In an era when attention spans seem increasingly fragmented, the practice of reading multiple books simultaneously might appear counterintuitive. Many readers pride themselves on their single-minded devotion to one book at a time, believing this approach allows for deeper immersion and comprehension. Yet throughout literary history, accomplished readers have often maintained several books in active rotation, dipping into different works according to mood, circumstance, and intellectual need.
This approach to reading once commonplace among scholars and avid readers has gradually faded from our collective consciousness as modern life emphasizes singular focus and linear completion. The practice deserves reconsideration, not as a distracted half-measure, but as a sophisticated reading strategy with distinct advantages for the contemporary reader.
The Historical Precedent of Multiple-Book Reading
The habit of reading multiple books concurrently isn’t a modern adaptation to shortened attention spans quite the opposite. Victorian readers regularly maintained several books simultaneously. Charles Dickens, for instance, would read different works throughout his day: perhaps poetry in the morning, a novel in the afternoon, and philosophical treatises in the evening.
Similarly, Theodore Roosevelt was famous for reading a book before breakfast, another during the day, and a third before bed. His diverse reading diet included everything from ancient Greek philosophy to contemporary political theory, often in their original languages. This wasn’t considered unusual it was simply how serious readers approached their literary lives.
The tradition continued well into the 20th century. C.S. Lewis wrote to a friend in 1932: “I usually have about six books going at a time I live like a grasshopper jumping from one flower to another.” For Lewis, this wasn’t distraction but intellectual cross-pollination.
What’s striking about these historical examples is that they occurred during periods when deep reading and extended concentration were far more common than today. These weren’t readers with attention deficits they were intellectual omnivores who understood that different books serve different purposes.
The Practical Benefits of Literary Juggling
Reading multiple books simultaneously offers practical advantages that single-book readers might miss. For one, it allows you to match your reading material to your mental state. Some books demand peak concentration and are best saved for quiet mornings or dedicated reading periods. Others lighter fiction or familiar subjects might be perfect for bedtime or moments of mental fatigue.
I’ve found this approach particularly valuable when tackling challenging works. During my first attempt at Dostoevsky’s “The Brothers Karamazov,” I made the mistake of reading it exclusively. After two weeks of slogging, I abandoned it halfway through. Years later, I tried again, but this time balanced it with a contemporary mystery novel and a collection of humorous essays. The combination worked beautifully the lighter reads provided mental breaks that made returning to Dostoevsky refreshing rather than exhausting.
This approach also helps prevent reading ruts. We’ve all experienced the peculiar stagnation that can occur halfway through a book not quite wanting to abandon it, but lacking the momentum to continue. Having alternative books available breaks this cycle, allowing you to step away temporarily without abandoning reading altogether.
Multiple-book reading also creates unexpected connections between disparate texts. Last year, I simultaneously read a history of Antarctic exploration and a novel set in 1920s Paris. The juxtaposition highlighted themes of human endurance and adaptation across radically different circumstances that I might have missed reading them sequentially.
The practice also accommodates different reading formats. A physical book might remain by your bedside, while an audiobook accompanies your commute, and an e-book travels with you on your phone. Each format has its place and purpose, expanding rather than dividing your reading life.
Practical Strategies for Multiple Book Reading
Successfully reading multiple books requires some intentionality. While there’s no universal formula, certain approaches tend to work better than others.
Variety is key both in subject matter and in difficulty level. Pairing a challenging classic with contemporary fiction, or academic non-fiction with personal essays, creates a balanced reading diet that prevents burnout. I’ve found that maintaining three books works well: something challenging, something entertaining, and something practical or inspirational.
Physical organization matters too. Dedicated reading spots for different books can help maintain context perhaps keeping your morning philosophy book by the breakfast table, your lunch break novel at work, and your bedtime reading on the nightstand. This spatial organization helps your brain switch contexts more easily.
Digital readers might create collections or shelves for “Currently Reading” books, making it easy to pick up where you left off without scrolling through their entire library.
Regular readers often benefit from a reading journal not necessarily detailed analysis, but simple notes about where you left off and key points to remember. This practice becomes particularly valuable when returning to a book after several days away.
Some books naturally lend themselves to intermittent reading. Essay collections, short story anthologies, and certain types of non-fiction work perfectly in this format, as they’re designed to be consumed in discrete chunks. Poetry collections particularly benefit from this approach few would argue that poetry should be read straight through like a novel.
A common concern about multiple-book reading is the risk of confusing characters or plotlines. This rarely happens in practice, particularly if you choose sufficiently different books. Our brains are remarkably adept at maintaining separate narrative threads just think about how many TV shows you can follow simultaneously without confusion.
Finding Your Own Reading Rhythm
Multiple-book reading isn’t for everyone, nor is it appropriate for every reading situation. Some books truly demand undivided attention from start to finish. And during particularly busy periods of life, focusing on a single, manageable book might be more realistic than juggling several.
The approach requires self-awareness about your reading habits and preferences. Do you tend to read in short bursts throughout the day or in extended sessions? Do you read primarily for entertainment, education, or some combination? Your answers will shape your multiple-book strategy.
A friend who teaches literature developed an interesting variant she reads one book during the week and a different one on weekends. This creates a pleasant rhythm to her reading life, with the weekend book feeling like a special treat.
Another acquaintance, a busy physician, maintains what she calls her “emergency book” a collection of short stories kept in her bag for unexpected waiting periods. Meanwhile, she progresses through a more substantial novel at home. This approach ensures she’s never without reading material suited to her circumstances.
The beauty of this approach is its flexibility. You might find that two books work better than three, or that certain genres pair particularly well for your tastes. The goal isn’t to maximize the number of books in rotation but to create a reading practice that sustains rather than exhausts your literary appetite.
Reading multiple books simultaneously reconnects us with a rich tradition of literary engagement that values variety, context, and intellectual cross-pollination. Far from being a concession to diminished attention spans, it represents a sophisticated approach to reading that acknowledges the different roles books play in our intellectual and emotional lives.
So next time you find yourself stalled halfway through a challenging book, consider not abandoning it but complementing it. Pick up something entirely different perhaps lighter, perhaps just different in subject or style. You might find that, paradoxically, reading more books at once helps you read more books overall, and with greater enjoyment. The forgotten art of reading multiple books simultaneously isn’t about dividing your attention it’s about expanding your literary horizons.
