Who among us hasn’t started a book only to realize it’s not their cup of tea? Whether it’s required reading in school or just a poor choice we made in the library, we’ve all been faced with the fact that not all books are that much fun to read. Could reading several books at the same time be the solution to overcome difficult reading?
This is a somewhat controversial topic among experts. There are certain benefits as well as drawbacks to reading more than one book at a time. but that’s why we’re here! We looked at all the aspects and compiled an excellent list of pros and cons for you.
You are reading: How many books can you read at once
can you read several books at the same time?
First, let’s take a look at our physical ability to read two books at once (or even more). the short answer is yes, you can definitely read more than one book at a time. there’s nothing to stop you from reading a difficult book and alternating it with an easier and more fun read from time to time.
Just like being able to play multiple sports and be good at them, you can also read multiple books at once and still get useful information from each one. however, just like being good at multiple sports doesn’t just happen and requires regular practice, reading multiple books at once won’t automatically be an efficient way to check your to-read list. you have to work at it and be conscientious.
many of us probably believed that the right way to go is to read only one book at a time. the thought process on this probably included lines like: “you can’t remember details properly if your mind is divided between multiple books”, “you’ll forget things and confuse them” or “you’ll never finish”. finishing some of the books”, and so on.
While these arguments seem to make sense, they don’t completely rule out the possibility that reading multiple books at once can provide some benefits. As for the possible gains to be made by doing this, it probably depends mainly on the seriousness, focus and determination of each reader. reading two books at once or more can work great for you, but you can also end up in a mess.
Should you read multiple books at once?
Before we get into the tips and tricks for reading more than one book at a time, let’s take a look at whether you should consider including this technique in your reading habits.
advantages of reading more books at the same time
Being involved in two or more books at once can have certain benefits, and it’s up to you to decide if they’re worth it or not. These are some of the most important.
keeps your desire to read alive
We are all well aware of the effects of a tiring, difficult, or just plain boring book on our desire to keep reading.
While it’s inevitable to come across books you just don’t like or have required readings that don’t match your tastes, alternating your reading sessions between the one you don’t like and the one you enjoy could go a long way in helping you get through the situation.
This way you can still benefit from the real joy of reading while also completing your required reading list or a difficult classic that is simply a must read for your general knowledge.
allows you to adapt what you are reading to your mood
reading dostoevsky after a long day at work or just when your mind is preoccupied with daily events is probably not the best idea. If you started reading a difficult book when your mood was different, it doesn’t mean you should stop reading until you’re back in that mood.
You can simply go from reading the book that requires your full attention to reading an easier one. that way, you won’t miss out on the day’s reading entirely and can simply return to the hard reading when your mood dictates.
you’ll get through your to-read list faster
Believe it or not, many readers have found that the titles on their reading lists tick off much faster while reading several at the same time. Contrary to some popular beliefs, being involved in more novels at once doesn’t really slow you down.
While some books slow us down, others lift us up and improve our pace. Finding the right balance between them can help us go through our reading lists much faster than limiting ourselves to just one title at a time.
allows you to be flexible about where you are reading
Ever realized that you forgot to bring the book you were reading and have nothing to read on your commute to work? we all probably did, and it’s frustrating. Having nothing to read on the bus, train or subway leaves us aimlessly staring out the window or scrolling on our phones and gaining nothing from the time we spend on the way to work.
A possible solution to this is to simply read one book at home and have another to read when we leave the house. just keep a book in your backpack or bag and read it when you have free time. once you return home, you can continue reading the other title. This way we don’t waste time and avoid the inconvenience of forgetting our book at home.
improves concentration and short-term memory
See Also: 10 Best Books for Teachers in 2020 | Indiana K-12 Professional Development
Reading several books at once has certain benefits for concentration and short-term memory. while some believe that this practice reduces the amount of information you gain through reading and your ability to focus on all the titles you’re reading at the same time, this is only partially true.
Through practice, the opposite can be achieved. being actively involved in various novels and stories for long periods of time is a great way to keep our brains constantly engaged and active.
disadvantages of reading more books at once
Now that you know the most important benefits of reading more books at once, you should also be aware that this practice has some drawbacks that you should be aware of. here are the most notable.
you are less interested in what you are reading
There is a Latin saying, published in the sixteenth century in the collection of Latin and Greek proverbs of desiderium erasmus that goes like this: “duos insequens lepore’s neutrum capit”. Translated into English, it means “he who catches two hares catches none.” there is definitely some truth to that, and it partially applies to reading as well.
While you’re reading several books at once, it’s very likely that you won’t pay the same level of attention to all of them and probably won’t engage in all the stories to the same extent.
This is definitely not a tragedy or something that should stop you from alternating your readings, but it is something to be aware of.
you can forget details of the books you are reading
Whenever you’re reading more than one book, you’ll need to remember at least twice the amount of information you would if you focused on just one title.
Without proper practice and involvement, this can lead to a lot of information being lost or forgotten. depending on what you read and why, this can be a problem.
