Interval Training for Books

I’m on the elliptical machine five mornings a week. I always choose the programs that use interval training, a mix of high-intensity work interspersed with low-intensity work. The program looks like this:

• warmup
• low intensity
• high intensity
• low intensity
• high intensity
• cooldown

They say that interval training is far more effective than going flat-out at a high intensity for the entire workout.

I got thinking about this the other day in terms of reading. I’ve been through long phases in which I’ve read the heavy works, huge tomes that require careful reading and intense study. Lately I’ve found myself reading lighter stuff, books that can be easily read in a couple of sittings. I’m never quite satisfied reading in only one of those two categories.

I’m wondering if there’s wisdom in blending high-intensity books with low-intensity books. Maybe it’s best to keep one or two in each category going at the same time.

What do you think?