Quick Reads
For a short sitting, look for titles like 'Anthony Wayne' at just over 5,000 words. These can often be finished in one sitting.
Reading Tracker
Choose a book, record where you are, and set a daily goal. Your progress is stored in localStorage in this browser; it is not uploaded to a user account.
No sign-up required
Stored in your browser
Estimated time remaining
Choose a book
If the EPUB has no fixed print pagination, the tool starts with an estimated page count and lets you replace it with the page total shown by your own reader.
Reading progress
0%
0 / 0 pages
Remaining
—
Estimated time left
—
At your daily goal
—
Stored locally
Reading history
| Date | Start | End | Read |
|---|
How the progress estimate works
The reading guide estimates how long a book will take to finish based on its word count and an average reading speed. These are approximate figures, not exact forecasts, since individual pacing varies.
Books are grouped into four time categories: quick reads (under an hour), steady reads (1-3 hours), immersive reads (3-6 hours), and marathons (over 6 hours). Use these to plan your next session.
Immersive Reads
If you have an afternoon, consider medium-length works such as 'The Third Massachusetts Regiment' at about 62,000 words, which may take around four and a half hours.
Marathon Reads
For a deep dive, 'The Web' offers over 187,000 words, likely requiring more than thirteen hours. Plan accordingly.
Planning a Sustainable Pace with the Reading Tracker
The Reading Tracker is a simple tool for anyone who wants to finish a book without losing momentum. It records progress in pages, not in sections or minutes. You set a current page, a total page count, and a daily page goal. The Tracker then calculates the remaining time and the expected finish date. Because progress is stored in your browser's localStorage, you can close the page and return later without creating an account.
Setting a Realistic Daily Goal
The default daily goal is 20 pages, but you can adjust it to match your available time. A 20-page goal is a reasonable starting point for a standard edition, but if you have more time, you might set 30 or 40. The Tracker uses your goal to estimate the number of days needed. For example, consider "Personal record of the Thirteenth Regiment, Tennessee Infantry — Reading Notes" (24,998 words). With 250 words per page, the initial page estimate is about 100 pages. At 20 pages per day, you would finish in about 5 days. At 30 pages per day, that drops to about 4 days.
The daily goal should be sustainable. If you set a goal that is too high, you may skip days and lose the habit. A modest goal that you can meet consistently is more effective than an ambitious one that you abandon.
Adjusting the Page Count for Your Edition
The Tracker initially estimates the total pages by dividing the word count by 250 words per page. This is a rough estimate, because actual page counts vary with font size, margins, and illustrations. If you are reading a specific edition, you can replace the estimated total with the actual page count shown in your reading app or printed book. This makes the remaining-time calculation more accurate.
For a book like "Personal record of the Thirteenth Regiment, Tennessee Infantry," the estimate of 100 pages may be close, but if your edition has larger type or additional front matter, the actual count might be 120. Updating the total ensures that your progress percentage and finish date reflect your real situation.
Using the Tracker for Long and Short Books
The Tracker works equally well for short and long books. For a short work like "Anthony Wayne, 1745-1796 — Key Ideas to Explore" (5,109 words, about 21 pages), you might set a goal of 21 pages and finish in one day. For a longer work like "Washington the Soldier — Story, Setting & Ideas" (130,650 words, about 523 pages), a 20-page goal would mean about 27 days of reading. That kind of plan can make an epic feel less daunting.
The Tracker does not record sections or minutes as progress, so you should focus on pages. If you read 10 pages in one sitting and 15 the next, the Tracker will reflect that. A useful approach is to update your current page regularly to see your progress and stay motivated.