Reading Multiple Books at Same Time

[AndrewP]

I always have two books on the go at a time. One book in dead tree or kindle format and another in audiobook format for my commute. To avoid confusion I always make sure they are different genres. Sometimes I will go to more that two if I am working through a non-fiction book too.

[Trike]

If I could read two books at the exact same time, with one going to each eye, while simultaneously listening to two books at the same time, one with each ear, I so would.

[Anna]

Trike wrote: "If I could read two books at the exact same time, with one going to each eye, while simultaneously listening to two books at the same time, one with each ear, I so would."

Don't forget reading ten books in braille, one with each finger.

[Trike]

Anna wrote: "Trike wrote: "If I could read two books at the exact same time, with one going to each eye, while simultaneously listening to two books at the same time, one with each ear, I so would."

Don't forget reading ten books in braille, one with each finger."

You’re my spirit animal.

[Kateb]

I have two kindles. One is for home use and a book that takes a bit of quiet to read. The other is in my hand bag and I read a light book when waiting my turn in queues, or waiting at a restaurant for friends to turn up, or waiting for my hubby who "just ducked in for a moment to get something " etc

so two different books around the same time

[Tony]

I can't do that. Maybe my brain is dumb but if I'm reading two at the same time I tend to take 2-3x as long finishing either book. I have to dedicate my time to one book at a time. The longer I'm reading the book the now I tend to forget about it, and I become uninterested in the book due to not really knowing what's going on anymore. But if it counts I listen to audiobooks on my drive to school or work, while at the time reading a book.

[Cheryl]

Audio and regular book concurrently definitely counts!

[Karin]

Tony wrote: "I can't do that. Maybe my brain is dumb but if I'm reading two at the same time I tend to take 2-3x as long finishing either book. I have to dedicate my time to one book at a time. The longer I'm r..."

We're all different! I cannot listen to people talking to me while following a recipe or driving in tense situations. This is one of the reasons I'll never use GPS.

[John]

I have trouble reading just one at a time now. I read one at home in bed and two others for travelling to and from work etc. Different genres of course.

[Trike]

Karin wrote: "We're all different! I cannot listen to people talking to me while following a recipe or driving in tense situations. This is one of the reasons I'll never use GPS. "

I read that the same part of our brain is engaged for those activities, which is why we turn down the radio when looking for an address.

[Joon]

Trike wrote: "I read that the same part of our brain is engaged for those activities, which is why we turn down the radio when looking for an address. ."

I've always wondered about that; it never made sense to me why I had to turn my radio down if I had to pay attention while driving. And it's clearly not something that affects everyone, because I've had multiple passengers ask me what on earth I was doing.

On the other hand, I have no problem with GPS. I think it's mostly because I know if I mess up, the GPS will put me back on the right course.

Now I just need to learn why it sounds like music slows down when I yawn.

[Trike]

Joon wrote: "Now I just need to learn why it sounds like music slows down when I yawn.."

I don’t know about slowing down, which sounds wacky, but at the moment a yawn peaks we are deaf. I don’t recall what the mechanism is. Maybe just squeezing of the inner ear.

[Kateb]

we are all different, I drive my hubby crazy because I can not just watch tv, I have to be either playing freecell on the laptop at the same time, or if it is a really boring tv show ( that he likes) I watch another show on the tv while watching his show

so reading two books at the same time period is not really a trial, I have two sisters and one has the same set up as I have ; two books at the same time, the other feels she is only capable of one at a time

there is little difference in our intelligence level, just different abilities .

I love reading how we are all different , so interesting

[Ricky]

I also read multiple books at a time , but usually no more than three. I will have one on my kindle, and two paperback or hardback books. I read about an hour before bed, and when i first get up in the morning.

[Kateb]

I am lucky Ricky , I have retired after working for 45 years. now I feel I have the right to sit in my comfy reclining chair with music and have a good read most afternoons for a few hours

[Darshan]

I read atmost 3 books at a time. I never try to complete a book in short span because when I do things don't stay in my mind for long after completing the book.
When I read multiple and continue reading next chapter of a particular book after 2,3 days, I try to recognise stuff which help to store things in my mind for permanently.

When we switch to some other book while reading a book of some other genre the content of previous book which we were reading earlier is processed by our mind unconsciously. And in this way we activate diffused mode of our mind. There is a difference between focused mode and diffused mode of mind.
Focused mode - more concentration, but temporary storage like RAM
Diffused mode - less concentration, but permanent storage like Harddisk

I recommend reading - "A mind for number" by Barbara Oakley and one will know what's the difference in doing/completing in very short span vs long span?

[Kateb]

i am sorry, is this your point of view, you feel that what you do has to be how everyone else thinks?

so my science degree, my psychology degree etc really means I know nothing about how my mind works. I can read a few books at the same time and keep them effectively different in my mind.

my sister, who I feel has an equal intelligence, thinks differently to me on so many areas , doesn't like to read more than one book at a time.

be a little more flexible with how you feel others think, there are so many different minds out there

[Jacqueline]

Well said Kateb. I've currently got 13 or 14 on the go (yeah I know...a bit extreme but whatever....I just get bored easy at the moment and keep book jumping but I do finish some every now and then) and I remember what's going on in all of them. Or do I?

