Since I started reading your Substack two months ago, this is the best post you’ve published (all the others were good too, of course). I started building a personal library in college over 17 years ago and I haven’t looked back. Now, I’ve got roughly 3,500 books, and I love them all. The biggest ongoing fight between me and my wife has been the amount of money I’ve spent -- and continue to spend -- on books. That, and the adjacent problem of not having enough space to keep them all.
What’s ironic about my obsessive love for books and reading is that, as a child and adolescent, I struggled to learn to read. My parents sent me to several special tutors as a child, but nothing seemed to help. Then, one day my freshmen year of college, I had this deep pull to pick up a book and start reading. From that moment 17 years ago until today, I’ve mostly lived with my face planted between the covers of a book. Books have changed my life. They’ve opened doors of opportunity I never imagined were possible for me as a struggling student. Looking back, I firmly believe reading was an unexpected gift given to me by God. I have no clue why He did it, but I’m grateful every day that He did. I can’t image my life without books.
Thanks for writing this; reading it has made my day.
What an amazing story, and thank God! I’m with you on being unable to imagine my life without books. Everything I think and believe and do has been influenced by what I’ve read.
What a joy it was to read this post! I am a lover of tangible books - one my favourite places was a recycling depot that had a wall of shelves filled with books that were destined for garbage, but were given a short reprieve in case anyone wanted them. As a homeschooler this was a treasure trove for our family; my children would joyfully return to those shelves every week and would come across incredible finds (one was an original1867 civil war poetry book, and my favourite was a 1st edition Count of Monte Cristo).
We continued to add to our library over the last decade from various book and garage sales and have 17 book shelves in our home. Each comes with a different flavour: classics, children's books, history, reference, modern classics, Tolkien and Dickens get their entire own shelves....
We also built a small library box outside our house, where people can take and bring books:)
One of the reasons for building a personal library I would add to your list is that tangible books do not change; they don't get altered, censored, or deleted. I noted that the selection in public libraries is getting more and more narrow, focusing in modern or trendy topics, leaving classics in the dust because they might contain a theme or phase that is fallen out of favour. Thus having our personal library preserves access to tradition and history that is fading away from public view.
"One of the reasons for building a personal library I would add to your list is that tangible books do not change; they don't get altered, censored, or deleted."
Wonderful essay. A keeper because it explains me. One I’ll share often because it is good to know others can understand you.
Wine connoisseurs, Master Gardeners, Art collectors and classic automobiles (ok, so I’m getting out of the middle class a little) but our passions expose our hearts and add richness to our lives.
I’m working on writing a small note to leave in each one...why I kept it, what it meant to me or how it influenced the world. I will keep only the very best in the interest of time and space. When I’m gone, I hope people will browse my library like photo albums at a memorial and then take home a little part of me...and pass that on to someone they love one day.
I love the idea of having a note that explains why you keep it. I just received a book of poems my grandfather kept by his typewriter. My aunt sent it to me. He didn’t leave any information about the book—though we all knew he loved the author, Thomas Wolfe—but I’ll cherish the note my aunt included when she sent it to me. It’s tucked inside where it’ll stay for however long I possess the book, and I’m assuming that’s roughly as long as I live :)
I grew up with thousands of books in my home, and one of my challenges with culling my own library is considering my children. My father kept a whole collection of classic literature (those black Penguin editions) in his library, in addition to copious nonfiction. I loved browsing and discovering those books in my house ... what if I culled a book that would interest my children, even if I decided I didn't need it for myself?
That is a real conundrum. I often face it. Sometimes I just box stuff up and stash it someplace else in the house knowing I’ll come back to it later—or maybe the kids will want it then.
Schröder’s attic...amazing! I’m culling my library these days. There’s just too many, I’m out of space, and when I kick the bucket who’s going to deal with all of it. Of course I didn’t say that I am halting book purchases!😀
Guardian writers live in a parallel universe. I take very little of what they seriously. My wife and I have a huge library and what we love about it is not only having information and enjoyment at our fingertips, but serendipity. Sometimes we'll look at a shelf and think Oh, I'd forgotten we had this, or I think I'll dip into this for a while. I like your office. I have to redesign my own once decorating has been completed. Looking at your shelves has given me ideas. Are the shelves custom designed, and is it a box design attached to the wall for stability, or shelves attached to the wall?
Serendipity is underrated! I love that feature of my home library. I find things at random from time to time and note odd connections to a current concern; it’s a delightful experience.
We had a cabinet maker build the cases. They are standalone units made to fit in the space; he attached them to the walls. I only wish I had a little more space in the room for a few more linear feet!
