How do I make a reading schedule for a book I need to finish by a certain date?

Start with four details: the finish date, how much of the book remains, how many days or sessions you can realistically read, and whether you need time for notes or reflection. Use the page number you are on and the book's final page, rather than counting pages you have already read. If the book is divided into chapters, note their lengths too; chapter breaks can make good stopping points, but page counts are often easier to divide evenly.

Then count the reading sessions between now and the deadline. A session can be a day, a commute, or another block of time when reading is practical. Count only sessions you actually expect to have, not every day on the calendar.

As an illustration, assume those 20 sessions are all before the deadline and the pages are roughly similar in difficulty. If you use every session for new reading, 240 divided by 20 is 12 pages per session. But a schedule with no room for a missed session can be brittle, so reserve some sessions for catch-up.

For example, use 16 sessions for planned reading and keep 4 open. That makes the target 15 pages per planned session: 240 divided by 16. This is a planning example, not a claim that every reader will finish 15 pages in the same amount of time. If you know certain chapters are dense, split them across sessions or assign fewer pages to them and more to lighter sections.

Give notes their own place in the plan instead of assuming they will take no time. You could shorten the reading target on note-taking sessions, or use a separate session after a chapter to review and record key points. Keep the final deadline visible and avoid scheduling the last page for the last available moment; leave at least one catch-up or wrap-up session if your calendar permits.

Copyable example, using only the assumptions in your question plus a sample session order:

1. Sessions 1–4: read 15 pages each; jot brief notes after each session.
2. Sessions 5–8: read 15 pages each; pause at chapter breaks when convenient.
3. Sessions 9–12: read 15 pages each; check that your page number is on pace.
4. Sessions 13–16: read 15 pages each; use a lighter target if a section needs more thought.
5. Sessions 17–19: catch up on pages missed or finish notes.
6. Session 20: finish any remaining pages and review your notes.

The exact order is flexible. If a chapter ends sooner or later than expected, adjust the next target rather than forcing a stop in the middle of an idea.

First, update the plan using what remains: pages left, reading sessions still available before the deadline, and any catch-up sessions you have not used. Divide the remaining pages across the planned reading sessions left, while keeping a buffer if possible. If the new target feels unrealistic, look for practical schedule changes—such as adding a short session or moving a flexible activity—rather than quietly assuming you will read much faster.

Check once a week, or after a set number of sessions. A simple tracker can be: date or session; planned page range; actual last page; notes done; next adjustment. For instance, if you planned to reach page 90 but stopped at 84, record page 84 and recalculate from there. Don't count the same missed pages as both catch-up and new reading. The schedule is a tool to revise, not a test you have failed.