I naturally follow this rule, but lately had been thinking “maybe one fiction and one non-fiction.” Nah. I think you’re right, plus I like to read non-fiction as obsessively as fiction (meaning I like to get consumed by both). If my thinking process isn’t so different, why muddy the waters, as you say?
Ah, thank you for this! I mostly read one book at a time, but recently wondered if that's the best thing to do. You're right, one at a time helps me to focus, remember later, and enjoy. I also break up book series so that I can better remember the plot to each book. I will sometimes read at most 2 books at one time, but they have to be very different from each other, so maybe one a fiction novel, and the other a resource book on a topic I'm interested in. Though, I find that I tend to lag in one of them until I've finished the other. Having read this post, I don't have to wonder any longer and just continue how I best want to read, which is still mostly one at a time.
I feel my situation is a bit unique, but as an English teacher I like to keep one book to read while my students are reading in class, and a second book to read at home. The seperate settings makes it pretty easy for me to follow along where I’m at in each.
I have been trying this since you mentioned it to me. I do find I like two books at a time but mostly because I like to read spiritual books at night and everything else during the day. However, I am retired from a real job so I have a lot more time to read than the younger me who definitely did read one book at a time. Somewhere along the way to retirement though I started going a bit haywire with my reading. Audible is also an issue. I drive a fair amount and not all books are available on audible so I still listen to something in the car while driving even if I have a hard copy of something else going at home. Then try to take a few notes when I get home about what I listened to just to jog the memory for the next drive. Anyway, perfect world- one book at a time should be the gold standard!!!
Like you, I've discovered I can only read one book at a time if I'm to read it well and retain it. This applies whether it's a dense philosophical book or an addictive novel -- either way, losing the momentum totally throws me off kilter. I wonder if some people have a gift, as you suggested, for reading multiple books. I would be curious to know how it works for them -- meanwhile, this was validating to read!
I naturally follow this rule, but lately had been thinking “maybe one fiction and one non-fiction.” Nah. I think you’re right, plus I like to read non-fiction as obsessively as fiction (meaning I like to get consumed by both). If my thinking process isn’t so different, why muddy the waters, as you say?
Ah, thank you for this! I mostly read one book at a time, but recently wondered if that's the best thing to do. You're right, one at a time helps me to focus, remember later, and enjoy. I also break up book series so that I can better remember the plot to each book. I will sometimes read at most 2 books at one time, but they have to be very different from each other, so maybe one a fiction novel, and the other a resource book on a topic I'm interested in. Though, I find that I tend to lag in one of them until I've finished the other. Having read this post, I don't have to wonder any longer and just continue how I best want to read, which is still mostly one at a time.
I feel my situation is a bit unique, but as an English teacher I like to keep one book to read while my students are reading in class, and a second book to read at home. The seperate settings makes it pretty easy for me to follow along where I’m at in each.
I have been trying this since you mentioned it to me. I do find I like two books at a time but mostly because I like to read spiritual books at night and everything else during the day. However, I am retired from a real job so I have a lot more time to read than the younger me who definitely did read one book at a time. Somewhere along the way to retirement though I started going a bit haywire with my reading. Audible is also an issue. I drive a fair amount and not all books are available on audible so I still listen to something in the car while driving even if I have a hard copy of something else going at home. Then try to take a few notes when I get home about what I listened to just to jog the memory for the next drive. Anyway, perfect world- one book at a time should be the gold standard!!!
Like you, I've discovered I can only read one book at a time if I'm to read it well and retain it. This applies whether it's a dense philosophical book or an addictive novel -- either way, losing the momentum totally throws me off kilter. I wonder if some people have a gift, as you suggested, for reading multiple books. I would be curious to know how it works for them -- meanwhile, this was validating to read!