[Dawn F]

I read multiple (3-4) books at the same time depending on what format is convenient at the time, just like I watch multiple tv shows. The only things I don’t remember are the things that don’t interest me XD

[Ruth]

I usually have 3-4 books on the go at any one time: one on the kindle, one audiobook, one dead-tree, and often one on the iPad as well. It’s mostly just a convenience thing, eg I love reading in the bath but I don’t want to risk my kindle getting wet so dead tree book it is.

[Doubledf99.99]

Usually read two or three at the same time and sometimes will just stick to one.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Joon wrote: "I've always wondered about that; it never made sense to me why I had to turn my radio down if I had to pay attention while driving. And it's clearly not something that affects everyone, because I've had multiple passengers ask me what on earth I was doing. "


I always assumed it was a matter of concentration. The music is fine when I don't need to think about where I'm going, but if I need to think or pay attention, then the music becomes a distraction.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*]

Trike wrote: "If I could read two books at the exact same time, with one going to each eye, while simultaneously listening to two books at the same time, one with each ear, I so would."

Anna wrote: "Don't forget reading ten books in braille, one with each finger."

All of this!

I haven't a clue how many books I'm currently reading. All of them, lol! Whatever falls into my hot little hands when I don't have something else in them. ;-)

[CBRetriever]

Ruth wrote: "It’s mostly just a convenience thing, eg I love reading in the bath but I don’t want to risk my kindle getting wet so dead tree book it is. "

Good news - the new Paperwhite is waterproof

[Joon]

colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "Joon wrote: "I've always wondered about that; it never made sense to me why I had to turn my radio down if I had to pay attention while driving. And it's clearly not something that affects everyone..."

But the weird thing is that it only seems to happen when I need to concentrate visually. Like, if music is playing and someone is talking, I have no problem paying attention to what they're saying without having to turn the music down. But as soon as I need to read or look at something, suddenly the music is too distracting.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*]

Joon wrote: "colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "Joon wrote: "I've always wondered about that; it never made sense to me why I had to turn my radio down if I had to pay attention while driving. And it's cl..."

I can't read and watch TV or any other media at the same time. It can be on but I completely tune it out (music included). To the point that I won't even notice if someone is speaking to me.

[CBRetriever]

I read and watch TV all the time w/o any problems. I remember back in my early school years, teachers noticing me reading a book and they'd address a question specifically to me hoping to catch me off guard. It never worked and really frustrated a couple of teachers.

as far as driving and music, I have to avoid certain artist and types of songs. Guns 'n Roses made me a more aggressive driver but was excellent for house cleaning music (The Who Live at Leeds is the best ever housecleaning music IMHO). Ditto for Steppenwolf and any other harder rock type music.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*]

CBRetriever wrote: "as far as driving and music, I have to avoid certain artist and types of songs. Guns 'n Roses made me a more aggressive driver but was excellent for house cleaning music (The Who Live at Leeds is the best ever housecleaning music IMHO). Ditto for Steppenwolf and any other harder rock type music. "

I love super aggressive and angry music when I workout. Problem is my rest periods, lol. I want to move while I'm supposed to recover...

[Jacqueline]

I read about a study they did recently about why we have to turn the music down to concentrate while driving but as usual I can’t for the life of me work out where it was again. Anyway it is a thing that we can’t listen to the loud music and actually concentrate on where we are going at the same time.

[Kateb]

they do so many studies that you can think well I don't do that. I find if I drive without music my mind wanders off. With music I can focus more. I have either music or the tv on when I read

Maybe like CbRetriever I can do two things easily at once .

I love the fact that she has different music lists for different activities. I do that: driving music; housework music, exercise music!!! I have just made my pissed off music list.

[CBRetriever]

for work, I preferred chamber music which is also a nice background to reading. Football (Soccer to non Americans) with the volume down low is also good to read to - if something happens, the volume goes up and you can look up and watch the reply. Plus there aren't many commercials only t the beginning, halftime (after 45 +/- minutes and the end)

audio books while driving can't be too engrossing either. I used to like Paul Theroux's and Bill Bryson's travel books for long trips. The Lord of the Rings versions with Rob Ingles as the narrator are wonderful

[Jacqueline]

I used to listen to Strauss (and others) Waltzes when I was working in a clothing factory when I was in my early 20s. It was calming when the supervisors were on your back to go faster and faster lol I had a Walkman and I loved listening to classical music for work. Or Talking Heads.

And yeah not everyone is wired the same and people can do two things at once (something I’m becoming less adept at) but for the majority of people their wiring makes it that they have to turn down the music to concentrate in the car.

