Word Count
Word count is the primary factor in reading time. The catalog's books range from under 6,000 to over 180,000 words.
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
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Remaining
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Estimated time left
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At your daily goal
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Stored locally
Reading history
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How the progress estimate works
The reading tool estimates how long it might take to read a book based on its word count and your personal reading speed. The catalog's median book is about 56,000 words, which at a typical pace takes around 4 hours of reading time.
You can also see how the length categories (short, medium, long, epic) correspond to time ranges. This helps you decide whether a book fits into a single sitting or will require multiple sessions.
Reading Speed
Adjust your reading speed to see how time estimates change. The default is based on a typical reading pace.
Length Categories
Short books are up to about 20,000 words, while epic titles exceed 100,000. Use these categories to gauge commitment.
Planning Your Progress Page by Page
The Reading Tracker is built around a simple idea: progress is measured in pages, not in hours or chapters. You set a current page, a total page count, and a daily page goal, and the tracker estimates how long the rest of the book will take. The default total page count is calculated from the book's word count, assuming 250 words per page. If you are using a specific edition, you can replace that estimate with the actual page count from your reading app or print copy.
This page-based approach keeps the focus on the physical or digital pages you have turned, which can be more tangible than tracking minutes. It also allows you to adjust your daily goal to match your schedule, whether you have 20 minutes or two hours to read each day.
Setting Up a Realistic Goal
The tracker's default daily goal is 20 pages. For a book like "Jennie Baxter, Journalist — Themes and Context," which has an estimated word count of 72,632, the initial page estimate would be about 291 pages (72,632 divided by 250). At 20 pages per day, that would take roughly 15 days to finish, assuming you read every day. If you can only read on weekdays, you might adjust the goal to 25 pages on weekdays and take weekends off, which would change the finish date accordingly.
The point is to set a goal that is challenging but achievable. The tracker does not judge your pace; it simply calculates the math. If you find yourself falling behind, you can lower the daily goal. If you are ahead, you can raise it. The flexibility is built in.
Adjusting for Your Edition
The initial page estimate is based on a standard 250-word page, but your edition may differ. A paperback with wide margins might have fewer words per page, while a dense academic edition might have more. If you are reading on an e-reader, the page count can vary with font size and screen size. The tracker lets you enter the total page count from your own reading device, so the estimate becomes more accurate.
For instance, if your edition of "Jennie Baxter, Journalist" has 350 pages instead of the estimated 291, the remaining time calculation will automatically adjust. You can also update the current page as you go, so the tracker always reflects where you actually are.
Understanding the Estimates
The tracker calculates two estimates: remaining time in minutes and estimated finish days. The remaining minutes are proportional to the book's estimated reading time. If you have read half the pages, you have roughly half the time left. The finish days are simply the remaining pages divided by your daily goal, rounded up to the nearest whole day.
These estimates are useful for planning, but they are not guarantees. Your actual reading speed may vary, and you might take breaks. The tracker is a tool for setting a pace, not a strict schedule. By keeping your page count updated, you can see your progress and adjust your goal as needed. Progress is saved in your browser, so you can close the page and return later without losing your place.