diff --git a/lib/pdf/reader.rb b/lib/pdf/reader.rb
index 96bef30e..abd631b7 100644
--- a/lib/pdf/reader.rb
+++ b/lib/pdf/reader.rb
@@ -284,6 +284,7 @@ def root
 require 'pdf/reader/bounding_rectangle_runs_filter'
 require 'pdf/reader/cid_widths'
 require 'pdf/reader/cmap'
+require 'pdf/reader/disjoint_set'
 require 'pdf/reader/encoding'
 require 'pdf/reader/error'
 require 'pdf/reader/filter'
@@ -303,6 +304,7 @@ def root
 require 'pdf/reader/object_hash'
 require 'pdf/reader/object_stream'
 require 'pdf/reader/pages_strategy'
+require 'pdf/reader/paragraph'
 require 'pdf/reader/parser'
 require 'pdf/reader/point'
 require 'pdf/reader/print_receiver'
diff --git a/lib/pdf/reader/disjoint_set.rb b/lib/pdf/reader/disjoint_set.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ba0d8ea4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/pdf/reader/disjoint_set.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+# coding: utf-8
+# typed: strict
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+module PDF
+  class Reader
+
+    # In computer science, a disjoint-set data structure, also called a union–find data structure or merge–find set,
+    # is a data structure that stores a collection of disjoint (non-overlapping) sets.
+    class DisjointSet
+      include Enumerable
+
+      def initialize
+        @parents = {}
+        @ranks = {}
+      end
+
+      def contains(item)
+        @parents.key?(item)
+      end
+
+      def each(&block)
+        return enum_for(:each) unless block_given?
+
+        @parents.each_key(&block)
+      end
+
+      def length
+        @parents.length
+      end
+
+      def add(x)
+        @parents[x] = x
+        @ranks[x] = 0
+        self
+      end
+
+      def find(x)
+        return x if @parents[x] == x
+
+        find(@parents[x])
+      end
+
+      def sets
+        cluster_parents = {}
+        @parents.each_key do |x|
+          p = find(x)
+          cluster_parents[p] = [] unless cluster_parents.key?(p)
+          cluster_parents[p].push(x)
+        end
+        cluster_parents.values
+      end
+
+      def union(x, y)
+        x_parent = find(x)
+        y_parent = find(y)
+
+        return self if x_parent == y_parent
+
+        if @ranks[x_parent] > @ranks[y_parent]
+          @parents[y_parent] = x_parent
+        elsif @ranks[y_parent] > @ranks[x_parent]
+          @parents[x_parent] = y_parent
+        else
+          @parents[y_parent] = x_parent
+          @ranks[x_parent] += 1
+        end
+
+        self
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/pdf/reader/page.rb b/lib/pdf/reader/page.rb
index d48768ad..23a16553 100644
--- a/lib/pdf/reader/page.rb
+++ b/lib/pdf/reader/page.rb
@@ -231,6 +231,45 @@ def rectangles
         }
       end
 
+      # returns all text on the page as an array of Paragraphs.
+      def paragraphs(opts = {})
+        minimum_horizontal_overlap_percentage = opts.fetch(:minimum_horizontal_overlap_percentage, 0.80)
+        maximum_multiplied_leading            = opts.fetch(:maximum_multiplied_leading, 1.40)
+        maximum_allowed_font_difference       = opts.fetch(:maximum_allowed_font_difference, 1.00)
+
+        disjoint_set = PDF::Reader::DisjointSet.new
+        runs(opts).each { |run| disjoint_set.add(run) }
+
+        # Build disjoint set in order to find all text runs that "overlap" by a
+        # certain percentage, so we can combine the right runs together.
+        disjoint_set.each do |l0|
+          disjoint_set.each do |l1|
+            next if l0 == l1
+            next if disjoint_set.find(l0) == disjoint_set.find(l1)
+
+            overlap_percentage = l0.horizontal_overlap(l1)
+            leading = (l0.y - l1.y).abs / [l0.font_size, l1.font_size].min
+
+            next unless overlap_percentage >= minimum_horizontal_overlap_percentage
+            next unless leading <= maximum_multiplied_leading
+            next if (l0.font_size - l1.font_size).abs > maximum_allowed_font_difference
+
+            disjoint_set.union(l0, l1)
+          end
+        end
+
+        paragraphs = disjoint_set.sets.map do |set|
+          # remember, pdf page origin is bottom left corner
+          leftmost_x = set.map(&:x).min
+          topmost_y = set.map(&:y).max
+          text = set.map { |run| run.text.strip }.join(' ')
+
+          PDF::Reader::Paragraph.new(text, PDF::Reader::Point.new(leftmost_x, topmost_y))
+        end
+
+        paragraphs.map(&:text)
+      end
+
       private
 
