Is it possible to have too many books?

Yeah, I have that dilemma. My solution? Get mentally ill and stop reading. I haven’t read a novel in a year, I think, and I’ve only read about three or four in the last three years.

Here’s another solution—instead of reading, fluther!

Yes, I have had to deal with this. Fortunately, moving intervened. That forced us to go through the books, sell a bunch, give a bunch away.

You could put some of the books in crates and find a place to store them. Let’s face it, you like your books, so you got to keep them because…You’ve grown emotionally attached to them somehow. There just books, out with the old, so you can bring in the new. Donate half to a thrift store.

Not for me. I love having books around me (and I have many of all kinds). I love them a lot more than books I download on my iPad.

You can always use them to make furniture out of, and then sell your furniture. Hehe. Stack them up to make a coffee table and just put a glass top on top of them. Make ottomans out of them. Stack a row of them up in a boring old corner so that it’s not so empty. Stuff like that.

Books are like wallpaper. 99% of the books on my shelves will never be looked at again. They are more a collection than something living. But I like having them around. It makes me feel learned. Even if they are all science fiction. For God’s sake! I still have all my old college textbooks from thirty years ago – as out of date as they are.

The thought of “too many books” has never even occurred to me. Books are my cocaine. My oxygen.

The books that I buy are like family members. Well, maybe not that extreme, but they are certainly not wall ornaments. I revisit my collection often – if only to reference a statement. Just yesterday, for example, my husband and I were talking about how lame modern romantic vampires are, and we whipped out both Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” and “Dracula: A Biography of Vlad Tepes” for talking points.

I had a teacher once who was also a bibliophile. After he filled up his house with books, and then his garage, he lined the walls of his classroom with books. I was privileged to be exposed to some incredible reads thanks to him.

My husband seems to think that there is such a thing as too many books. I have a system where I’ll buy a bookshelf and as soon as I start double shelving more than 3 shelves I buy a new bookcase. I have yet to run out of room but I suspect that may happen soon. I buy the biggest shelves I can at Ikea.

There is no such thing as too many books. I love books. I don’t know what the solution is – storage? more shelves? All I know is that you can’t get rid!

Well it is true what they say, too many books spoil th….....ah, oh dear I seem to have made a slight boo boo….do carry on.

impossible. keep reading my friend, keep on reading

When you give-up food, clothing and shelter to buy books, you have gone too far.

Just last week I told my wife we only had space for about 4 more books on our shelves. She said, “just go to the library”. In a way I agree. The value of a book is in the reading of it not in displaying it. They just amount to more stuff. Yet, still I buy. I’m a sucker, I guess.

No, it is not possible.

I want to say no.. because I agree with everyone else that loves their books. I suppose if they are taking over your life or you feel it’s becoming a problem, then yes. I’m sure it applies as any other potential addiction. Do friends and family complain? Do you have enough space to actually walk in your home? As long as your priorities are in line – I think you’re fine.

You can never have too many books. “Quoque plures libri quod parum vicis.”*

*Too many books, too little time.

No… I buy ten books every payday at Goodwill for my daughter. She loves them and she is learning. I read a new book every night. It’s our mom and daughter time. I wish I had more to time to read. I don’t.

Best. Addiction. Ever.
No, it’s not possible to have too many books – that is antithetical to my household’s philosophy.

No, you can’t have too many books. I have book shelves in every room in my house, except the bathrooms. In the computer room – which most people would call the living room – one entire wall is nothing but book shelves, and there are two huge cabinets in that room filled with books.

My bedside stands are filled with books, there are book shelves standing on top of my chests of drawers, clear up to the ceiling. Most of my closets have boxes of books all along the floor. I once made the mistake of storing books on the overhead shelf of the closet, but it fell down.

I had to buck it up and give a lot to the library and Goodwill. Many I will keep Forever.

i have many books, i have to fight myself not to buy books now (usually buy them from Costco) because i have a baby and a small house, and little room. sometimes i can’t resist buying them, but i really don’t have room for them.

Yes and no. It’s not possible to acquire too many. But it is possible to retain too many—as you see.

I am physically incapable of throwing books away, no matter how worthless they are, and some are. What works for me (under duress, such as when piles start to topple or I can’t get into a room) is (a) to place the likeliest sellers in Amazon Marketplace, making sure I cover my mailing costs and that’s about it, (b) to give them away to somebody who actually wants them, and (c, and very rarely) to get in on some kind of a yard sale or quasi-sale where people will choose them and carry them away in exchange for actual money.

