Are you buying too many books? If so, then you are not alone. We live in an age where there is more to choose from than ever before, and people are buying them left and right without taking the time to read the ones already on their shelves. This is called “tsundoku” (積ん読), a Japanese term that means buying books and letting them pile up unread. Think of it as buying too many groceries without ever getting around to cooking-or buying so many clothes you never have the chance to wear them.
Now, tsundoku might sound like a bad thing at first glance. After all, bookstores are struggling to stay afloat, and so are publishers. However, buying more books allows bookstores, authors, and readers to keep their businesses thriving-whether you read the book or not.
Of course, buying too many books will clutter your house, but it can also help support your favorite author’s career-even if they never reach the bestseller list. Buying more books is an excellent excuse to spend more time at the bookstore, where you can meet new people and have intellectual discussions about your favorite titles.
I know buying too many books might sound like a bad thing, but there are benefits for readers, authors, and bookstores alike. Here are five reasons why buying too many books is not such a bad thing after all:
Owning More Books Than You Can Read a Sign of Intelligence and Ambition
When you buy more books than you can read, you demonstrate your passion for learning new things. This will make you feel intelligent and ambitious-even if it isn’t immediately apparent where that knowledge will come from.
A few months ago, I bought two bags of books at a used bookstore because the prices were just too reasonable to pass up. I got most of my books for under $5. Yet, every time I look at them on my shelf, I feel competent and ambitious-and ready to learn something new.
Buying more books than you can read is not just an act that makes you feel intelligent; it also helps your career growth because it keeps your interest in your field piqued. Having a vast array of titles allows you to jump from topic to topic without running out of books to read. For instance, buying more books would help historians learn about the world’s religions and old civilizations and then tell that story in their next book or paper. Additionally, buying more books could help a mathematician get inspired to write an entire article about one equation, which they would then send off to be peer-reviewed. I could go on all day with examples like these.
Books Are Like Friends That Never Leave Your Side
When buying more books than you can read, you purchase infinite friends who never leave your side. If the amount of friends you have says something about who you are, buying too many books is a sign of brilliant social skills-or at least an excellent book finder’s abilities. After all, buying too many books is how I found out about tsundoku in the first place.
Readers who buy more books than they could ever read may find it odd when someone questions their buying habits-as if buying too many books is an equally useful hobby as buying just one or two. However, buying too many books comes with its own set of drawbacks: not only can you forget about buying groceries for a few months, but you can also forget which books you already have when it comes time to return a borrowed one.
Reading Encourages Creativity and Imagination
Reading opens your mind to new things, which encourages you to use your creativity more often. When buying books for their illustrations or titles, readers are encouraged to give new ideas a shot-whether it’s impressing friends with an unexpected cocktail recipe or buying a book of short stories because of the cover art.
You never know when being creative will lead to your next great idea.
Reading Encourages Creativity and Imagination
Everyone loves buying books, regardless of whether you read them or not. Buying too many books can almost feel like buying a piece of art that hangs on your wall because every book is a piece of work from another person.
When buying too many books, you buy into the people who made them possible because you can see them at book signings or meetups with other readers. This buying experience encourages readers to consider buying even more books to feel connected to authors and other fans alike.
Reading Improves Memory by Making Connections Between New Information and Pre-existing Knowledge
It turns out buying too many books is not only the best way to make you feel intelligent; it also makes you smarter by strengthening your memory. Buying more books than you will ever read is beneficial because buying books encourage readers to engage with new information-and; this practice helps readers remember new things better.
For instance, buying a cookbook about foolproof lasagna makes readers more likely to remember the correct cooking time and temperature. Also, purchasing a book about making new friends before moving to another city might make it easier for readers to create new connections.
Whether you’re buying too many books or just buying one, buying books is always worth your time. There are so many books to choose from these days, so buying a few different books is the only way you’ll ever be able to find your next favorite read.
In Conclusion
I have been buying more books than I can read since coming across this strange activity known as tsundoku. Now that I know buying too many books is an engaging hobby, I want to suggest buying more books as a way for my coworkers to improve their buying experiences.
After all, buying too many books is a sign of healthy social skills and a great way to grow your creativity. So the next time someone questions buying too many books, tell them it’s not tsundoku-it’s tsundeBook!