       def root
diff --git a/lib/pdf/reader/paragraph.rb b/lib/pdf/reader/paragraph.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c27aa250
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/pdf/reader/paragraph.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# coding: utf-8
+# typed: true
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+module PDF
+  class Reader
+
+    # A simple class used by PDF::Reader::Page.paragraphs to represent a paragraph of text and its origin.
+    class Paragraph
+      attr_reader :text, :origin
+
+      def initialize(text, origin)
+        @text = text
+        @origin = origin
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/pdf/reader/text_run.rb b/lib/pdf/reader/text_run.rb
index 9daa0b44..12bfa814 100644
--- a/lib/pdf/reader/text_run.rb
+++ b/lib/pdf/reader/text_run.rb
@@ -91,6 +91,17 @@ def intersection_area_percent(other_run)
       intersection_area.to_f / area
     end
 
+    # return what percentage of this text run is overlapped by another run horizontally
+    def horizontal_overlap(other_run)
+      # rectangles do not overlap (we are on the left side)
+      return 0 if [x, endx].max < [other_run.x, other_run.endx].min
+      # rectangles do not overlap (other_run is on the left side)
+      return 0 if [other_run.x, other_run.endx].max < [x, endx].min
+      a = [ [x, endx].min, [other_run.x, other_run.endx].min ].max
+      b = [ [x, endx].max, [other_run.x, other_run.endx].max ].min
+      return (a - b).abs
+    end
+
     private
 
     def area
diff --git a/rbi/pdf-reader.rbi b/rbi/pdf-reader.rbi
index 07233fc1..b0fa7356 100644
--- a/rbi/pdf-reader.rbi
+++ b/rbi/pdf-reader.rbi
@@ -205,6 +205,38 @@ module PDF
       def bfrange_type_two(start_code, end_code, dst); end
     end
 
+    class DisjointSet
+      include Enumerable
+      Elem = type_member { {fixed: T.untyped} }
+
+      sig { void }
+      def initialize
+        @parents = T.let({}, T::Hash[T.anything, T.untyped])
+        @ranks = T.let({}, T::Hash[T.anything, T.untyped])
+      end
+
+      sig { params(item: T.anything).returns(T::Boolean) }
+      def contains(item); end
+
+      sig { override.params(block: T.nilable).returns(T.any(T::Hash[T.untyped, T.untyped], T::Enumerator[T.untyped])) }
+      def each(&block); end
+
+      sig { returns(Integer) }
+      def length; end
+
+      sig { params(x: T.untyped).returns(PDF::Reader::DisjointSet) }
+      def add(x); end
+
+      sig { type_parameters(:U).params(x: T.type_parameter(:U)).returns(T.type_parameter(:U)) }
+      def find(x); end
+
+      sig { returns(T::Array[T.untyped]) }
+      def sets; end
+
+      sig { params(x: T.untyped, y: T.untyped).returns(PDF::Reader::DisjointSet) }
+      def union(x, y); end
+    end
+
     class Encoding
       CONTROL_CHARS = T.let(T.unsafe(nil), T::Array[Integer])
       UNKNOWN_CHAR = T.let(T.unsafe(nil), Integer)
@@ -931,6 +963,9 @@ module PDF
       sig { returns(T::Hash[Symbol, PDF::Reader::Rectangle]) }
       def rectangles; end
 
+      sig { params(opts: T::Hash[Symbol, T.untyped]).returns(T::Array[String]) }
+      def paragraphs(opts = {}); end
+
       sig { returns(T::Hash[Symbol, T.untyped]) }
       def root; end
 
@@ -1198,6 +1233,17 @@ module PDF
       OPERATORS = T.let(T.unsafe(nil), T::Hash[String, Symbol])
     end
 
+    class Paragraph
+      sig { returns(String) }
+      attr_reader :text
+
+      sig { returns(PDF::Reader::Point) }
+      attr_reader :origin
+
+      sig { params(text: String, origin: PDF::Reader::Point).void }
+      def initialize(text, origin); end
+    end
+
     class Parser
       sig { params(buffer: PDF::Reader::Buffer, objects: T.nilable(PDF::Reader::ObjectHash)).void }
       def initialize(buffer, objects=nil); end
@@ -1577,6 +1623,9 @@ module PDF
       sig { params(other_run: T.untyped).returns(Numeric) }
       def intersection_area_percent(other_run); end
 