I bought a tall bookcase at a garage sale when I was in high school with the goal of beginning my own personal library. Now it stands in my 12 year olds bedroom completely covered with graphic novels and picture books and cook books. ❤️❤️ (my books are everywhere else in the house! Lol)
Perhaps, I thought, friends and neighbors might begin by erecting an empty bookcase in their homes. Where shelves come first, books are sure to follow. Nature abhors a vacuum, we are reminded. Clutter and mail must be attacked like weeds threatening a garden for this to work. Experience the inevitable flourishing of the growing library. Trips to old bookstores become like visits to a nursery.
The small press magazine/fanzine Portable Storage published "The Library of a Lifetime," the story of my library of (now) about 4,500 books. I date the beginning of my library construction to February 4, 1967, when I was 11 years old and bought the Whitman Classic edition of The War of the Worlds. Because of some records I kept, I was able, around age 66, to estimate how much money I had spent on my library throughout around 55 years.
Wait, what?! Is that *seriously* your own library?! OK, I’m officially crying 🥹 😢 - with envy. Holy smokes, that’s so awesome, and so beautiful (“a thing of joy...” ya know). Book 📚 goals! Shelf goals, too! 😍😍
I enjoyed reading this! My husband and I will often talk about what we’ll do when we retire and one thing we are both looking forward to is organizing our home library. I think it’s at top of our list!
I moved across the country in 1990 with about 2.5 tons (yes, tons) of books. I moved locally in 1991 and 2003.stable since then and my library has grown considerably. Some years ago, Walter Boyne, ex head of the Smithsonian Aviation Museum and acclaimed author downsized his collection, donating large parts to the College Park Aviation Museum. In their ensuing sale, many came home with me. I am still trying to incorporate them as I am out of bookshelf space. I have three large bookcases that were built inside in an apartment in Germany leased by a former landlord. He acquired them and years later I got them. They are full and I have to make new space somehow.
Since I started reading your Substack two months ago, this is the best post you’ve published (all the others were good too, of course). I started building a personal library in college over 17 years ago and I haven’t looked back. Now, I’ve got roughly 3,500 books, and I love them all. The biggest ongoing fight between me and my wife has been the amount of money I’ve spent -- and continue to spend -- on books. That, and the adjacent problem of not having enough space to keep them all.
What’s ironic about my obsessive love for books and reading is that, as a child and adolescent, I struggled to learn to read. My parents sent me to several special tutors as a child, but nothing seemed to help. Then, one day my freshmen year of college, I had this deep pull to pick up a book and start reading. From that moment 17 years ago until today, I’ve mostly lived with my face planted between the covers of a book. Books have changed my life. They’ve opened doors of opportunity I never imagined were possible for me as a struggling student. Looking back, I firmly believe reading was an unexpected gift given to me by God. I have no clue why He did it, but I’m grateful every day that He did. I can’t image my life without books.
Thanks for writing this; reading it has made my day.
What an amazing story, and thank God! I’m with you on being unable to imagine my life without books. Everything I think and believe and do has been influenced by what I’ve read.
Tolle lege!
What a joy it was to read this post! I am a lover of tangible books - one my favourite places was a recycling depot that had a wall of shelves filled with books that were destined for garbage, but were given a short reprieve in case anyone wanted them. As a homeschooler this was a treasure trove for our family; my children would joyfully return to those shelves every week and would come across incredible finds (one was an original1867 civil war poetry book, and my favourite was a 1st edition Count of Monte Cristo).
We continued to add to our library over the last decade from various book and garage sales and have 17 book shelves in our home. Each comes with a different flavour: classics, children's books, history, reference, modern classics, Tolkien and Dickens get their entire own shelves....
We also built a small library box outside our house, where people can take and bring books:)
One of the reasons for building a personal library I would add to your list is that tangible books do not change; they don't get altered, censored, or deleted. I noted that the selection in public libraries is getting more and more narrow, focusing in modern or trendy topics, leaving classics in the dust because they might contain a theme or phase that is fallen out of favour. Thus having our personal library preserves access to tradition and history that is fading away from public view.
Thanks again for your post!
"One of the reasons for building a personal library I would add to your list is that tangible books do not change; they don't get altered, censored, or deleted."
Yes!! So important.
Wonderful essay. A keeper because it explains me. One I’ll share often because it is good to know others can understand you.
Wine connoisseurs, Master Gardeners, Art collectors and classic automobiles (ok, so I’m getting out of the middle class a little) but our passions expose our hearts and add richness to our lives.
I’m working on writing a small note to leave in each one...why I kept it, what it meant to me or how it influenced the world. I will keep only the very best in the interest of time and space. When I’m gone, I hope people will browse my library like photo albums at a memorial and then take home a little part of me...and pass that on to someone they love one day.