[Kateb]

nope a good R & R to drive with, need something with a beat to exercise to as well

I grew up doing the piano, won a scholarship at the end of each year to continue at the conservatorium . I dislike classical music now , I tell people I grew up. but I think it is just associated with all of that time practicing.

sold my piano as soon as I left home at 19

reading a paper book, a kindle and listening to a tv show

[Darshan]

Perhaps, I sounded like I hail from warmland (imaginary city taken from 21 lessons for the 21st century). Haha

Kateb, I am sorry if I sounded rude. That was very much my point of view and I wrote what I feel. :)

[Jonas]

I usually read series of books, in a straight line. So the answer is a typical, no. I cannot read more then one book at the time. Sure I sometimes mix the series up a bit. Like now I've read 3 books of Wheel of Time, needed a break, so I started Blood Song (Raven's Shadow).

PS: I have no issues listening to music while either reading or driving a car. Usually it makes me concentrate even more. Though I can listen to any genre while driving, this isnt true while reading. While reading I need something relaxed. These days it's the radio channel di.fm/chillstep :)

[Leah]

Oh geez, this is my downfall right here. I could have anywhere from 2 to 10 books going at a time. In audible, psychical or ebook form...usually all three at once.

I tend to work on series but will bounce around with other books to break it up. I think I currently in the middle of 3 or 4 different series at the moment? Not to mention the masses of standalone novels I pick up here or there.

My biggest issue is that I have what I'll call book ADHD (which I actually have to some degree in real life) and I tend to go "Oh shiny!" and drop the book I'm in the middle of and pick up another. I'll get back to the book I was working on but it may take some time. It's why bookstores are dangerous places for me.

For example, I have been waiting over a year for The Kingdom of Copper and I bought it on the day it was released a few weeks back but I've only made it about 50 pages in and it's been sitting on my nightstand ever since because I was waylaid by a sudden obsessive need to read the Stormlight Archieves, and re-read some TOG novels, and on a whim picked up a short stories collection, oh and don't forget the Darker Shades book that sudden came off hold at the Library.....you get the picture. I'll read it eventually, but I've got to be in the right mood to reenter that world again.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*]

Leah wrote: "Oh geez, this is my downfall right here. I could have anywhere from 2 to 10 books going at a time. In audible, psychical or ebook form...usually all three at once.

I tend to work on series but wi..."

I do this with books, period. If I'm reading it or not. I have a very bad case of the shiny + the grabby hands. I want the book and I want the book NOW and I don't care if it'll be 2 million years before I read it - if ever. WANT.

This is also why my unread book collection is at SABLE.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

I often have noise in the background which I'm reading - sometimes by choice, like listening to music, but often either having hubby playing video games or just noise on the train. I can usually tune it out - but it depends on a) my interest level in the book and b) my interest level in the song. I can actually be very distracted by silence, too...

[Cheryl]

SABLE?
I learn more things from you, Mrs. Joseph, because I have to work or ask to learn the jargon or abbreviation and so it tends to stick.

[Cheryl]

Ok, I finally found it. SABLE. Stash Accumulation Beyond Life Expectancy. Right. My to-read lists on GR have been like that for years and always will be.

[Cheryl]

Ok, I imagine most of you have seen this, maybe it's even been posted in this group before. But a defense against minimalism when it comes to unread books: Why You Should Surround Yourself With More Books Than You'll Ever Have Time to Read https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/...

[Leah]

SABLE is new to me too but it sums me up perfectly!!

[Jacqueline]

Its me too. It applies to more things than books though. I also have more cross stitch kits than I'll ever finish too. I really need to get to some of those too. Can't do cross stitch and listen to an audiobook at the same time unfortunately. The cross stitch needs all of my attention. I can listen to music but not so,etching I have to concentrate on.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*]

Cheryl wrote: "SABLE?
I learn more things from you, Mrs. Joseph, because I have to work or ask to learn the jargon or abbreviation and so it tends to stick."

:-D

I work in an acronym filled field. You literally would think we occasionally lapse into a different language.

[Trike]

Leah wrote: "Oh geez, this is my downfall right here. I could have anywhere from 2 to 10 books going at a time. In audible, psychical or ebook form...usually all three at once. "

You read books using ESP?! 😲

[Jacqueline]

Takes a lot of strain off the eyes.....

[Leah]

Bahaha! I wish Trike...I wish.

[Cheryl]

Jacqueline wrote: "Takes a lot of strain off the eyes....."

omg that would be awesome... ty Leah and Trike for putting that there...

[John]

Usually two going at the same time. Often a third. Probably why it takes me so long to finish a book, until the momentum takes over.

[Jamie]

I always have several books going at once. Usually one is a longer book, which I read a few chapters at a time, switching to shorter books when my interest starts to wander too much. I always have an audiobook queued up, which I put on when I want my hands free for chores or crochet. I usually start a new book if I am not really interested in what I already have started, and every so often I put a stop to all new additions to my 'currently reading' list till I finish a few. At the end of the year I try a bit harder to finish all my started books, too, so I can start closer to fresh on the new year, but that rarely works perfectly. Lately I have the habit of starting a series near the end of the year, so that the first book of the following year is the next book in the series. For the 2020-21 transition it was Evelyn Waugh's trilogy(not SFF but very good), and for the 2019-20 transition it was the Bromeliad trilogy by Pratchett (highly recommended). I suspect that if that happens this year it may be Grossman's Magicians trilogy, but I may manage more self control this time and stay focused on finishing already started books... Maybe.