3 ms·

I buy around 3 times as many books as I finish (although I do finish many books). There is a special pleasure in browsing second hand book shops and pick up stu

I buy around 3 times as many books as I finish (although I do finish many books). There is a special pleasure in browsing second hand book shops and pick up stuff you like the idea of reading. It also used to give me tremendous pleasure giving a friend, a colleague or even a random encounter a book I myself had enjoyed at some point, although after the emergence of kindles, that became less and less appreciated (although some will still accept recommendations). I pile up books on my desk, on shelves, next to my bed, and it gives me pleasure just looking at them. I hate accumulating physical possesions except books. I look at my shelf (and my desk, and next to my bed) and it's a monument to things I have had fleeting interests in and things that are life long passions, stories that sits so deep inside me that they have come to define part of who I am, but of course also stories that were mere dreams and left no mark (although I have another pile in a corner for those books that I intend to get rid of... One day). I love books, it has been the one constant in my life since I was very young child.

EamonnMR 5y ago
I especially like second hand book sales at libraries/estate sales/etc because it totally derisks the purchase. For two bucks I won't feel guilty if I don't finish it. By the same token, though, I try to honestly look at my shelves periodically and ask 'am I gonna read this' or 'am I ever gonna read this again?'
- unishark 5y ago
  There's still the guilt when you have to tell the movers that this big stack of boxes is filled with heavy books. I get rid of any book that can be found used for under a couple bucks or so used online, unless I am actively reading it or need it for something. I can always get it again later when I feel like reading it, just bookmark a link to the place it's sold.
  - White_Wolf 5y ago
    Why guilt? No reason to feel guilty for anything. I collect old books and buy anything that I can find pre-1950. Last time we moved I had 2000+ books in ~15kg boxes. No guild or shame about it. I love my books.
- jasonladuke0311 5y ago
  Local libraries are a gold mine. Some of them resell books that were removed from circulation for like $1 for paperbacks, $2 for hardbacks, etc. I've gotten tons of books from those sales.
agumonkey 5y ago
I'm trying to avoid hoarding because of free book swap boxes in the streets. Lots of old or strange books. I actually read Asimov Foundation first volume thanks to this.
telesilla 5y ago
I wish there was a way of giving objects that are now digital, with the same tactile pleasure. Like perhaps some of your friends, I also resent being given physical books: I travel too much, where do I put them? My kindle is so much more convenient. But giving a digital isn't very pleasurable, and you can't easily (if at all?) gift kindle books you have purchased on your account.

EamonnMR 5y ago

I especially like second hand book sales at libraries/estate sales/etc because it totally derisks the purchase. For two bucks I won't feel guilty if I don't finish it. By the same token, though, I try to honestly look at my shelves periodically and ask 'am I gonna read this' or 'am I ever gonna read this again?'

unishark 5y ago
There's still the guilt when you have to tell the movers that this big stack of boxes is filled with heavy books. I get rid of any book that can be found used for under a couple bucks or so used online, unless I am actively reading it or need it for something. I can always get it again later when I feel like reading it, just bookmark a link to the place it's sold.
- White_Wolf 5y ago
  Why guilt? No reason to feel guilty for anything. I collect old books and buy anything that I can find pre-1950. Last time we moved I had 2000+ books in ~15kg boxes. No guild or shame about it. I love my books.
jasonladuke0311 5y ago
Local libraries are a gold mine. Some of them resell books that were removed from circulation for like $1 for paperbacks, $2 for hardbacks, etc. I've gotten tons of books from those sales.

agumonkey 5y ago

I'm trying to avoid hoarding because of free book swap boxes in the streets. Lots of old or strange books. I actually read Asimov Foundation first volume thanks to this.

telesilla 5y ago

I wish there was a way of giving objects that are now digital, with the same tactile pleasure. Like perhaps some of your friends, I also resent being given physical books: I travel too much, where do I put them? My kindle is so much more convenient. But giving a digital isn't very pleasurable, and you can't easily (if at all?) gift kindle books you have purchased on your account.