4 ms·

> it's a window into who I would like to be Is there an advantage to buying the books, rather than just putting them on your Goodreads "To read" shelf?

benrbray 6y ago
For me, the ability to consume infinite information electronically is both a blessing and a curse. I tend to have decision paralysis when searching for information online -- is this method for learning X the best one? what else do I need to know about X? Am I ready to learn about X? Before starting X, what should I know? In the end, I'll end up reading all about the history of Y on Wikipedia, and never even begin with X. So, recently when I get interested in a random topic, I'll read some book reviews online and pull the trigger on a used book for under $20. I know that one day, I'll get that spark of curiosity again; when it happens, I know I have a solid book there, waiting for me.
iosonofuturista 6y ago
Yes, they look so nice in a shelf.
PartiallyTyped 6y ago
For me, they stay at the forefront of my conscious, so it's difficult to just turn the other way around or pretend they don't exist somewhere. It's easy to get rid of goodreads, I will just never visit the page, I can't do that with physical books.
at_a_remove 6y ago
I stopped collecting, prior to Goodreads being "a thing." My guess would be immediacy of access and, often, cost. I have some books I have picked up for rather cheap which go for no less than a hundred dollars now. However, the immediacy is what I would like to concentrate on for the rest of this comment. From the daydream of an extra day off this month to the wish-fulfillment of superpowers, we think about who we might evolve into if we only had a little more time. This extends to woodworking tools and soon-to-be-dusty exercise equipment. And so the presence of an unread book, a DVD still in the sleeve, or a CD still in cellophane wrap becomes a subtle nag as you walk past it day after day. It says ... You could still be this person.

benrbray 6y ago

For me, the ability to consume infinite information electronically is both a blessing and a curse. I tend to have decision paralysis when searching for information online -- is this method for learning X the best one? what else do I need to know about X? Am I ready to learn about X? Before starting X, what should I know? In the end, I'll end up reading all about the history of Y on Wikipedia, and never even begin with X. So, recently when I get interested in a random topic, I'll read some book reviews online and pull the trigger on a used book for under $20. I know that one day, I'll get that spark of curiosity again; when it happens, I know I have a solid book there, waiting for me.

iosonofuturista 6y ago

Yes, they look so nice in a shelf.

PartiallyTyped 6y ago

For me, they stay at the forefront of my conscious, so it's difficult to just turn the other way around or pretend they don't exist somewhere. It's easy to get rid of goodreads, I will just never visit the page, I can't do that with physical books.

at_a_remove 6y ago

I stopped collecting, prior to Goodreads being "a thing." My guess would be immediacy of access and, often, cost. I have some books I have picked up for rather cheap which go for no less than a hundred dollars now. However, the immediacy is what I would like to concentrate on for the rest of this comment. From the daydream of an extra day off this month to the wish-fulfillment of superpowers, we think about who we might evolve into if we only had a little more time. This extends to woodworking tools and soon-to-be-dusty exercise equipment. And so the presence of an unread book, a DVD still in the sleeve, or a CD still in cellophane wrap becomes a subtle nag as you walk past it day after day. It says ... You could still be this person.