15 votes

Tsundoku: The art of buying books and never reading them

10 comments

  1. [2]
    Krael
    Link
    Does it count if you read an e-book then buy the hardcover version as a "souvenir"?

    Does it count if you read an e-book then buy the hardcover version as a "souvenir"?

    5 votes
    1. cge
      Link Parent
      I've done this quite frequently, actually. I often find referring to books, or loaning them to people, much easier when they are physical copies. At the same time, since purchasing a physical book...

      I've done this quite frequently, actually. I often find referring to books, or loaning them to people, much easier when they are physical copies. At the same time, since purchasing a physical book involves, for me, a permanent space and organizational commitment, I'd prefer not to simply purchase every book I think I might be interested in. Additionally, when I actually have the most time to read, often on flights, I'd prefer to avoid carrying the weight of physical books. With digital, I can start reading a new book on a plane, and, if I find it uninteresting, simply move to another book.

      Thus, my standard practice is to start reading a digital version of a book, and, if I find it worthwhile, purchase a physical copy after I've finished it. The result is that most of the physical copies I have have never actually been read through, and are used solely for reference.

      1 vote
  2. [2]
    EscReality
    Link
    TIL, there is a name for what I do. I read multiple books at once, over time, but tend to buy far faster than I can read.

    TIL, there is a name for what I do. I read multiple books at once, over time, but tend to buy far faster than I can read.

    4 votes
    1. Catt
      Link Parent
      Yep this described me...I stopped buying books for a few years now and still haven't finished my backlog :P

      Yep this described me...I stopped buying books for a few years now and still haven't finished my backlog :P

      1 vote
  3. [2]
    kfwyre
    Link
    There's definitely something to be said for novelty fueling desire, at least for me. I found that I was super eager to buy new books that looked interesting, but then I never followed through on...

    There's definitely something to be said for novelty fueling desire, at least for me. I found that I was super eager to buy new books that looked interesting, but then I never followed through on reading them. Now so many books in my personal library feel stale--even though I haven't read them and even though they were appealing at the time of purchase.

    I've gotten around this by putting five book titles that really interest me (whether I own them or not) in a list on my phone. When I read one, it goes off the list and another takes its place. If I see an interesting book but my list is full, well, that book will just have to wait. By limiting myself to five, it keeps the ones on the list "fresh" and they cycle out pretty quickly.

    4 votes
    1. EscReality
      Link Parent
      My main source for new purchased literature is Amazon, so I keep a running Amazon wish list separate just for books. Whenever I am suggested a book, or see something that catches my eye, it goes...

      My main source for new purchased literature is Amazon, so I keep a running Amazon wish list separate just for books. Whenever I am suggested a book, or see something that catches my eye, it goes onto the wishlist. I do occasionally impulse buy stuff, but mostly when I want to shop for new books I go shopping in my wishlist. It has actually helped keep me from buying stuff I will never read quite a lot and gives me my own private book store tailored just to me.

      I buy on average 2 new books a month and an occasional few from my local thrift store (so, 5 a month rough average). I read about 3 a month (on a good month). If I go on vacation, rafting or camping I read a book a day(ish). Either way, my home library is growing far faster than I can read it.

      2 votes
  4. [3]
    annadane
    Link
    What's the term for buying Steam games and then never playing them?

    What's the term for buying Steam games and then never playing them?

    3 votes
    1. EscReality
      Link Parent
      Being an average steam user. 😊

      Being an average steam user.

      😊

      3 votes
    2. SleepyGary
      Link Parent
      I had to stop buying collections in steam sales because my library is about 300 and I've not installed about 1/3 and haven't played about 1/2 for more than a couple hours.

      I had to stop buying collections in steam sales because my library is about 300 and I've not installed about 1/3 and haven't played about 1/2 for more than a couple hours.

      1 vote
  5. patience_limited
    Link
    If it weren't for e-books, I suspect I'd be in the situation of the Collyer brothers. I joke about "ascending Reading mountain" - there will never be enough time in a human life expectancy for me...

    If it weren't for e-books, I suspect I'd be in the situation of the Collyer brothers. I joke about "ascending Reading mountain" - there will never be enough time in a human life expectancy for me to read what I want to.

    2 votes