The DU Lounge
Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsHow many books do you own?
I have a little under 300 right now. I donated 120 to charity and bought 20 over the course of the year. When I buy books, I almost always get them at thirft stores for $1 or $2. I usually read a book a week. Once a month or so, I have been taking my old books to the charity shop so they can resell them.
Downtown Hound
(12,618 posts)kennetha
(3,666 posts)csziggy
(34,137 posts)That is far too full. In fact, with inheriting books and genealogical material from my husband's mother, and inheriting my mother's genealogical stuff, plus furniture and other stuff, we're going to have to add onto our house.<sigh>
dameatball
(7,399 posts)rzemanfl
(29,568 posts)We have an excellent library system.
Xipe Totec
(43,890 posts)What's left ranges from the history of the Soviet Manned Space Program, to the history of Mexico though the centuries, to structural stability of dynamical systems, to the evolution of the nightshade family.
The books I have not donated still hold an emotional attachment for me.
They are my touchstones.
dhol82
(9,353 posts)I have a room I call the library just because its full of books.
I love books and have bought them all my life.
This will be the toughest part of the dismantling of my life.
I hope the local library will be able to take them. Not really sure.
Now I have started the accumulation in the cloud. Its really pathetic.
csziggy
(34,137 posts)The trick is they may not put them into their collection. Any books that they cannot use in their collection will go to the "Friends of the Library" (if there is such an organization) and are sold. The profits from the FOL go into the library's funds.
My sister volunteers at the FOL at her local library. They get a lot, such as Harlequin romances, that cannot be sold. She arranged for a recycling company to take the really bad books and they are recycled to make paper bags. The FOL gets a few cents a hundred pounds for the paper.
I often visit the FOL shop here locally, but my husband does more often. He found some great guide books for Britain that are helping us plan our trip there next year. Depending on your community, the FOL shop can be a great way to find books and support your local library.
dhol82
(9,353 posts)It doesnt bother me if they go to wood pulp. At least they will be of some good for the globe.
RockRaven
(14,998 posts)Also, a lot of them are gifts, and so hold memories beyond just the content.
NNadir
(33,544 posts)I typically download 2 or 3 electronic books a week, sometimes many more, and I routinely download entire issues of several major scientific journals.
I also scan a few books a month in university libraries - including one of the best libraries in the world - depending on my interests at the time, as well as on occasions where my family needs books on particular subjects.
There was a time when I was really well off, and I'd go into used bookstores, usually technical bookstores of a type that are regrettably disappearing, and empty my wallet.
When I was traveling a lot and had read everything I'd carried with me, I'd buy stuff in airport bookstores.
I still have books from when I was a very young man, and I'm old. In fact I still have the first book I ever owned, one my mother read to me when I was a child, a book called "Little Bear."
I'm not big on throwing books away; I've donated a few here and there, and given some away; or had some "borrowed" and never returned, but against the objections of my wife, they're mostly all still here, old friends.
I have to read. If I'm stuck somewhere waiting for something and there's nothing to read, I get all fidgety and anxious.
SeattleVet
(5,479 posts)try https://www.americanradiohistory.com - they have a huge selection of .pdf files from a ton of consumer and industry publications, including complete press runs of some of the items, going way back.
Also, the Internet Archive (https://archive.org) has a massive number of older magazines, journaled publications, and books available for download. Their search feature can be a bit daunting, but the collections are stunning!
NNadir
(33,544 posts)...of these, along with some of the first computer manuals ever listed. He donated them to a university shortly before he died, and they greatly appreciated it.
However, when I referred to "electronic books," I was not referring to books about electronics, but rather books in an electronic format.
Most of my library, electronic or otherwise, consists of technical books about chemistry, physics, math, energy technologies, environmental science and history.
I have only a few books devoted to electronics, mostly about chemical instrumentation.
Thanks.
SeattleVet
(5,479 posts)the Archive also has a LOT of books and other publications and media in your specific areas of interest, and many are available in eBook or Kindle formats.
