I love this topic and drool over your shelves. I haven't counted my books recently but I had over 3,000 books several years ago and have added many books since. But my youngest is 8 years old and I'm starting to purge children's books. Many of my shelves are filled with books I've used to homeschool my six children, so in a few years, those too will be purged. I'm rather excited to imagine the transformation my home library will undergo. I love that a home library isn't a static thing but reflects both the past, present, and future, both of myself and my children.
I love the curation process. However big one’s collection, there’s something good about there being insubstantial space for it. The constraints are part of the dynamic that drives the joy!
In the UK, people (eg me) are buying old favourite children's books when we come across them because some publishers have been updating the texts, often in a way that loses the meaning and impact of the original.
I’m reading to my five year old each night. As I think about which Roald Dahl books I’ll read her, I know I’ll be buying used copies that are old enough to have avoided the “corrections.”
I am at that same stage of homeschooling our four. With the youngest now 8 I can begin letting go of books that are so curriculum specific we won't reread them. I am glad someone else will enjoy finding them for their library. The space allows me to highlight more beloved literature
This issue fits perfectly: just recently a friend asked me for advice on how he thought he should reorganize his books, which he also started counting and indexing, so as to know which ones he already had and which ones he didn't, as well as adding (great idea!) a list of books to get based on various things he had marked down. Reading these stories always makes me want to stop everything I'm doing and dive headlong into my library or buy some books. Thank you for this inspiration and for how you told it.
Beautiful room. You and I have similar collections of people like Lewis and Chesterton. But I think my family has around 7000 books or so, spread around the house and a few offices. I’ve lost count. The idea of their being organized is a distant dream. Piles in the floor probably don’t count!
That is some library. The shelves themselves look lovely. A good bookshelf is a commitment to acquiring good books to inhabit it.
I never know how many books I should count as part of my library. I have about 175 conventional books fit into my small space, but I also have a number of small booklets contaning valuable information, plus many booklets of sheet music.
I collect books by default. Having found books with valuable information in other corners of the world that are not available here - not even by internet order - of course I am going to carefully keep them. The same applies to unique vintage books no longer in print.
We actually have 3 “libraries” in our home with maybe 4 to 5 thousand volumes depending upon the ebb and flow. My wife keeps her collection of spiritual and Gaelic language books in her office and in our shared library cum dining room. That room also is home to our collection of fiction (already read favorites), poetry - mostly my collection of the soldier poets and related volumes plus several anthologies of Irish, Scottish, etc. My own working library of almost 4 thousand books is shelved in my office in the basement (which despite my efforts came up about 75 shelf feet short in the face of my wifely insistence on windows and some wall space for maps and pictures). So after 30 years of shuffling book boxes during overseas assignments, I was hopeful that this would be the last time. Our fiction and poetry are generally shelved by author - with anthologies and collections at the beginning of the section. My working library of military history and theory books are shelved in several groupings with uniform references, army and regimental histories grouped by nation in alphabetical order. Then general military reference volumes, military philosophers and theorists in rough chronological order, followed by groups of works focused on branches of service such as infantry, cavalry and tanks, artillery, air, naval. The main body of military histories are shelved chronologically. With more books still than shelf space, I tried to put books oiled have yet to read in view and shelve what I’ve already read behind them when possible.
I could only recommend one if we narrowed it down to a more specific topic within military history or theory. I read Clausewitz at the Naval War College and am a big fan, but it took me years after that and several tries to get through Jomini’s Art of War. Sun Tzu is of course worth reading but it’s mainly about which edition works best for you - most of them still use the same single translation by Samuel Griffiths. I prefer my military history reading to present the points of view of both sides, which fortunately has become easier to access as we get farther past the events.
Have you read the books Achilles In Vietnam and Odysseus in America? Both are by Jonathan Shay, M.D., and address combat trauma through the lens of Homeric hymns and epic poetry.
The author won a MacArthur Genius Grant for the first book, and though difficult to read, they have much to teach about not only the experiences of Vietnam veterans but also veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Thanks for your recommendations!
I actually have a copy among my collection on that theme across history, but I haven’t fitted it into my current reading yet. Usually, I’m reading things for particular topical research, plus one or two titles of fiction for relief. Right now I’m focusing on the end of WW2 up through 1950 but one of my escapes from that is Ernie Pyle’s book about his visit to England in late 1940-41 before the US entered the war.