To avoid this, the best approach would be to start your multi-heading reading sessions with a few easy headings at the beginning. first read two easy and fun books at the same time and then increase the difficulty.
you can get confused
Similarly, while you may not necessarily forget the details of the several titles you are reading at once, there is a chance that you may simply misremember them or attribute certain information to the wrong book in your mind.
I don’t even have to tell you why that’s bad, as I’m sure you can easily imagine the monstrous mix-ups this can lead to.
you could end up with a couple of unfinished books
Another reason why some recommend not reading multiple books at once is the greater chance of abandoning some of them and leaving them unfinished.
Alternating a very pleasant reading with one that you deeply dislike could end up with the total abandonment of the book you do not like. while at basmo we believe it’s better to read only what you like than not to read at all, we also understand how things can get problematic, especially if you’re dealing with must-read lists.
how to read several books at the same time?
If, after weighing the pros and cons above, you’ve come to the conclusion that reading multiple books at once can be beneficial to your reading habits, here are some of the best tips to make sure your multitasking journey goes smoothly. be a success.
make a reading list and stick to it
Since one of the reasons for reading several books at once is that you have a way to combat boredom and unpleasantness while still being able to read, the very obvious first step is to pick a few books and write them.
You can start with just a couple of titles and then continue to build your reading list. Of course, this list should also contain books that you probably don’t want to read, but have to. you should keep the list fairly diverse, with topics on multiple topics and varying levels of difficulty.
If you want an easier and more secure way to create your reading list, you can try a reading app. most of them allow you to easily create reading lists and update them according to your progress.
Also, books on your list can be marked as read and more books can be added at any time. once you finish reading a book, you can mark it as finished and it will automatically be removed from the current reading list.
read different genres, go from reading for pleasure to learning
See Also: Top 10 picture books with self-help messages | Children’s books | The Guardian
Reading multiple genres at once can be helpful because going from a sad or serious read to a funny one is a good way to keep the desire to read alive. plus, by alternating genders, you can take advantage of the different benefits and attractions of each gender at the same time.
Whether you want to alternate historical books with science fiction or romance and suspense, it’s up to you. the choice is yours and you have complete freedom to follow your instincts.
the important point here is that at least one of the books you are reading is either required reading or one that is important to your general knowledge.
read different books in different places and always have a book at hand
as mentioned above, being involved in several books at the same time in different places is a good way to not waste time. make sure wherever you are you have a book handy and this will also make switching from one book to another much easier.
We are all in different moods depending on our location. your concentration level and even your taste may differ depending on whether you are in bed at home or on the subway on your way to work.
follow your instincts and adjust your reading to your mood
Our bodies and especially our brains are natural wonders. learn to read the signals your mind gives you and adjust your reading to your mood to maximize your reading time and efficiency.
One day you may be too tired for a hard read, or you may be a little preoccupied with something else and no matter how hard you try, you just can’t get on with the book you started. instead of moving forward and eventually starting to hate that particular title or reading without really understanding it and gathering information, switch to a simpler book or one that is more fun to read.
Don’t force yourself to read a book unless you absolutely have to and you always have a choice. there is much to be gained from sticking to this rule of thumb.
use a reading app to keep track of the books you’re currently reading
Ultimately, once you get into the habit of reading multiple titles at once, you may be faced with an entirely different problem: not being able to keep track of them.
Having a couple of books “in progress” can be a challenge if you’re the type of reader who also tries to keep track of the books you read.
Fortunately, the solution may be as simple as installing an app on your phone. reading apps are a great tool in general, but especially for those who enjoy reading multiple books at once.
let’s take basmo for example. among many other very useful features that can make the reading experience much better and more efficient, it offers its users a current reading section. once you start reading a book, it’s automatically added to the currently reading section, which is actually the first thing you see when you open the app, making it very accessible.
You can add as many books to this list as you like and the app will display a progress bar for each one, indicating how much you have read of each book. In addition to this, by tapping on each book, you can see your own reading statistics and the notes you took while reading it.
how many books to read at once?
While no official studies have been done in this area, the general consensus among reddit readers seems to be that 3-15 books is an acceptable number of books to engage in at one time. Ultimately, it’s up to you, the books you’re reading, and your experience. For a beginner, juggling 2-3 books can be a challenge, but with practice and perseverance, this number can be increased.
As much as I’d like to give you an exact number of books to read at one time, unfortunately no one but you can decide this.
conclusion
To quickly summarize all of the above, reading multiple books at once is ultimately a practice for which, in our opinion, the pros outweigh the cons. if you start slow, make wise decisions regarding the titles you alternate, and stick to the general rules I mentioned, you can benefit from that too.
Especially with apps like basmo, which give you the current reading section that helps you keep track of the books you’re reading at the same time, it would be a shame not to give it at least a try.
In addition, basmo can help you succeed in organizing your books, taking notes on individual books, and creating a reading journal. the app can also be used to set reading goals and even daily reminders so you never miss your reading sessions.
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See Also: List of Dr. Seuss Books by Reading Level – Teach Beside Me