How long does it take to read a classic?
Real numbers, not guesses: word counts below come from the actual editions we serialize, at a typical adult reading pace of 230 words a minute. Pick a book and the minutes you can honestly spare.
1 · The book
2 · Your minutes per day
The Sonnets · William Shakespeare1.3 hours of reading
On your own, at 10 minutes a day, you would finish The Sonnets in 8 days — around July 28, 2026. That’s the plan that usually dissolves by week two, because it depends on you remembering.
By email, it’s automatic: 154 installments, one a day, about 1 minute each — finished around December 21, 2026. The book shows up; you just read what’s in front of you.
Start this schedule by email — freeBrowse the catalog for installment counts, sample installments, and reading notes on every book.