Reading More Than One Book at a Time (9 Incredible Benefits)

Loss of time for activities you once enjoyed is part of the reality of being an adult, especially for book-loving busy professionals or entrepreneurs. Many find themselves reading required books and documents, and not so much the science fiction novel they enjoyed back in college. 

There are ways of integrating reading back into your life by taking measures like designating thirty minutes before bed to a book or choosing to listen to audiobooks. 

If you feel like you have to pick one read over the other, don’t. It is in your best interest to read more than one book at a time. To make room in your schedule to do so, pick a time and location for reading your different books. More importantly, forget the aspect of how long it takes you to read through a book. You should savor books to feel their full effect. 

Have you ever wondered if you can read one book at a time? Or if you should? This post answers these questions and highlights the incredible benefits of reading many books simultaneously. 

Can you read more than one book at a time?

Absolutely yes. Reading more than one book lets you read depending on your mood. You also enjoy different reading mediums – print, e-books, and audiobooks.

People will often wonder if you won’t get things mixed up, like characters or plot details, or if you would not take longer reading multiple books. The answer is that, with practice, reading many books at a time gets more manageable. The benefits far outweigh the cons.

Should I read more than one book at a time?

Yes, you should. Reading more than one book at a time will give you a break from the monotony of life. When reading, you immerse yourself into the book’s characters for fiction reads and the context of a nonfiction book, taking your mind away from the hustle and bustle of life.

Reading more than one book at a time will spark your reading interest since you do not have to stick to one difficult read or boring book. 

It will also help you get through that difficult read. It is easier to read a technical text after a happy book.

You also get to enjoy literature synergy. You will be surprised that ideas and topics from different books tend to marry and sometimes even help in a more profound understanding of the text.

Incredible benefits of reading more than one book at a time

If you are still on the fence as to whether you should read more than one book at a time, take a look at all the benefits of doing so.

1. You balance pleasure reading with required reading

Reading documents from work is just that, work. After a day’s end, tune into a fiction audiobook while commuting back home. Mixing it up helps you continue to look at reading as an enjoyable activity and not something you need to do to maintain a successful career. 

Additionally, splitting your time between required reading and fun reading provides an emotional break every professional needs. A little break in between serious reads and exciting fantasy novels is good for your overall mental health.

2. You’ll get through your TBR list faster

The stack of unopened novels sitting in your reading room will dwindle away quicker when you find the right balance between reading more than one book at a time. 

Sometimes a dry read will have you dragging your feet to finish it if it is the only book you are working on. Rather than force yourself to finish it before moving on to your next piece, start something new to break things up. You may find that the “dry” read becomes more gratifying towards the end.

3. You’ll enjoy all the benefits of reading

Reading is an activity that goes beyond entertainment and education. Mixing reading for pleasure with required reading allows you to enjoy all the benefits of reading. 

These are the benefits of reading:

• Mental stimulation
• Stress reduction
• Entertainment
• Vocabulary and grammar expansion
• Memory improvement
• Improved focus and concentration
• Improved writing skills

You get to enjoy all of these benefits when you read multiple books at a time. Have a fiction piece ready to entertain you and inspire your own stories. Mix that with a nonfiction book about starting a business, and you are on your way to starting your own publishing company beginning with your first novel.

4. It may reveal unexpected connections 

You may be reading two books only for them to connect at some point without you expecting they would. 

Such literature connections leave you surprised and intrigued. Sometimes you get a deeper understanding of it.

5. It will help you finish that complicated read

Reading an instruction manual or a technical text with heavy jargon can be daunting. However, if you read a light comical book before returning to your complicated read, you may complete it faster than expected.

6. You’ll enjoy different modes of reading

There is always that one time when you forget your hard copy at home in a hurry. Listening to an audiobook on self-help when commuting while taking notes means you don’t waste reading time while waiting to get home. Scrolling on an e-book from your drive during lunchtime also gets you reading.

The beauty of reading from different modes is that there is never an excuse not to read. You might find audiobooks better for a specific genre. Print is good for reference, and reading an e-book goes a long way in helping you complete that book. 

7. It offers a break from life’s monotony

Life can get busy. You must complete daily tasks, meet deadlines, pay off debts, and save. Sometimes care for loved ones and still live life. A book can distract you and help you break out from the 9 to 5 routine.

You can travel to Paris while still in Los Angeles, or venture out to Venice when still in bed. As G. G. Martin said, you can live a thousand days through a book.

8. You read as per your mood

Reading should not be like in school when you read because your teacher was watching or one of your parents was supervising what you were reading in preparation for a test. 

If you wake up in the mood for a romance novel, go ahead and read it. If you see a new best-selling finance book, acquire it and satisfy your interest. When you don’t feel like reading the science fiction novel you’ve been reading all week, read the classic on your shelf instead.

Reading multiple books at once allows you to read according to your mood. There is no specific figure of how many books you should read at a time. Go with your instincts. 

Reading should not be a chore. So why waste that opportunity when you are in the mood and eventually read less?

9. It will invigorate your interest in reading

Reading can quickly become boring. A dull book can stall your reading objectives because the thought of picking up the book weighs you down. It is good practice to read whatever interests you at the time.

However, if you have read two books in different genres simultaneously, a boring book may not feel as dull because you have cheerful breaks between your reads. 

As you eagerly await the next portion of your engaging book, remember to read some pages from the uninteresting one. You’ll know what piques your interest and avoid picking books from genres you don’t fancy.

Conclusion

The nine benefits of mixing up different books at a given time are that you quickly get through a complex text. You also enjoy literature synergy and reading through various mediums. Reading multiple books keeps your reading interest high and gives you a break from the monotony of life.

Additionally, you pick a book depending on your mood, guaranteeing you will go through your to-be-read pile faster. The habit allows you to enjoy a book without worrying about when you’ll get it done. Most importantly, you benefit from the advantages of reading- entertainment, stress relief, mental stimulation, vocabulary growth, and better grammar.

If you haven’t already, try experimenting with reading more than one book at a time. If nothing at all, you’ll feel more productive flying through your reading goal for this year.

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