Another good resource for ebooks is Project Gutenberg, which has downloadable copies of public-access and out-of-copyright books. I recently downloaded and read 'The Worst Journey in the World' by Apsley Cherry-Garrard, his account of his work with the Scott expeditions in Antarctica.
NNadir
(33,544 posts)... I have full access to Princeton University's libraries, though, and there's almost nothing that I want to read that I can't read.
They have an enormous catalog, many publications in electronic format.
I live in reader's paradise.
fierywoman
(7,694 posts)I suppose it's better than being addicted to opioids!
Squinch
(51,004 posts)own, and some books I just need to have and the library doesn't have them. So a 2 foot stack on my night table, and an 8 foot by 4 foot bookshelf. Paperbacks are doubled (two rows of books per shelf.) So however many that is.
Croney
(4,670 posts)so we had thousands. When we stopped selling books, we donated until we got down to our current 200-300. We want to donate half of these. When we die, our kids won't want all these books.
avebury
(10,952 posts)even begin to hazard a guess.
sarge43
(28,945 posts)Cicero, "A room without books is like a body without soul."
sakabatou
(42,174 posts)Ohiogal
(32,057 posts)Three large book shelves all full
One small one full
Boxes of them up in the attic
I have three unabridged dictionaries and two Thesauruses
My husband has about 5 of his old college textbooks
Assorted reference books, novels, etc. etc. I have a whole shelf of Art books. We kept all our kids' favorite children's books, they are all adults now.
I have a hard time getting rid of them.
Laffy Kat
(16,386 posts)I usually keep non-fiction for reference and I always keep literature. That leaves the popular fiction which I do find much easier to give away or donate, EXCEPT if I loved it and may want to read it again. Sigh. Not only that, most of the books I love I like to keep near me, so that means in my bedroom. I need help.
kimbutgar
(21,188 posts)My late parents would always buy me books and they were big readers also. I could open a library between my books and theirs. If they ever come to do a Fahrenheit 451 theyd have a massive bonfire for days.
flotsam
(3,268 posts)I'm gonna recommend a site for used books. Over 100k selections starting at $3.79 band free (sloooow) shipping on orders over $10. Really great when checking into any new hobbies...
https://www.thriftbooks.com/?&mkwid=sboTHVKtA|dc&pcrid=230560015175&pkw=thrift%20books&pmt=e&plc=&pgrid=8775931272&ptaid=kwd-2662590861&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0JO3lObN3gIVyJ6zCh3FbQryEAAYASAAEgJcY_D_BwE
uriel1972
(4,261 posts)Then I had to shift to a unit... 80 maybe now D:
UTUSN
(70,740 posts)The first 30 yrs was an accumulating thing. After that it's been about three life points of culling and divesting/donating, then came the past decade of adjusting to e-things and further diminishing the paper.
Leith
(7,813 posts)Never enough books.
But I have to admit that some of them aren't worth anything any more. I have computer books from the late 1980s.
Counting both traditional and electronic books, I probably have 2,000 ~ 3,000.
lastlib
(23,286 posts)I'd buy that many more, but just don't have the shelf-space to accommodate any more.
Every subject from trigonometry, calculus and algebra to law to politics(!), history, philosophy and economics.
My long-term dream in life is to have a house that can accommodate an office for me, and bookshelves out the wazzooo!
On my wall is a little cartoon I drew in college--a little kid looks up at his dad and says, "When I grow up, I want to be a member of the liberal intellectual establishment!" Yeah. That's me.
OilemFirchen
(7,143 posts)I have twelve copies of The Catcher in the Rye.
Why do you want to know?
greyl
(22,990 posts)OilemFirchen
(7,143 posts)And I've got my eye on another at a local thrift shop.
IrishEyes
(3,275 posts)OilemFirchen
(7,143 posts)These questions are making me nervous.
Duppers
(28,127 posts)Gotta get rid of most of them.
