# What books have you read at least three times? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 18, 2009, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579 "2009-09-18T12:32:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/61 "2009-09-22T21:16:10Z")
I’ve read plenty of books more than three times - in fact, my current read is a book that I’ve read over and over again, JM Roberts’ [History of the World](http://www.amazon.com/History-World-J-M-Roberts/dp/0195210433). It’s one of those books I like to take to restaurants and read while eating… as a matter of fact, I’ve found restaurant receipts from 1994 and 1996 in this book, and will probably find one or two more. ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/62 "2009-09-22T21:29:12Z")
I’m not much of a re-reader, but I managed to get assigned Achebe’s _Things Fall Apart_ three times during my school career. First time was in an “Afro-Asia” centric 9th grade social studies class. Then in 12th grade AP English (at a different school). And once again in college in the locally famous “African Storyteller” class at UW-Madison. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/63 "2009-09-23T00:38:28Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > I’ve read plenty of books more than three times - in fact, my current read is a book that I’ve read over and over again, JM Roberts’ [History of the World](http://www.amazon.com/History-World-J-M-Roberts/dp/0195210433). It’s one of those books I like to take to restaurants and read while eating… as a matter of fact, I’ve found restaurant receipts from 1994 and 1996 in this book, and will probably find one or two more. That is a truly excellent book, and I have read that twice. Except my copy is called _The Penguin History of the World_, by JM Roberts. Published by Penguin Books, of course. I trust it’s the same book. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/64 "2009-09-23T00:49:18Z")
Gone With the Wind The Oz Books The Masters of Rome series (Colleen McCullough) The Thorn Birds Earth Children series (Jean Auel, and I doubt I’ll read the last one) The Kent Family Chronicles (John Jakes) North and South (ditto) Most of the Stephen King books (except for Cujo. I could only read that one once.) The Outlander series (Diana Gabaldon, the newest one left the Amazon warehouse yesterday afternoon) Harry Potter Tom Sawyer I think there’s more, but that’s a start. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/65 "2009-09-23T01:15:03Z")
I also read through relevant sections of the _Lonely Planet Thailand_ guide when a new one comes out every two years like I’m doing now, just to keep up to date on tourist stuff. But I don’t think that counts, because I don’t read the entire book, and I don’t reread the same edition. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/66 "2009-09-23T07:44:22Z")
I rarely read a book twice, but three that come to mind that I have read many times: Lord of the Rings Trilogy (six times and counting) Catcher in the Rye (14 times, been there done that - ah, youth.) The Front Runner (Twice because I liked it, 2 more times for a film studio project development that didn’t happen - was supposed to star Paul Newman!) ---
**Author:** ![otternell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/67 "2009-09-23T13:34:03Z")
First allow me to say that I officially love everyone posting to this thread and this whole site! I have lurked around SD for a while reading Cecil’s stuff, but never really thought of joining the message board, until today. Look at all you re-readers - you make my heart swell with joy! 🙂 I have read numerous times: Atlas Shrugged (and still love it) 1984 Animal farm Just about all the Stephen King books Anne McCaffrey’s Pern books Mercedes Lackey Valdemar books Raymond Feist Midkemia books Harry Potter 😉 and a lot of other fluffy SF/FAntasy stuff ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/68 "2009-09-23T15:40:03Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > That is a truly excellent book, and I have read that twice. Except my copy is called _The Penguin History of the World_, by JM Roberts. Published by Penguin Books, of course. I trust it’s the same book. Yes, it is the same book. ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/69 "2009-09-23T17:58:15Z")
Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy; Asimov’s Foundation Trilogy; Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land, Farnham’s Freehold, and Podkayne of Mars; Louisa May Alcott’s Eight Cousins and Rose in Bloom; and Swiss Family Robinson. (Also Pokey Little Puppy and Three Billy Goats Gruff and various fairy tale collections, especially Shoemaker’s Elves and Twelve Dancing Princesses :D)) ETA and a bunch of Bradbury, especially Dandelion Wine ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/70 "2009-09-23T18:02:58Z")
I forgot about all the Sherlock Holmes and all the Poe I read in school, and re-read. Otherwise, I’m really not much of a re-reader. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579.md?page=3)