[hbogert]

It's rather personal what works for you or not. What helped for me was the accessibility of a good 10inch ereader. And strangely another ingredient was a very bad sleeping baby, which only slept in his own bed if I lay next to him on the ground. That period between 19:00 and 20:00 was perfect for me.

Trying to read just before trying to go to sleep never worked for me, my brain shuts off completely as soon as I lie and bed with w book after 2200, yet if just stay up I don't sleep before 00:00.

Also, it helps to read something by people who can write. For example I never thought I'd read business related books, yet after it being mentioned so often here on HN I read the innovator's dilemma, loved it! His style of clear paragraphs and constant examples really works well for me.