Aristus
(66,462 posts)I have my own in-home library with three large bookcases, and a number of volumes stacked on the floor. (Don't worry, I'm not one of those book-hoarders who leave dusty, musty, untouched volumes in huge piles on the floor, never to be read). I'm just out of room in here.
There is a bookcase in my bedroom, the guest room, the TV room, and the living room. Even two bookcases (partially-filled) out in the garage. The top shelfs of most of the closets in the house hold rows of well-loved, well-cared-for books.
My books are my pride and joy.
exboyfil
(17,865 posts)probably gave away a like number over the years. I just gave the bullk of my comic collection to my nephew. A lot were my dad's as well. I have a huge collection of engineering books, but I gave away most of MBA books. Have started to give away my engineering books as well. Several to my son in law who is also an engineer. Over the Holidays will give away a bunch of my science fiction books. I am waiting for one of nieces or nephews to decide to go into the ministry to give away my theology books. I am proud that I have not bought many physical books over the last couple of years.
fNord
(1,756 posts)But my boyfriend owns a bookstore so........
murielm99
(30,761 posts)I have floor to ceiling bookshelves in one room of my house. There is another wall with bookshelves under the picture window.
There is one book case upstairs. I have gotten rid of a lot of books, too. I am restricting myself to these spaces only for book storage.
shenmue
(38,506 posts)Historic NY
(37,453 posts)couple hundred on cross stacks.
mnhtnbb
(31,402 posts)that burned our house down 11 years ago.
I never got into replacing or buying books again the way I had before the fire. I now use the library a lot more. Occasionally I buy a book.
TEB
(12,880 posts)Hardback and paperback
Tobin S.
(10,418 posts)If I'd saved every book I'd ever read I'd probably have over 1000. I go through stretches in my life where I read about a book a week, and then I'll go through stretches where I don't read much at all. I find that as I age I get more and more into reading.
MissMillie
(38,578 posts)most of them are cookbooks
Harker
(14,034 posts)I left behind a couple thousand of them a year and a half ago when moving 1500 miles cross country.
I spend too much time in the DU lounge, and too little time reading books!
IrishEyes
(3,275 posts)That is one of the reasons that I'm trying to read and donate my books. I want to have less stuff to move. I read a lot on my commute to work since I use public transportation.
Harker
(14,034 posts)I'm not at the "one robe, one bowl" stage, but getting closer.
Good luck on your relocation, when it happens.
Phentex
(16,334 posts)I have several bookcases here and there as well as boxed books waiting to go home with the kids one day. AND a kitchen stuffed with cookbooks that I really need to donate.
The King of Prussia
(737 posts)Thousands, but certainly not as many as 10,000. We're both hoarders so the situation is only going to get worse. But... I feel safe surrounded by books.
Generic Brad
(14,275 posts)I used to have hundreds, but after two interstate moves in the past three years I had to pare down.
Of the two - one I bought at a discount bin to read on a rainy day. The other is a work assignment.
I remain a prolific reader, but I prefer borrowing e-books from my local library. They have a great selection that never seems to end.
eppur_se_muova
(36,289 posts)Mostly nonfiction. Read SF is mostly in storage.
Ranges from cheap, thin Dover paperbacks to professional texts costing an arm and a leg.
If a book contains potentially useful info, I seldom get rid of it. Though at some point I'd like to scan out the bookmarked spots of a lot of them and keep just a page or two on file, then donate the book to the local library.
Luciferous
(6,085 posts)Codeine
(25,586 posts)I purged a bunch a few months back because it was just ridiculous.
Luciferous
(6,085 posts)sure I wouldn't use it. I told him that real books were better but I was wrong, I love it!
Paladin
(28,272 posts)I'd say I own somewhere around 80 to 90 books. It has to be something pretty special for me to buy a hard copy---I've got all of John Irving's novels, all of John Le Carre's, a set of Dickens books, a few Larry McMurtry westerns, all of Molly Ivins' commentary collections, some early Tom Wolfe works, a good-sized dictionary and thesaurus, and a the rest are odds and ends.