WWII is an inexhaustible trove of literary treasure! Personally, I also enjoy Ernie Pyle’s perspective.
One additional bit about Dr. Jonathan Shay that speaks to your own War College experience is that in 2001 he served as Visiting Scholar-at-Large at the U.S. Naval War College. And, thanks much again!
Soon to read Vodolazkin’s Lauris on your recommendation. Looking forward to it. After decades of nonfiction, I’m catching up on great fiction lit that I missed and find I’m learning more about myself and fellow neighbors through these wonderful classics than all the nonfiction I read. I, too, put them in chronological order and found that very illuminating!! And then there is the 3x6’ bookcase of TBR.
I’m pretty selective about what I keep (all of my Wendell Berry, Oconnor, and Leif Enger for example). Making room for these new authors soon to be declared classic like Enger, Berry, Vodolazkin, Towles, Morrison, etc)
The rest go in my Little Free Library in my front yard or to my favorite nonprofit thrift store.
One thing I discovered that has been a joy: books I never would have picked up but read because someone I admired spoke highly of them have become some of my favorite reads. So thanks for all you do. Looking forward to your new book!!
Well, I don’t do it much. I dust the shelves themselves when I think they need it but mostly let the books either fend for themselves or manage the issue through their regular shuffling around.
My sweet wife is drooling over the pictures of your shelves in a way she never has a picture of me!
I am completely in agreement with her: about the shelves of course!
LOL, alas.
I love this topic and drool over your shelves. I haven't counted my books recently but I had over 3,000 books several years ago and have added many books since. But my youngest is 8 years old and I'm starting to purge children's books. Many of my shelves are filled with books I've used to homeschool my six children, so in a few years, those too will be purged. I'm rather excited to imagine the transformation my home library will undergo. I love that a home library isn't a static thing but reflects both the past, present, and future, both of myself and my children.
Gina
I love the curation process. However big one’s collection, there’s something good about there being insubstantial space for it. The constraints are part of the dynamic that drives the joy!
In the UK, people (eg me) are buying old favourite children's books when we come across them because some publishers have been updating the texts, often in a way that loses the meaning and impact of the original.
I’m reading to my five year old each night. As I think about which Roald Dahl books I’ll read her, I know I’ll be buying used copies that are old enough to have avoided the “corrections.”
exactly!
I am at that same stage of homeschooling our four. With the youngest now 8 I can begin letting go of books that are so curriculum specific we won't reread them. I am glad someone else will enjoy finding them for their library. The space allows me to highlight more beloved literature
This issue fits perfectly: just recently a friend asked me for advice on how he thought he should reorganize his books, which he also started counting and indexing, so as to know which ones he already had and which ones he didn't, as well as adding (great idea!) a list of books to get based on various things he had marked down. Reading these stories always makes me want to stop everything I'm doing and dive headlong into my library or buy some books. Thank you for this inspiration and for how you told it.
My pleasure, Riccardo! Glad you found some inspiration in it. Maintaining a library is half the fun in owning one.
Beautiful room. You and I have similar collections of people like Lewis and Chesterton. But I think my family has around 7000 books or so, spread around the house and a few offices. I’ve lost count. The idea of their being organized is a distant dream. Piles in the floor probably don’t count!
Piles offer the fun of treasure hunting. And 7000 books! That’s a lot of treasure. Congrats!
What I learned from this excellent account is that I need a much bigger house.
Ha! I think this is about as big as I need, but I could always take one more bookcase…
So jealous of your shelves!
That is some library. The shelves themselves look lovely. A good bookshelf is a commitment to acquiring good books to inhabit it.
I never know how many books I should count as part of my library. I have about 175 conventional books fit into my small space, but I also have a number of small booklets contaning valuable information, plus many booklets of sheet music.
I collect books by default. Having found books with valuable information in other corners of the world that are not available here - not even by internet order - of course I am going to carefully keep them. The same applies to unique vintage books no longer in print.
Yes, definitely keep those treasures. I’ve let a few books go over the years and regretted it, alas. Thankfully, not too many.
My much less impressive, though seemingly equally eclectic, digital library: https://www.tomwhitenoise.com/bookshelf
I love that. You’ve got some fantastic reads in that mix, too.
Thank you, Joel!
