If You Want to Read More, Read Multiple Books at the Same Time
Why do you read? Is it to pass an exam, learn new knowledge, explore languages and cultures, or simply because you are a knowledge worker, such as a school teacher or university professor? There are multiple reasons to read, and they are all valid reasons.
Another question arises: how many books do you read in a given period, say a week, a month, or even a year? The answer depends on your capacity, motivation, time availability, and personal needs. Regardless of the answers to these questions, one thing is undeniable: reading is the best way to educate and enlighten yourself, and those who read more widely gain an advantage over their peers. They will earn more, know more and possibly live longer and happier.
I have read lots of books and articles since taking my reading seriously in 1997, which amounts to 26 years of dedicated reading. In the past, I read to learn, educate myself, pass exams, and gain qualifications. Nowadays, as a knowledge worker, I read to teach and make a living out of my teaching.
But let’s return to the title of this article and explain why reading multiple books simultaneously can transform you into a voracious reader who consumes lots of books and explores a wide range of subjects. Before going into my reasons, let me share a short story.
I have a friend who is not just an ordinary reader but an avid one — a senior university lecturer. He has been a serious reader for many years, and it feels as though he was born with a book in his mouth. To satisfy his insatiable appetite for reading, my friend has built an impressive library that I can’t help but feel a tiny bit of envy for (though I don’t express it to him). In addition, while extensively reading various subjects, he is an authority on Russia and its history. Every month, we meet for a quick chat about academia and reading, during which he dominates the conversation; given his wealth of knowledge and expertise as a historian- I am often happy to listen and learn.
What caught my attention during our early meetings were the half-opened books scattered across his desk.
Initially, I assumed they were reference books for his lectures and papers, so I didn’t ask about them. However, after a few months, my curiosity got the better of me, and I finally asked about those multiple half-opened books.
To my surprise, he revealed that these books were part of his reading habit, and because he reads multiple books at the same time, he was able to read them voraciously. At first, I couldn’t grasp the logic or see the appeal, as I believed in reading one book at a time. But as time passed, my curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to give it a try.
The results were astonishing. I now have at least three books open on my reading desk at any given time. Here are the reasons why you, too, should read multiple books simultaneously.
Firstly, reading multiple books allows you to explore a wide range of subjects without interrupting your chosen genre. For example, if you are studying or specialising in history, and it’s your preferred genre, you can continue reading history while also delving into books from different genres. This way, you don’t have to put your usual history reading on hold to pick up something else. The first reason to read multiple books is that it facilitates a broader readership- you will become a widely read.
The second compelling reason is that reading multiple books simultaneously increases your reading rate. Depending on the number of books you read concurrently, your reading rate can multiply by a factor of three, four, or even five. This exponential increase in reading speed allows you to cover more ground and absorb vast knowledge from different fields.
Now, let’s move on to the third reason — one that I find particularly appealing. By reading multiple books at the same time, you never get bored. Why? Because you are engaging with multiple genres, writing styles, and facets of human history. Each book has a unique story, message, information, and experience to impart. Consequently, you are not confined to a single narrative but constantly exploring diverse perspectives. This sense of variety and constant stimulation is what truly captivated me and led me to read multiple books simultaneously.
Currently, I am reading three books — each centred around history but with distinct focuses. One book delves into the formation of civilisations by Henry Kissinger; another explores the intersection of history, technology, and economic inequality by Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson, and the third deals with the scramble for Africa by Thomas Pakenham. By reading these books concurrently, I can read more, gain multiple perspectives, and never grow tired of my reading material.
You, too, can reap the benefits by adopting the practice of reading multiple books at the same time.
Happy reading, friends
