts with Avid Readers (22.4 per cent). That’s probably you and me. We read frequently. We rarely don’t have a book on the go, or even multiple ones if we are able. They say the majority of this cohort are women; we’re older, possibly retired. We have fewer barriers that stop us reading.

The biggest cohort are the Engaged Readers (30.4 per cent). This is likely you and me too! They read regularly but want to read more. Unfortunately, motivation is an issue with the distraction of other activities being the biggest barrier. These readers are generally young to middle-aged and highly educated.

Next comes Ambivalent Readers (14.8 per cent). This group is unsure if they truly enjoy reading or want to prioritise it. This uncertainty causes inconsistency and indifference. The demographic of this group is slightly younger with a higher number of men.

Then comes Aspirational Readers (14.7 per cent). These people are keen to read more, but they are time strapped, which drives down motivation. They are also younger to middle-aged, higher earners and likely working full time.

Then a group I am a passionate about, Lapsed Readers (7.1 per cent). These people used to love reading. They still remember the pleasure it gave them. For whatever reason, they have difficulty sticking to it, whether that be reading skills, time, or being able to find the right book that engages them. They are all sorts of ages and genders.

Lastly there is Uninterested Non-readers (10.4 per cent). These are the people who tell you they don’t read books and simply lack interest. They are younger to middle-aged, mostly male and prefer other types of entertainment. Fair enough. You can’t win everyone over!

If you look at the common issue among all these readers, it’s time. Time, time and less time. Days are busy and there are friends and family to see. There’s the dog to walk and exercise to fit in. Then there is that Netflix series everyone is talking about. Not all of us can afford to buy books, let alone keep a family in books, and getting to the library, although a great family outing, is time consuming and requires dedication.

Most of you are probably in the zone of reading. You’re likely here with Good Reading to find out what’s new in books and find an inspirational recommendation and what is good to read next. You might read a book every month or so, or plough through one or more a week. You find encouragement and happiness among these pages. We might find you a new author or even a new genre.

But you might also be an Ambivalent, or Aspirational Reader, or even be a Lapsed Reader. Either way you might feel like you want to dip your toe back into reading. You want help to get a great book in your hands and kick off your love of reading again. You need a nudge to find your reading mojo. It’s still there, wiggling away like an itch that needs scratching. It might be even lying dormant, waiting to be awoken. You just need to find that right book. The one that can suck you back in and then you will be away; excited to tell someone about what you’re reading.

I have lost my reading mojo many times. Sometimes it’s even reading fatigue. For me, I have to force myself back into it for obvious reasons. I’m lucky as I have access to a myriad of books of all types. I might even pick up a kid’s picture book to bring some reading mojo joy. But you have access too. It’s out there for you or anyone who is looking, It’s there in your library or bookshop, just waiting to be found.

If you have lost your reading mojo, wobbling on the reading cusp, or know someone who needs a push off the ledge back into reading, there are ways to help.

Firstly, if you have a book you’re really not enjoying. Stop! As long as you have given it a good go, well into it, but you still don’t want to pick it up again, well, life is too short!

Join a book club. This can be a great way to get the most out of books. You will find that reading for a purpose makes you really think about the story and the writing. You will be immersed and get so much more out of it. Bonus is you get to chat about it with other people and you might even get a glass of wine. And don’t overthink it, lots of book club members don’t like the book or even end up finishing it. You’re among friends. No judgements!

Try and make a reading routine. It could be on the bus or train on the way to work or 15 minutes when you drop by the local café for a coffee. Find a time that works for you.

Reading in bed is one of the best times to read for your health. Even 10 minutes reading can help wind your mind down ready for sleep. Make it a routine. It’s not hard, you can do it!

Take recommendations for books that might suit you from trusted sources: Good Reading, your local librarians, your local bookseller, friends and family.

Mix it up. Try different genres. If you’re feeling the mojo slipping, try a fast-paced crime thriller. Then move on to a non-fiction title: something that can inform you and give you conversation around the dinner table. Back to a mystery and then a historical novel based on a true story. Keep it fresh.

On the flip side, if you have a younger reader fascinated by reading animal magazines then that’s fabulous. Reading is the key. That magazine can lead to a book about an explorer, to a novel about an adventure in the jungle. The key is to read, no matter what it is.

I might be opening a can of worms here but it’s one I am passionately applying the can opener to. Are you stuck? Unsure about what book will help you back into reading? Ask me. Tell me the sort of books you love to read and six books or authors that are favourites. I’ll help you find something that will reignite you. •