When John Willis flipped open the turquoise spiral-bound notebook on Jan. 1, 1976, and wrote the words “Harpo Speaks,” he never really thought about how far it would go or that he would achieve an impressive feat nearly 40 years later.

No, it was for a far more practical purpose that he began cataloguing the titles of the books he reads. He simply wanted to keep track so he didn’t pickup something twice.

But now, John’s “interesting project,” as he calls it, has become something much larger.

At least to everyone who learns about it, although John downplays it as no big deal.

On the February day he took the time for a phone interview, the 67-year-old Niles resident was reading book 2,222 — “Spy: The Funny Years,” a historical look at the popular satirical magazine from the late 1980s.

By the time you read this he will certainly have surpassed that number, with each neatly cataloged in an expansive list that includes the title, author, start and stop date.

“I’m interested in anything that is going to educate me a little more,” John said. “I am not so much looking for entertainment as education.”

John reads just about every day, often before bed. Some books take him a couple of days, some a couple of weeks.

All sorts of genres fill the list, which migrated to a digital format about a year ago. They range from non-fiction to historical accounts to trivia books to computer manuals to Americana to pop culture and beyond. Favorite authors include Clive Cussler and James Mitchner.

With such a long reading list, it is difficult to pick a favorite. A few that stand out in his memory range from a novel about an elephant and the man hunting it to the history of pop culture staples like Silly Putty, Monopoly and Bingo.

What you won’t find on the list is lots of novels, science fiction or the quote-unquote classics that are the staples of every English class.

“I hated to read in high school because I was told what book to read,” John said. “Once out on my own and I could select my own books, I fell in love with reading.”

Having lived almost his entire life in Niles, this passion took root at a young age while he was hanging around at Majerek’s bookstore on Main Street. He visited at least a couple times a week and liked browsing the new stuff on the shelf. He helped out when he could and was eventually asked to write short reviews or synopses to help readers find what they were looking for.

His passion for reading and learning was also beneficial to his professional career in computers.

Willis worked for Kawneer and others before retiring from Whirlpool after 14 years. He has found a second calling of sorts as a teacher in the fabrication lab at Lake Michigan College that taps into the same desire for knowledge that reading springs from.

“It is a place where people can come in with an idea and we have the tools to make it,” he said. “LMC has turned out to be a wonderful second career for me. I love to keep myself busy. I hate to just sit around.”

His career has changed with the times but his format preference has not. John said he has no plans to make the jump to a Kindle, Nook, or other type of e-reader.

“I have to have the book in my hands. I have to turn the pages,” John said. “With the exception of a few books I borrowed, I still have every one of these books.”

Willis has battled health issues in recent months but that has done nothing to diminish his love for reading. He has no plans to slow down any time soon or give up his hobby.

“If you look at what is on TV now it is a total waste of electricity. There is so little entertainment value on TV anymore,” he said. “I find reading is much more beneficial for me.”