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Ten pages a day sounds like the easy rule of 75 Hard — until day 22, when you realise you picked a book you hate and there’s no audiobook loophole. Andy Frisella is explicit about this rule: physical non-fiction, self-development focused, ten real pages, every single day. No Harry Potter, no podcasts-count-as-reading, no exceptions.
I’m Dave, founder of Simply Younger and a founding member of Andy Frisella’s Operator Standard app. Daily reading has been part of my own routine for years, and in this guide I’ll break down what qualifies under the rule, how to sequence 75 days of reading, and the books that pay the biggest compound interest.
Key Takeaways
- The 75 Hard reading rule requires 10 pages of a non-fiction, self-development book daily — audiobooks don’t count.
- At 10 pages a day, 75 Hard covers roughly 750 pages — about three average books, so plan a sequence, not a single title.
- Pick books that feed the challenge itself: mindset, discipline, habits, business — momentum compounds when your reading matches your mission.
- Frisella’s own material — his books and the MFCEO Project podcast archive — pairs naturally with the reading habit (podcasts as a bonus, never a substitute).
- Attach reading to a fixed daily anchor (morning coffee, lunch, pre-bed) so it never becomes the forgotten 11pm task.
What Counts as Reading on 75 Hard?
The rule requires ten pages of a physical, non-fiction book focused on self-development — mindset, business, habits, biography of achievers, practical skills. Frisella’s reasoning: this isn’t leisure time, it’s deliberate input designed to develop your mindset and skill set. Audiobooks explicitly don’t count, because the rule is about focused, undistracted attention — the same muscle every other 75 Hard task trains. Full detail on every requirement is in my 75 Hard rules guide.
How Many Books Do You Need for 75 Hard?
Plan for three to four books. Ten pages daily over 75 days is roughly 750 pages, and most self-development books run 200–280 pages. Sequencing matters more than people think: start with a momentum book (something gripping and directly relevant to your challenge), put your densest book in the middle when the habit is locked in, and finish with something that points past day 75 — because the end of 75 Hard is meant to be a beginning, ideally into the full Live Hard program.
The Best Books to Read During 75 Hard
On discipline and standards: Start where the challenge starts. Andy Frisella’s own books on the Power List philosophy and personal standards are the natural first pick — reading the creator’s thinking while doing his program is a force multiplier. Jocko Willink’s writing on discipline and ownership hits the same nerve from a military angle. On habits and systems: James Clear’s Atomic Habits is the modern standard on habit mechanics, and pairs perfectly with the Power List method — Clear explains why small daily wins compound; Frisella gives you the daily vehicle. Cal Newport’s Deep Work upgrades the reading habit itself. On mental toughness: David Goggins’ Can’t Hurt Me is practically the unofficial 75 Hard companion — brutal, honest, and exactly the voice you need on a rainy outdoor workout day. On health and longevity: For readers over 40, Peter Attia’s Outlive connects the daily discipline to the decades-long payoff — training today for the person you’ll be at 80.
Reading ten pages is input. The Power List is output. The Operator Standard app — built by Frisella himself — is where I turn what I read each morning into five critical tasks I actually execute.
How Do You Never Miss Your 10 Pages?
Anchor it, don’t schedule it. Reading fails on 75 Hard when it floats — the task with no fixed home gets pushed to bedtime and then panic-read at 11:40pm. Attach it to something immovable: ten pages with your morning coffee, over lunch, or as the last act before sleep (my choice — it’s also better for sleep than a screen). Keep the book physically visible; a book on the nightstand gets read, a book on a shelf gets remembered on day 12 of a restart.
And take one note per day. A single sentence — one idea worth keeping — turns 750 pages into a personal playbook by day 75, and gives your daily reading a purpose beyond compliance. If you want Frisella’s thinking in audio form for your outdoor walks, the relaunched MFCEO Project podcast is the perfect supplement — just remember it supplements the ten pages, never replaces them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What books count for 75 Hard?
Any physical, non-fiction book focused on self-development counts — mindset, habits, business, leadership or practical skills. Fiction and entertainment reading do not qualify.
Do audiobooks count on 75 Hard?
No. Andy Frisella explicitly excludes audiobooks — the rule requires reading ten physical pages to train focused, undistracted attention.
How many pages do you read on 75 Hard?
You read ten pages every day for 75 days — roughly 750 pages total, or about three to four average-length self-development books.
Can you read on a Kindle for 75 Hard?
Frisella’s original guidance emphasises real reading rather than listening; most participants treat e-readers as acceptable, but the safest zero-compromise interpretation is a physical book.
What is the best first book for 75 Hard?
Start with something gripping and directly relevant to the challenge — Frisella’s own writing or David Goggins’ Can’t Hurt Me are popular first picks because they reinforce the mission daily.
Why does 75 Hard include reading?
The reading rule builds daily deliberate learning and focused attention, developing your mindset and skill set alongside the physical tasks — Frisella designed it as input for growth, not leisure.
Related Reading
The 75 Hard Rules Explained · The Power List Method · Who Is Andy Frisella? · The Live Hard Program Explained
Affiliate disclosure: I am a founding member and affiliate of the Operator Standard and may earn a commission from links in this post. This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult your doctor before beginning any demanding exercise or nutrition programme.
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