I have also occasionally remembered to carry an armload to the writers’ club meeting and put them out on the “free” table.

Hospitals, institutions, and halfway houses can use books. Libraries can sell them as fund-raisers. There’s also BookCrossing.

A few times I have placed a cardboard boxfull out at the curb with a large sign ‘FREE’ on it. They disappear within a day, especially if there are children’s books in there.

No. Well, yes. Everytime I moved I had to offload boxes and boxes and boxes of books.

No. Books are my babies—forget kids. If you love books, surround yourself by them. Put them in all the random spots in your house, and if you have anymore room in your house for more shelves, put some more in. Eventually you’ll have the opportunity to move into a larger place, but until then, immerse yourself with them. ^_^

I have the same bug. I love books. I get the fluff books from the 55 (my hubby plays bridge there) and trade them back and forth. But I have at least 20 here at any one tie. I have shelves and shelves and plastic boxes and plastic boxes of them.
I know some that I have are not well written and did/do not increase my intellect or enjoyment in any way. So those have to go. Ok I filled a small grocery sack now what do I do with the rest !!!!
Guess I should try @Jeruba Free ideas.

I only seem to cull my collection when I move across country so I guess I’m in trouble…no plans to move. I buy, I read, I re-read, I library, I have entire series that are “mac and cheese” reading…but I digress. I think I’ll tattoo @Jeruba ‘s suggestion onto myself… I might get motivated!

No, it is entirely impossible to have too many books. That’s like saying you can have too much chocolate… just impossible!

Is it possible to have too many books?
No

I love to read & I have a house full of books. However, my books do not get read once & put on a shelf to never be touched again – I frequently go back & re-read my books & I will often find that I discover something I either over-looked the first time I read it, or something that I now recognize from a different angle. You can never be bored with a house full of books!!

I don’t think it’s possible to have too many books. I have bookshelves with books stacked in front of each other just to make room. My husband might disagree though (since he has to do most of the lifting of those books when we move). He just bought me a Kindle for my birthday, so perhaps that was a hint.

I have this problem too. I counted all my books on all 5 of my bookshelves (a two shelf, 2 three shelves with books on top, and a big 5 shelf) and I came up with a total of 334(+). I keep telling myself to read these books but instead I always go to the library and get more. I don’t think it’s possible to have too many but it is possible to have what you don’t need. I would suggest keeping them neat and the ones that you have read and won’t read again, take to a used book store. I have one less than a mile or so from my house so when I get done reading a book I take it to them and I get credit so i can buy books there cheaper.

My friend I honestly think, that if having to many books is a problem then its a wonderful problem. Maybe a storage unit? or if you need a little extra cash sell some of the books to a second hand store. It sounds like you can always buy more. :)

if i had a house built (fantasy) it would have a big library and lots of built in shelves. if you’re ever home in a snowstorm or home sick it’s great to have a variety to choose from.

Many of these must go to make room for the multitude stacked in boxes about the house. Want some?

One of my greatest book finds was a big box of books at a garage sale in the genre I prefer, for $5.00. Took me two months to get through them all!

My grandson’s response to the books

When it gets to the point where a “Hoarders” crew shows up on your doorstep with cameras, or your spouse gives an ultimatum, then, yes, there might be too many books.

If you really need to part with some, just take it slowly. I’ve taken my sister’s and fiancé‘s advice:
* If you haven’t touched it in ~10 years, it can probably go.
* If you can find the answer on the internet, it can probably go.
* If you can get it at the library, it can probably go.

If you haven’t touched it in 10 years, it’s time to read it again!

Not if it is “Scarlett” by Alexandra Ripley. What a bunch of hooey. I can still hear Margaret Mitchell rolling around in her grave.

@Pied_Pfeffer Yeah, I got rid of that one. It was OK, though, but not a keeper IMO.

@Dutchess_III Thanks for sharing that picture. My grandson, age 3 is starting to read now, and he say’s “Grandma, I find the book I can read.”

@Dutchess_III Priceless! Especially because the books are upside-down. :-)

Bookshelf Porn

@Dr_Dredd Yeah!

@Seek_Kolinahr : What a great site!

Yes, telephone books. Poor trees.

@ratboy what kinds of books are those? (please don’t say they are all computer books) I’m interested.

No.