You are in good company having a library of unread books, which some refer to as an anti-library. I have several unread books myself, both e-books and hard copies. If you do a Google search on anti-library you'll find references to several authors who have 'curated' a library of unread books. The rationale is that it can be a useful resource for research and writing, you can discover new ideas by connecting books across themes and it helps you realize that seeing what you don't know may be more valuable than what you do know.
I plan to start reading my unread books 'tomorrow' (although tomorrow may be getting over-booked). But today, like many of you have noted, I'm busy reading other shiny books that were recommended or that I found browsing at the library. Just today, I picked up an old book off a table at church, left by somebody who was cleaning out their home library.
I have never heard the phrase anti-library! How interesting. I plan to start reading my unread books "tomorrow," too, (after I get to that other book I just checked out from the library...and so it goes :)
All the books I own are books I really do want to read (or thought I did when I bought them), but given my reading pace versus the quantity of books, plus the fact that I keep adding MORE books, I think it’s mathematically impossible. But part of the fun for me is the collecting, and having options to pick from!
One of my goals for this year is to get my TBR pile down to 30 books or less (I started with about 80ish?) and I am ... not making great progress so far, mostly because I keep adding new books on Libby and apparently I have a very large "ooh, new book!" bias when it comes to books.
I've gotten better about not keeping as many books since my house is small and we only have so much shelving, so now if you see a book on my shelf it either means that I loved it and it is one of my all time favorites or that I've never read it. There's no middle ground on my shelves any more, for better or worse.
I like having books on my shelves, especially ones I've already read and feel I want to keep, but I do have piles of books I haven't read and, to be honest, sometimes they give me anxiety! They kind of taunt me? At one point I donated a bunch of books I hadn't read that I knew I wasn't going to read any time soon and I felt a lot lighter.
Ok, just added all those Maira Kalman videos to my watch list!! Thank you for introducing us!
Also, I definitely have so many books on my shelves that I haven't read, and I'm fine with that. I'm in a small apartment, so I am trying to be at least a *little* bit better at swapping books on the shelves when I get new one, rather than *only* adding, but...there's always room for more books, right?
Your post has PERFECT timing! My one-word theme for March is VORACIOUS and I spend the month reading my shelves with my community. I created a bookshelf printable to document the books we currently own, decide which we want to read and then come together for a literary society meeting at the end of the month. It's my favorite March tradition!
I have so many books I haven’t read (including Bittersweet!). I think I keep them for the possibility that I will read them, for the longing and hope. In every room there’s a story I could fall into…if I choose.
I think reading books differs from researches. I can read books at home with a cup of tea but researches require from me to go the library and study there.
That’s wonderful article and lovely ideas you offer. Let me share my experience as a person got a MSc from a Uk university in Manchester. They taught us to read and study in an academic way and take a certain technique to absorb the information of researches. The way to read start to focus on the abstract, the research methodology, the hypothesis and the sort of data, the kind of statistical test that the researchers use. So there are some crucial areas we should stop at it while other ones we can pass them by skimming and scanning.
You are in good company having a library of unread books, which some refer to as an anti-library. I have several unread books myself, both e-books and hard copies. If you do a Google search on anti-library you'll find references to several authors who have 'curated' a library of unread books. The rationale is that it can be a useful resource for research and writing, you can discover new ideas by connecting books across themes and it helps you realize that seeing what you don't know may be more valuable than what you do know.
I plan to start reading my unread books 'tomorrow' (although tomorrow may be getting over-booked). But today, like many of you have noted, I'm busy reading other shiny books that were recommended or that I found browsing at the library. Just today, I picked up an old book off a table at church, left by somebody who was cleaning out their home library.
I have never heard the phrase anti-library! How interesting. I plan to start reading my unread books "tomorrow," too, (after I get to that other book I just checked out from the library...and so it goes :)
All the books I own are books I really do want to read (or thought I did when I bought them), but given my reading pace versus the quantity of books, plus the fact that I keep adding MORE books, I think it’s mathematically impossible. But part of the fun for me is the collecting, and having options to pick from!
This is exactly me!
One of my goals for this year is to get my TBR pile down to 30 books or less (I started with about 80ish?) and I am ... not making great progress so far, mostly because I keep adding new books on Libby and apparently I have a very large "ooh, new book!" bias when it comes to books.
I've gotten better about not keeping as many books since my house is small and we only have so much shelving, so now if you see a book on my shelf it either means that I loved it and it is one of my all time favorites or that I've never read it. There's no middle ground on my shelves any more, for better or worse.
I, too, have a very large "ooh, new book!" bias :)))
I like having books on my shelves, especially ones I've already read and feel I want to keep, but I do have piles of books I haven't read and, to be honest, sometimes they give me anxiety! They kind of taunt me? At one point I donated a bunch of books I hadn't read that I knew I wasn't going to read any time soon and I felt a lot lighter.
They kindof taunt me too sometimes, and even though I love having books all around me, taking a load to the library DOES feel good!
Ok, just added all those Maira Kalman videos to my watch list!! Thank you for introducing us!
Also, I definitely have so many books on my shelves that I haven't read, and I'm fine with that. I'm in a small apartment, so I am trying to be at least a *little* bit better at swapping books on the shelves when I get new one, rather than *only* adding, but...there's always room for more books, right?
I'm always trying to swap out books too, but yes, I just think there's always room for more!?! It sparks joy :)
Your post has PERFECT timing! My one-word theme for March is VORACIOUS and I spend the month reading my shelves with my community. I created a bookshelf printable to document the books we currently own, decide which we want to read and then come together for a literary society meeting at the end of the month. It's my favorite March tradition!
Oh wow, this is very cool!
I have so many books I haven’t read (including Bittersweet!). I think I keep them for the possibility that I will read them, for the longing and hope. In every room there’s a story I could fall into…if I choose.
Oh, I really love that! The possibility feels so good and hopeful.
1. I think someone else will want to read the book.
2. I love seeing all the books on my shelves.
me too :)
I think reading books differs from researches. I can read books at home with a cup of tea but researches require from me to go the library and study there.
That’s wonderful article and lovely ideas you offer. Let me share my experience as a person got a MSc from a Uk university in Manchester. They taught us to read and study in an academic way and take a certain technique to absorb the information of researches. The way to read start to focus on the abstract, the research methodology, the hypothesis and the sort of data, the kind of statistical test that the researchers use. So there are some crucial areas we should stop at it while other ones we can pass them by skimming and scanning.