Reading is a great way to pass the time, relax, simply lose yourself in a story, and forget about the world around you for a while. Despite the many positives that go along with reading, many people never seem to find the time for it and instead use excuses not to read.

If you wish to break that bad habit, you can use Amazon Alexa to help get you back into reading. Here are a number of great skills you can use on the popular line of smart speakers.

1. Recommend Me A Book

Say "Alexa, open Recommend Me a Book."

No one has time for a bad book, especially if you're trying to read more. But it can be difficult to find a good book to read. You might want to dive back into a novel you've already read but drop in halfway through because you know what's coming. Or you might not have the time to find a good book to read.

Don't get stuck like that. Expand your library by turning to Alexa. Try the Recommend Me a Book skill. It's perfect when you're looking for a new book. All recommendations are personalized and designed to appeal to your tastes. You have an array of genres to choose from and find your next book thrill. Don't return to titles you've already devoured, but find something new. Give Recommend Me A Book a try.

2. Bookbot - Virtual Bookmark and Progress Tracker

Say "Alexa, open Bookbot."

It can become a challenge to track your progress, especially if you're reading more than a single book at a time. Even with one, you might forget to note which chapter or page you're on. You might also get distracted, or your device's battery might die.

Though it's not the end of the world, it's annoying to lose track of your progress. So why not avoid the frustration entirely? Use the Bookbot - Virtual Bookmark and Progress Tracker skill. It can even track more than one book at a time.

The skill allows you to add books into your digital collection and keeps tabs on progress and current reads. You even have the option to create shortcut commands that let you add and remove books from your library without wasting time. You can check how many pages you've read from a specific book or the overall number.

It's a great skill to turn to if you want to save yourself the headache of keeping a paper trail of your reading progress. Why not make life easier for yourself while making reading more enjoyable in the process?

3. Best Free eBooks

Say "Alexa, launch Best Free eBooks."

If you want to read more but don't have the budget to keep buying new books, Alexa has your back. There are skills to help you overcome that issue, and Best Free eBooks is one of them. It finds and recommends you the best ebooks that you can read online, as well as ones you can download for free, ensuring you can continue reading without feeling guilty that you're overspending or breaking the bank in any way. If you're needing a way to read ebooks, take a look at some of the best tablets for reading ebooks and other books.

Not having room in the budget for books shouldn't deter you from reading. Try this skill and enjoy yourself, knowing that it belongs to that special category that costs you nothing but is precious to you.

4. Audiobooks

Say "Alexa, read my book."

If you don't have the time to sit down and dedicate proper time to reading, audiobooks are a great way to get around that. You can enjoy them while doing other things like cleaning, washing dishes, commuting, or working out. The possibilities are endless.

The Audiobooks skill allows you to listen to Kindle and Audible books whenever you wish. Just say "Alexa, read my book," and it's off, leaving you to enjoy your book without having to hold a physical copy or bother to read. Give the skill a chance, and discover the convenient world of audiobooks.

5. Audible Trial

Say "Alexa, start an Audible trial."

Audible is an online audiobook platform that has a selection of more than 200,000 titles. It allows for the purchase and streaming of audiobooks. But if you don't have the budget for that, it has a trial period that enables you to browse and consume all the content you wish.

You can download as many books as you want, and after the trial ends, you get to keep them. It's a great service to turn to if you wish to enjoy reading without actually having to read. You can use the Audible Trial skill and begin your 30-day free trial membership. Just say, "Alexa, start an Audible trial," and make the most of it.

6. Audible Free Audiobook

Say "Alexa, what's free from Audible?"

If you've already enjoyed the Audible trial period, there are other options you can turn to and still experience Audible books without having to commit to the service. Try the Audible Free Audiobook skill. As the name suggests, it lets you know what free books await you on the platform. Look through the selection, and enjoy whichever one you find is to your liking.

The skill offers you a free audiobook without any requirements, fine print, or strings attached. Take advantage, and don't stifle your reading.

7. Whole-Home Audio for Audiobooks

Say "Alexa, read my book everywhere."

If you're having a busy day and have to go about the house doing chores, you can still enjoy your audiobook. There's a skill to help you—Whole-Home Audio for Audiobooks.

It lets you listen to your book on all the Echo devices you have around your home, all at once. That way, your book will follow you from room to room without you missing a thing. Give the skill a try, and you'll find that regardless of what you're doing and how much you're moving about, you'll be able to enjoy your audiobooks.

8. Audiobook Playback Controls

Say "Alexa, pause."

On the small chance you get distracted or something else while listening to an audiobook, don't worry. There's a great skill to help you.

The Audiobook Playback Controls skill lets you navigate your Audible book with just a voice command. It can pause, play, and resume—anything you want when you want it. It can be a great help when enjoying audiobooks, so give it a shot.

Help Foster a Love of Reading With Amazon Alexa

Studies show that reading can be beneficial to both your mental and physical health. Among other things, it reduces stress and develops your vocabulary and comprehension. It also prevents cognitive decline as you get older and age and improves brain connectivity. Reading contributes to a longer life. So it's definitely something you should do more of.

There are no excuses not to take up reading again, whether it's for education, relaxation, or something else. It doesn't matter if you're an avid or a recreational reader, just as long as you are a reader.