As I’ve shared before, I pretty habitually have a stack of books sitting in my studio at any given time. I try to stay tidy and keep the stack under control, but I keep adding to the stack and it gets comically high again. Sometimes it’s because I’ve acquired new books and they’re in the stack waiting to be read. Most of the time, however, I pull a few books off the shelf on subjects I want to digest and rotate through the stack when I have time to read. I’ll grab a couple of books and look through them in the evenings or take one or two with me to an appointment. Once I’m finished, I’ll put them away and inevitably add more. When one stack starts to overflow into two, I’ll force myself to narrow it down so I have a reasonable book buffet to pick from. In addition to reading through the books in my stack, I’ll rotate through 2-3 audiobooks on my walks.
When I shared some of the books I was reading as well as ones I had recently finished on Instagram (I’ll share those at the bottom of this post), I received a lot of messages curious about that approach. I realize it’s not normal behavior, so I thought I would share my thoughts about why I read multiple books at once and why it works for me.  I never set out to read multiple books simultaneously as a strategy. It started happening organically decades ago and I just never stopped. Once I started to take notice of that habit a few years ago, I was able to see the benefit of it and why it works for me. Perhaps I’ll convince you to become a book-stacker, too!
The first reason I read multiple books at one time isn’t a positive trait, but I think it’s how it started. I am a wee bit impatient and scattered. When I want to learn something, I really don’t want to take the time to plow through one book, especially if it’s particularly dry. I can keep my attention better if I allow myself to bounce around from one book to another, gleaning what most appeals to me or applies to something I’m trying to learn. It’s just how my multi-tasking brain works.
I do need to mention that I’m not reading novels where I have to pay attention to a complex storyline. I read those one at a time. I love reading novels, but I don’t read them very often because I get way too absorbed. I neglect to sleep, work, and feed my kids when I get engrossed in a novel! I usually save those to listen to in audiobook format on a long drive or when I’m on vacation and lying around with a book is acceptable behavior.
The books I’m reading always have something to do with creativity, art, design, and things that fall into my sphere of work. These are books on interiors, decorating, gardening, individual artists, art movements, cooking, creative business, and historical people and places. Aside from the historical biographies, I rarely need to follow a narrative so I don’t have to worry too much about reading these books in any particular sequence for them to make sense and be beneficial. For that reason, jumping between books on various subjects from different viewpoints actually helps when it comes to feeding my creativity. They all start running together, creating a narrative that’s uniquely curated by me for me. Einstein referred to this practice as combinatory play – the concept that combining unrelated ideas can lead to new ones.
Reading an art book can certainly teach me about art, but so can books on gardening, flower arrangements, European baking, English architecture, textile design, and the history of fashion. I can get ideas for writing from art books. I might draw color inspiration for a room from a book on botanicals. And, any of these books might lead me to artists, designers, writers, makers, and creatives I’ve never studied or even heard of, which often leads me to more books. Sometimes the combinations are intentional and sometimes they are serendipitous, but having a bunch of ideas, words, and images, seemingly unrelated, swimming around in my head gives me a good creative well to draw from.
The only downside is I often forget where I read something! I do take notes when I can, mark pages with book darts or Post-it flags, and digitally bookmark audiobooks on passages I want to revisit, but I still lose tracks sometimes because it all melds together.
Another question I get about my books is do I actually read all of them. I do read all of my books, but that doesn’t mean I read every word in every book. That’s true of some books, but there are also books I look through primarily for the images and just read certain sections that are of interest to me. Some books I scan through and then I might revisit them more thoroughly down the road. I view my books as my continuing education, my personalized library, and an endless source of information, inspiration, and stimulation.
There was a time when I felt like my books were becoming superfluous. Why do I need cookbooks when I can access recipes online? Why do I need books on interiors when there is Pinterest? But, as algorithms took over and content pandering to them, I found myself going more and more back to books. They have been more thoughtfully researched and written than any social media post. They don’t have ads popping up to sell me things I’m not interested in. They aren’t filled with people staging fake scenarios or being horrible simply because they’ll get more views. I can sit down with a book on color charts, Edgar Payne’s artwork, George Washington’s garden, or historic letters, and that’s just what I’m going to get until I close the book and move on to something else.
I’ve sort of embraced the fact that I’m likely to be surrounded by stacks of books when I’m old and gray. There are worse things.
For those who are curious and want some book recommendations, here are the books I am reading or recently finished that I shared on Instagram…
Audiobooks
The Creative Act: A Way of Being
This book gets a little dry and the audiobook can be a little bit meditative, which isn’t really what I want on a three-mile walk! (There is a singing bowl and everything.) But the content is mostly engaging and thought-provoking and I stuck with it. I just finished it last week and I’m certain I’ll revisit it again.
Big Magic
This is the second time I’ve read this book and I loved it just as much as the first. Elizabeth Gilbert is a talented writer and reader and this book is so encouraging to creatives. I don’t always agree with her perspective, but I do appreciate her thoughts on the creative process.
The Hidden Habits of Genius
I loved this book and already can’t wait to read it again. It was fascinating, challenging, and thoroughly interesting. I would extend my walks a little bit longer just to listen to more.
Camille Pissarro: The Audacity of Impressionism
I am about halfway through this book and I am enthralled. I knew a fair bit about the impressionists, but this has filled in more gaps and added even more depth to how challenging it was to introduce this new way of interpreting the world. I also love reading about all of the artists who not only knew of each other, but were close friends, each other’s champions, cheerleaders, and challengers, and how they knew they would make a greater impact if they stuck together.
Physical Books
Still: The Art of Noticing
This book has beautiful photography, but I love the story behind it even more. I’ve learned so many things and it’s encouraged me to look even closer at the world around me.
Remarkable Diaries
I’ve been reading this book mostly at appointments and when I’ve had a few minutes of waiting and it’s so good! I’ve learned about some of the diaries kept by those who are famous and those who are obscure and it’s led me to more books, journals, and diaries to add to my reading list. It’s also encouraged me to be even more intentional about writing my own daily, mundane story.
The General in the Garden
I learned a few years ago that I am a direct descendant of the Washington family. Charles Washington, George’s younger brother and founder of Charlestown, WV, was my 7th great-grandfather. So, I’ve been more interested in reading about the Washington family and love that this book focuses on George as a farmer and gardener. It also is one of the only coffee-table-style books I could find about Mount Vernon.
True to the Letter
I just started reading this one but was mostly interested in reading famous letters after reading Remarkable Diaries. I am a person who likes to read little bits of paper and handwritten notes I come across at antique stores, so this book appeals to me.
Country House Living
I loved Nora Murphy’s first decorating book, so buying this one was a no-brainer. Instead of tearing into it right when I got it, I’ve been reading little bits here and there to savor it. It’s such a visually stunning book.
French from the Market
This is a lovely cookbook that shares traditional French recipes using fresh ingredients. Since I’m focusing on eating mostly whole foods, it’s been a good source of inspiration. It’s also just a pretty book to look through.
A few that are next on my reading list are Painting as a Pastime, My Life in France, The Grasmere Journals, and Your Brain on Art.
Any books I should add to my reading list that would be in my wheelhouse?
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