We actually have 3 “libraries” in our home with maybe 4 to 5 thousand volumes depending upon the ebb and flow. My wife keeps her collection of spiritual and Gaelic language books in her office and in our shared library cum dining room. That room also is home to our collection of fiction (already read favorites), poetry - mostly my collection of the soldier poets and related volumes plus several anthologies of Irish, Scottish, etc. My own working library of almost 4 thousand books is shelved in my office in the basement (which despite my efforts came up about 75 shelf feet short in the face of my wifely insistence on windows and some wall space for maps and pictures). So after 30 years of shuffling book boxes during overseas assignments, I was hopeful that this would be the last time. Our fiction and poetry are generally shelved by author - with anthologies and collections at the beginning of the section. My working library of military history and theory books are shelved in several groupings with uniform references, army and regimental histories grouped by nation in alphabetical order. Then general military reference volumes, military philosophers and theorists in rough chronological order, followed by groups of works focused on branches of service such as infantry, cavalry and tanks, artillery, air, naval. The main body of military histories are shelved chronologically. With more books still than shelf space, I tried to put books oiled have yet to read in view and shelve what I’ve already read behind them when possible.
Man, that sounds fantastic.
Is there One favorite military book title of yours that you could share that you’d highly recommend people read?
I could only recommend one if we narrowed it down to a more specific topic within military history or theory. I read Clausewitz at the Naval War College and am a big fan, but it took me years after that and several tries to get through Jomini’s Art of War. Sun Tzu is of course worth reading but it’s mainly about which edition works best for you - most of them still use the same single translation by Samuel Griffiths. I prefer my military history reading to present the points of view of both sides, which fortunately has become easier to access as we get farther past the events.
Have you read the books Achilles In Vietnam and Odysseus in America? Both are by Jonathan Shay, M.D., and address combat trauma through the lens of Homeric hymns and epic poetry.
The author won a MacArthur Genius Grant for the first book, and though difficult to read, they have much to teach about not only the experiences of Vietnam veterans but also veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Thanks for your recommendations!
I actually have a copy among my collection on that theme across history, but I haven’t fitted it into my current reading yet. Usually, I’m reading things for particular topical research, plus one or two titles of fiction for relief. Right now I’m focusing on the end of WW2 up through 1950 but one of my escapes from that is Ernie Pyle’s book about his visit to England in late 1940-41 before the US entered the war.
WWII is an inexhaustible trove of literary treasure! Personally, I also enjoy Ernie Pyle’s perspective.
One additional bit about Dr. Jonathan Shay that speaks to your own War College experience is that in 2001 he served as Visiting Scholar-at-Large at the U.S. Naval War College. And, thanks much again!
What a beautiful space your library is. I like the two big and comfortable chairs - one for you, and one for a friend as you share books and stories.
Thanks! My wife designed the space.
🤔 https://open.substack.com/pub/incidentalcomics/p/i-will-judge-you-by-your-bookshelf?r=3hbwv8&utm_medium=ios
Hah! That’s perfect. Thanks for sharing it!
Enjoyable read. I wonder how many looked closely at the pics to see if they had any of the same 📚 books? ✋🏻
I love doing that, too!
Soon to read Vodolazkin’s Lauris on your recommendation. Looking forward to it. After decades of nonfiction, I’m catching up on great fiction lit that I missed and find I’m learning more about myself and fellow neighbors through these wonderful classics than all the nonfiction I read. I, too, put them in chronological order and found that very illuminating!! And then there is the 3x6’ bookcase of TBR.
I’m pretty selective about what I keep (all of my Wendell Berry, Oconnor, and Leif Enger for example). Making room for these new authors soon to be declared classic like Enger, Berry, Vodolazkin, Towles, Morrison, etc)
The rest go in my Little Free Library in my front yard or to my favorite nonprofit thrift store.
One thing I discovered that has been a joy: books I never would have picked up but read because someone I admired spoke highly of them have become some of my favorite reads. So thanks for all you do. Looking forward to your new book!!
I’d love to install a Free Library in my yard. I hope you enjoy Laurus. It’s a trip.
My question is who cleans and dusts all those books.
Well, I don’t do it much. I dust the shelves themselves when I think they need it but mostly let the books either fend for themselves or manage the issue through their regular shuffling around.
I thought I read the word purge....you meant add right?
LOL. Yes, both!
Not surprised to see your collection of Sowell. I heard a few allusions to Sowell truths in this piece!
He’s been living in the back of my mind (and sometimes the front) since my teens.
If you haven’t already done it, please write a post on Sowell. I’d love to read it.