I love the idea of having a note that explains why you keep it. I just received a book of poems my grandfather kept by his typewriter. My aunt sent it to me. He didn’t leave any information about the book—though we all knew he loved the author, Thomas Wolfe—but I’ll cherish the note my aunt included when she sent it to me. It’s tucked inside where it’ll stay for however long I possess the book, and I’m assuming that’s roughly as long as I live :)
I grew up with thousands of books in my home, and one of my challenges with culling my own library is considering my children. My father kept a whole collection of classic literature (those black Penguin editions) in his library, in addition to copious nonfiction. I loved browsing and discovering those books in my house ... what if I culled a book that would interest my children, even if I decided I didn't need it for myself?
That is a real conundrum. I often face it. Sometimes I just box stuff up and stash it someplace else in the house knowing I’ll come back to it later—or maybe the kids will want it then.
Love those black Penguin editions from the 1960s or so. I have even dreamed of finding a new one -- Early Medieval Love Lyrics.
Schröder’s attic...amazing! I’m culling my library these days. There’s just too many, I’m out of space, and when I kick the bucket who’s going to deal with all of it. Of course I didn’t say that I am halting book purchases!😀
I regularly cull, but also regularly add :)
I think that’s just part of being an engaged reader, right? That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
You left one out: to make other readers jealous of your office!
LOL. One more you’ll appreciate: As sound baffling for podcast recording!
Exactly! I used to use a sound booth. But books are way more fun!
I am also quite envious.
Guardian writers live in a parallel universe. I take very little of what they seriously. My wife and I have a huge library and what we love about it is not only having information and enjoyment at our fingertips, but serendipity. Sometimes we'll look at a shelf and think Oh, I'd forgotten we had this, or I think I'll dip into this for a while. I like your office. I have to redesign my own once decorating has been completed. Looking at your shelves has given me ideas. Are the shelves custom designed, and is it a box design attached to the wall for stability, or shelves attached to the wall?
Serendipity is underrated! I love that feature of my home library. I find things at random from time to time and note odd connections to a current concern; it’s a delightful experience.
We had a cabinet maker build the cases. They are standalone units made to fit in the space; he attached them to the walls. I only wish I had a little more space in the room for a few more linear feet!
Delightful indeed! Thanks. Were hoping to do something similar with a carpenter
I bought a tall bookcase at a garage sale when I was in high school with the goal of beginning my own personal library. Now it stands in my 12 year olds bedroom completely covered with graphic novels and picture books and cook books. ❤️❤️ (my books are everywhere else in the house! Lol)
Love that!
Perhaps, I thought, friends and neighbors might begin by erecting an empty bookcase in their homes. Where shelves come first, books are sure to follow. Nature abhors a vacuum, we are reminded. Clutter and mail must be attacked like weeds threatening a garden for this to work. Experience the inevitable flourishing of the growing library. Trips to old bookstores become like visits to a nursery.
Absolutely. An empty bookcase is a travesty—or an opportunity!
I need to count our books. I also need to install another shelf.
Thought you might enjoy this: https://literaryreview.co.uk/a-battery-of-bookmen
Thanks, Terry. This is great!
It's always nice to know that compared to some people we are reasonably sane!
The small press magazine/fanzine Portable Storage published "The Library of a Lifetime," the story of my library of (now) about 4,500 books. I date the beginning of my library construction to February 4, 1967, when I was 11 years old and bought the Whitman Classic edition of The War of the Worlds. Because of some records I kept, I was able, around age 66, to estimate how much money I had spent on my library throughout around 55 years.
https://efanzines.com/PortableStorage/PortableStorage-07.pdf
I hope some readers here will enjoy this essay. The Washington Post's Michael Dirda liked it, mentioning it in one of his columns.
The Guardian piece was sad. After all, as the Anthony Powell character said, “books do furnish a room!”
I know. Pathetic, really. Thoughtlessly provocative.
Wait, what?! Is that *seriously* your own library?! OK, I’m officially crying 🥹 😢 - with envy. Holy smokes, that’s so awesome, and so beautiful (“a thing of joy...” ya know). Book 📚 goals! Shelf goals, too! 😍😍
Thanks! My wife designed it. I just filled it :)
I enjoyed reading this! My husband and I will often talk about what we’ll do when we retire and one thing we are both looking forward to is organizing our home library. I think it’s at top of our list!
I moved across the country in 1990 with about 2.5 tons (yes, tons) of books. I moved locally in 1991 and 2003.stable since then and my library has grown considerably. Some years ago, Walter Boyne, ex head of the Smithsonian Aviation Museum and acclaimed author downsized his collection, donating large parts to the College Park Aviation Museum. In their ensuing sale, many came home with me. I am still trying to incorporate them as I am out of bookshelf space. I have three large bookcases that were built inside in an apartment in Germany leased by a former landlord. He acquired them and years later I got them. They are full and I have to make new space somehow.