Umberto Eco’s answer to the very same question: “"In the past I adopted a tone of contemptuous sarcasm. ’I haven’t read any of them; otherwise, why would I kee

Umberto Eco’s answer to the very same question: “"In the past I adopted a tone of contemptuous sarcasm. ’I haven’t read any of them; otherwise, why would I keep them here?’ But this is a dangerous answer because it invites the obvious follow-up: ’And where do you put them after you’ve read them?’ The best answer is the one always used by Roberto Leydi: ’And more, dear sir, many more,’ which freezes the adversary and plunges him into a state of awed admiration. But I find it merciless and angst-generating. Now I have falled back upon the riposte: ’No, these are the ones I have to read by the end of the month. I keep the others in my office,’ a reply that on the one hand suggests a sublime ergonomic strategy, and on the other hand leads the visitor to hasten the moment of his departure." I have my business Zoom meetings in our (relatively small) library, with the bookshelves as the backdrop and I get this question every time!