I think about this fairly often. I would like to focus my reading towards an objective of becoming more knowledgeable about particular topics and increasing my understanding.

I read a lot, and I read a lot of literary work and nonfiction (I don’t read much fluff). What I don’t do is read related works in a given period. I’ve often considered that were I to read much the same books but in related groups, I would make so many more connections and be able to evaluate and draw better conclusions.

I used to think, “When this baby starts sleeping through the night and I’m not so tired…” Then it was “When they aren’t so little and needy…” But I could have done a little even then. And now there’s nothing really stopping me.

• Various segments of cultural anthropology
• The history of the Middle East
• The history of childrearing in America
• Mathematical theory and theorists
• Drum corps/drumlines and drumming history
• Cultural histories of countries, such as Laos, and regions, such as the Congo
• Educational theories and innovations; charter schools, home school, magnet schools, alternative educational paths

Things like that. Some related to my kids’ interests, some related to my own directly, and some related to things I’ve read and enjoyed and should have immediately looked for more readings in a variety of genres on those subjects.

I think reading several different readings on a single topic in a short period would be far more enlightening than reading those same works interspersed with other things.