The Virtues of Re-Reading Books

You haven't read a book until you've read it twice

I read a lot of books for my job.

I've read over 1,000 books prepping for my interviews with authors on the Art of Manliness podcast. I've probably read 1,000 more books in my research for articles that we've published on AoM over the past 17 years.

When I read for work, I usually read a book once and never pick it up again.

But when I read off-the-clock, that is, for pleasure, I've noticed that I tend to read books I've read before.

Like most people, I’ve got a to-read list chock-full of books I haven’t yet cracked open. But when given the choice between dipping my ladle into the nonstop stream of never-read titles in this “infinity pile” or re-reading a book I’ve already read once, twice, or even three or four times, I usually go with the latter.

I’m an ardent book re-reader. In fact, I don’t feel like I’ve truly read a book until I’ve read it twice.

With so many unread books in the world, it can feel almost childishly wasteful to spend time re-reading the same handful. I can picture an imaginary parent shaking their head as I crack open Lonesome Dove yet again, like a toddler who wants to hear Chicka Chicka Boom Boom for the umpteenth time.

But I'm not alone in my re-reading habit. I keep pretty good company with some of history’s greats.