Mendocino
(7,505 posts)you in this respect. I have about 500. I have given away about three hundred over the years. I also go to the library very often.
I also have about 400 LPs.
rsdsharp
(9,197 posts)At one time about 12 years ago I had a data base of all the books, by author, title, genre, whether hard cover, soft cover, or paperback, shelf location, and other information. At that point there were about 1200. Unfortunately when we updated Outlook, I couldn't get it to transfer, nor was the new version as easy to develop a template. I couldn't face staring over.
Five years ago we had built-in bookcases installed in the family room (five floor-to-ceiling cases each with seven shelves, all tied together with a face frame and crown molding). That doesn't count numerous other bookcases and shelves around the house. At the time we got the built-ins we donated 5 bankers boxes of books to Planned Parenthood's book sale. I now have another 2 boxes in my car that I haven't gotten around to delivering yet.
In the last five years or so, most of the books I've purchased have been Kindle editions, so shelf space hasn't been as much of an issue.
Doreen
(11,686 posts)To many to fit in my small apartment ( even with a large newly built book case. ) Not enough because I love reading and I had to go over to a tablet because of the bad arthritis in my hands. There are some books that I will still get in hard back to add to some of my loved collections but that will not happen often.
sfwriter
(3,032 posts)I have two book cases of art and oversized books of maps, an ESA stellar catalog that is huge, academic books on history, two shelves of literary books on science fiction, one shelf of books on SETI and one of books on manned spaceflight, two shelves of history of science, one shelf of history of technology, two shelves of local history for Ohio, one shelf and three boxes of cookbooks, one shelf of music and books on musicals, four boxes of RPG gaming books, 15 banker boxes, five long boxes, and six shelves of comics, science fiction, graphic novels, and old Sci Fi magazines, two shelves of reference material, plus assorted other history and fiction.
Additionally, we have about 15 boxes of books we sell at science fiction conventions.
JHan
(10,173 posts)lost count of hardcovers I own ,,, maybe 200
Marthe48
(17,018 posts)I collected for a long time. I have my parents and grandparents, even great-grandparents' books. I bought 11 boxes at an auction for $3. Bought 16 more boxes at a yard sale for $5. That was years ago. People give me books. I give books away, have sold some. I have 2 sets of 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica, the full size and the smaller size. I used to be able to say I had read all the books I owned, but haven't been able to say that for a long time.
Gotta love the books
hibbing
(10,109 posts)When my father died we had to get rid of hundreds and hundreds of books. It is not a fun thing to do, so whoever cleans up when I croak won't have that burden.
Peace
LeftInTX
(25,551 posts)I used to have a bunch, but we started running out of space. So I got rid of lots of them.
I used to read more books too. Now I'm reading less. Ever since I got a smartphone, I spend my doctor appointments watching Netflix and since I can download from Netflix I watch movies on planes.
I've also gotten involved with local politics, which is itself very messy. (Campaign signs, push cards...every week, it was something different, so I would print new labels or get push cards from other candidates...Sounds easy, but a bunch of work, Much more work than blockwalking in 100 degree weather was the prep)
Activism means always making a poster.
The last book I read was I Am Malala
I know my kids aren't going to want campaign signs and push cards!!!!
Brother Buzz
(36,463 posts)I stopped acquiring books a decade ago, and have gotten rid of most. Tops was maybe 600, but a quick count looks like a healthy 200 or so, and every one of them is special in some way.
ProfessorGAC
(65,168 posts)The Bible. Oh wait, i guess that makes it zero!
Kidding of course. I really have no idea, but i'm sure that i have 20 or so less. Long story, but because of office moves several years ago, i lost all my grad school textbooks in chemistry and mathematics in a car break in. The MBA stuff they didn't take.
Worst part of it, is that i know they didn't know what they were taking and those books ended up as kindling for someone's bonfire.