+      sig { params(other_run: T.untyped).returns(Numeric) }
+      def horizontal_overlap(other_run); end
+
       sig { returns(Numeric) }
       def area; end
 
diff --git a/spec/disjoint_set_spec.rb b/spec/disjoint_set_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f2a320a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/disjoint_set_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+# typed: false
+# coding: utf-8
+
+describe PDF::Reader::DisjointSet do
+  let(:set) { PDF::Reader::DisjointSet.new }
+
+  describe "#add" do
+    it "adds a new item to the set" do
+      set.add(5)
+      expect(set.length).to eq(1)
+      expect(set.contains(5)).to be_truthy
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe "#each" do
+    let(:set) do
+      set = PDF::Reader::DisjointSet.new
+      set.add(1)
+      set.add(2)
+      set.add(3)
+      set.union(1, 2)
+    end
+
+    it "iterates over each item in the set (even if unions are created)" do
+      expect(set.each.to_a).to eq([1, 2, 3])
+    end
+
+    it "is used by Enumerable to provide iterative functionality like #map" do
+      result = set.map { |x| x.to_s }
+      expect(result).to eq(['1', '2', '3'])
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe "#find" do
+    it "finds the parent of the item" do
+      set.add("parent")
+      set.add("child")
+      set.union("parent", "child")
+      expect(set.find("parent")).to eq("parent")
+      expect(set.find("child")).to eq("parent")
+    end
+
+    it "returns the item if it is a parent" do
+      set.add("item")
+      expect(set.find("item")).to eq("item")
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe "#sets" do
+    it "returns an array of arrays containing the sets" do
+      set.add("parent")
+      set.add("child")
+      set.add("unrelated")
+      set.union("parent", "child")
+      expect(set.sets).to eq([["parent", "child"], ["unrelated"]])
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe "#union" do
+    let(:set) do
+      set = PDF::Reader::DisjointSet.new
+      set.add("parent")
+      set.add("child")
+      set.add("grandchild")
+      set.add("unrelated")
+    end
+
+    it "handles multiple unions" do
+      set.union("parent", "child")
+      set.union("child", "grandchild")
+      expect(set.sets).to eq([["parent", "child", "grandchild"], ["unrelated"]])
+    end
+
+    it "handles union params regardless of order" do
+      set.union("child", "parent")
+      set.union("grandchild", "child")
+      expect(set.sets).to eq([["parent", "child", "grandchild"], ["unrelated"]])
+    end
+
+    it "gracefully handles union of identical elements" do
+      set.union("child", "child")
+      expect(set.sets).to eq([["parent"], ["child"], ["grandchild"], ["unrelated"]])
+    end
+
+    it "handles joining multiple previous unions" do
+      set = PDF::Reader::DisjointSet.new
+      set.add("parent1")
+      set.add("child1")
+      set.add("parent2")
+      set.add("child2")
+      set.union("parent1", "child1")
+      set.union("parent2", "child2")
+      set.union("parent1", "parent2")
+      expect(set.sets).to eq([["parent1", "child1", "parent2", "child2"]])
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/page_spec.rb b/spec/page_spec.rb
index 1119ddf7..50d60d6c 100644
--- a/spec/page_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/page_spec.rb
@@ -110,6 +110,42 @@
     end
   end
 
+  describe "#paragraphs page 1" do
+    let!(:page)    { browser.page(1) }
+
+    context "of cairo-basic.pdf" do
+      let!(:browser) { PDF::Reader.new(pdf_spec_file("cairo-basic")) }
+
+      it "returns the text content" do
+        expect(page.paragraphs).to eql(["Hello James"])
+      end
+    end
+
+    context "of all_page_boxes_exist.pdf" do
+      let!(:browser) { PDF::Reader.new(pdf_spec_file("all_page_boxes_exist")) }
+
+      it "returns headlines as their own paragraph" do
+        expect(page.paragraphs).to include("PDF Automation")
+      end
+
+      it "returns actual paragraphs" do
+        expect(page.paragraphs).to include(<<~TEXT.strip.gsub(/\n/, " "))
+          PDF page boxes include Media Box, Trim Box and Bleed Box. Imposition
+          in the Sheridan work flow requires a Trim Box and a Bleed Box where
+          bleeds are present with a consistent Media Box.
+        TEXT
+      end
+
+      it "returns paragraphs from multi-column layouts" do
+        expect(page.paragraphs).to include(<<~TEXT.strip.gsub(/\n/, " "))
+          QuarkXPress Enter your trim size of the Width and the Height. Elements that bleed
+          must extend .125" (1/8") beyond the project’s trim edge in your project
+          layout.
+        TEXT
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
   describe "#walk" do
 
     context "with page 1 of cairo-basic.pdf" do