IrishEyes
(3,275 posts)It was given to me a few years ago by a former friend who is happily not in my life anymore. I'm not a christian and I think she was trying to convert me. I don't know whether to keep it or not.
ProfessorGAC
(65,168 posts). . .it would probably be the first choice to use as a doorstep or to put under the leg of a wobbly deck chair.
DiverDave
(4,887 posts)(Big rig) I used to have so many, no room to store other stuff. Now I have Kindle. About 1300 or so...
Codeine
(25,586 posts)Most have been boxed up for years in the garage because I went from a house to a small apartment after a separation. Its a truly ridiculous number that Ive brought under control by transitioning mostly to digital.
hunter
(38,326 posts)We have an entire room set up as a library but the rest of the house is still littered with books and bookshelves.
Electronic books came along just in time, we were running out of space. I don't feel bad about hoarding ebooks.
We do give books away, it's just that more books come into the house than leave. My wife and I both read a lot; it's what we do while most people seem to be watching television. Reading a couple of books a week for more than thirty years really adds up. We were both already hauling around a large number of books when we met, back in the 'eighties.
Then there's our DVD collection... hundreds of them. I think I have more fun browsing through the DVDs in thrift stores than looking for movies on Netflix.
I did convert all our Compact Disc music to computer files a few years ago. They CDs are in boxes in the garage. My wife and I still buy CDs direct from artists we meet in local venues or while traveling, but no big label artists. We can listen to them on the internet.
Codeine
(25,586 posts)for me. Suddenly mounds of books were everywhere when theyre around four or five bucks a piece its hard to say no. I finally had to set a hard and fast rule of no more print books outside of RPG books, and even then Im trying to go 100% ebooks.
All my comics are digital now too. Its surprising how fast a pull list of forty or fifty monthly titles turns into a mess when youre buying in paper.
VOX
(22,976 posts)I glom onto books like an alcoholic grabs a bottle of booze. Signed editions, first editions, antiquarian, 20th Century authors, political books, art books, oddball one-offs, etc.
We had a cabinet maker build shelves in our den, covering three walls -- filled. Three cases in the living room-- filled. A case in the home office --filled. A case in the guest bedroom-- filled. A stack in the master bedroom about three feet high and teetering.
At least most of the books are squared away. But it's finally reached the point where more books means more shelves, so there's been some merciful stasis. For now.
IrishEyes
(3,275 posts)There are tons of bookcases in his house in the living room and bedrooms. There are even bookcase in the dining room. Everything is neat and in order. Dad knows where to find any book he wants. His small office also has bookcases. He is a professor who has been in the same office for decades.
Iggo
(47,565 posts)I've got about a dozen large paperback thingies with chords and licks and scales and such.
But actual books with stories? No mas.
I've got about 50 books on my phone and another couple dozen I think on my tablet.
That's it.
chillfactor
(7,584 posts)I am retired so I read constantly.
liberal N proud
(60,344 posts)We moved last year and the books killed us.
Never counted them.
highplainsdem
(49,034 posts)and I don't like just storing books in boxes.
Plus I read so much online these days I have less time for reading books.
klook
(12,165 posts)I couldn't begin to count them. I've cut back on buying new ones -- no more than 10 or so a year.
underpants
(182,877 posts)It's a dictionary. It has all the other books in it.
Bayard
(22,149 posts)Thank you to the people who have thousands! I think I only have hundreds. Hardbacks. We are still putting up interior walls in our log cabin. One wall will be floor to ceiling book shelves. I probably only have about a hundred here now that I've bought in the past few years, but I have tons of boxes still in storage.
There is a small local book store where you can get 6 or 7 used books in good condition for under $20. I also get the same from Amazon. I inherited a bunch from my sister when she died, and a ton from friends.
Can't wait to get them here. I love my books! Wrapped in a blanket in front of the fire with a cup of hot tea and a good book......one of the joys of life.
IrishEyes
(3,275 posts)I buy used books for a $1 or $2 at the local charity thrift stores. I also donate books to them as well.