# How many books do you own? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 19, 2010, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015 "2010-03-19T15:01:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/41 "2010-03-19T20:42:49Z")
My librarything lists about 1200 books, and I’m fairly up to date with that. I probably have another 300 or so in storage. I get rid of a lot, so these are indeed 1200 books that I consciously want to own. Years ago, my father built me a set of simple bookcases that are taller than usual, which is a life-saver. I remember once looking at a great apartment, and then realizing that we couldn’t live there because the ceilings weren’t high enough. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/42 "2010-03-19T20:43:26Z")
I checked the 1000 box but I haven’t counted for awhile, so it might be less. There are eight bookcases in the house, and no room for more. At the last city council meeting I asked for shelves at city hall, and we’re starting a library. The mayor is a carpenter and he’s building them. That’s where my overflow is going. I’m more tickled to be rid of them than to acquire them. What are my kids gonna do with them when I’m gone? I only birthed one reader, dammit. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/43 "2010-03-19T21:57:47Z")
After a rough estimate, I voted for 2000 - 3999. My walls have shelves of books all over. Some people like having posters or paintings on their walls, or cabinets of knickknacks; I like books. It doesn’t feel like home without shelves of books. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/44 "2010-03-19T23:29:08Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > I don’t have any Arkham (I think \*\*Exapno \*\*may, though) and I only have The Shining by King because that is my favorite by him. You sound like a Completist, whereas I am a High Spotter (different approaches to book collecting)… No, I collect Gnome Press, a different early sf publisher. It’s small enough to be completist about, so it’s fun to get everything. Arkham lost its appeal for me when I visited a friend of mine who is a high end dealer. He had a pile of half a dozen copies of Lovecraft’s _The Outsider and Others_. This was pre-Internet when most people had never seen a copy. Takes the fun out of collecting. Mostly I amass. I read obsessively about everything. I’m also in the 10,000+ category. My library has aisles. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/45 "2010-03-19T23:45:32Z")
The last time I attempted a good count, I had over 12,000. But that was about ten years ago so it’s probably up around 20,000 by now. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/46 "2010-03-19T23:53:09Z")
Over the years, we’ve parred it down to a comfy 200 or so. It seems maybe 90% of them are reference books of one nature or another. We have a zillion interests and hobbies, and so have a lot of reference books. It’s what we used to look at for information before there was an internet. 🙂 Not really all that long ago. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/47 "2010-03-20T00:22:24Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Not people who use unnecessary U’s. > 😃 Bah! Foiled by strict observation of grammatical rules! ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/48 "2010-03-20T00:36:28Z")
I probably have between 1000 and 2000, though I really don’t want to start counting. I inherited this house from my parents, so I have all of their stuff in addition to my own. My books are probably 75% of the total . . . even though I got rid of some several times over the years. And don’t ask how much art work I have . . . I could use a few dozen more walls. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/49 "2010-03-20T00:42:23Z")
I rarely have more than 50 books or so at a time around. I don’t have any room \ and I either move and leave them behind, or give them to people to read, most of the time. If I had my own house, it would basically be a library, and I’d never throw any of them away, ever. And I’d probably have multiple copies of my favorites, so I could give those away anyway 😉 Edit…I have recently come into one book I will never part with, as my dad gave it to me; it was his favorite as a young man, and it really touched him. He recently found it again, and gives it to people he wants to understand him, I think; he’s smooth and charming when he wants to be, but it’s hard for him to put into words what he’s REALLY feeling. This might be the closest he’s come to opening himself up. AND I really like the book, too. Hard to imagine a book about rural life appealing so strongly to a man born and raised in southside Chicago, but…I can see it. He’s always been trying to get back to the land, and it makes our move out West much more understandable. Also found on Ebay a few stories I grew up with, and I will be taking them with me wherever I go, as well. Most others are replaceable, and I do not at all mind buying favorite works over and over and over again. I don’t have much spending money, but I’m happy to spend it on books. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/50 "2010-03-20T00:42:34Z")
2000 +. But I really need to de-bookify. ---
**Author:** ![booklover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@booklover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/booklover)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/51 "2010-03-20T01:26:44Z")
I counted a couple years ago and had about 3600 so am guessing I’m in the 4000+ range now…I do cull every now and then but it always builds back up. I sent 8 boxes to Goodwill the other day but am headed to Portland ( **Powell’s!!!** ) on Tuesday. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/52 "2010-03-20T01:54:07Z")
Thousands, most of which are still packed until I can get some more bookshelves for the new place which is why I can’t be more accurate. I have a walk-in closet packed head-high with boxes of books and magazines, for example. The shelves in my bedroom are currently filled with over 500 books waiting to be read. I’m still trying to decide if I want to have floor-to-ceiling bookcases installed in my office, or just buy four or five 7-foot bookcases. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Mood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@Blue\_Mood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Mood)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/53 "2010-03-20T07:35:59Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The last time I attempted a good count, I had over 12,000. But that was about ten years ago so it’s probably up around 20,000 by now. Wow - have you actually read them all? (Obviously apart from reference books.) ---
**Author:** ![halfliquid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e57/32.png) [@halfliquid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/halfliquid)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/54 "2010-03-20T16:32:05Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > …My home has two libraries, one with 10 foot high built-in bookshelves, and a rolling ladder… The other library has 8 floor to ceiling bookcases… The master bedroom has built-in bookshelves… I’ve got three three-shelf bookcases that I bought from Pier One. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/55 "2010-03-20T18:12:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Wow - have you actually read them all? (Obviously apart from reference books.) Not yet. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/56 "2010-03-20T18:16:48Z")
> [@booklover](#): > > I counted a couple years ago and had about 3600 so am guessing I’m in the 4000+ range now…I do cull every now and then but it always builds back up. > I sent 8 boxes to Goodwill the other day but am headed to Portland ( **Powell’s!!!** ) on Tuesday. /envious!! I lived in NW Portland, (22nd and Johnson, that lovely Belle-something apartment building) in 87 and OMG, I LIVED at Powell’s! I walked down there at least 4 times a week and just…loved it. Didn’t have the money to BUY anything, often, but they just let me browse all day. When I order books online, I do it from there, if I can. They will have my business and admiration and gratefulness until I die or someone misses blowing up the Burnside bridge and hits them instead. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/57 "2010-03-20T18:58:04Z")
I don’t collect books; I read them. When I’m done I share them with others for the most part. I keep a few I know I’ll go back to for referencing but I live in a small space so I can’t keep many. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/58 "2010-03-20T19:06:31Z")
I’m sure I have well over 1,000. My problem now is that most available walls in my apartment are lined with bookshelves, and I don’t have very much more room to expand. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/59 "2010-03-20T20:31:44Z")
Well over 1000 here. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/60 "2010-03-20T21:05:23Z")
It’s really hard to say. Since I own a bookstore that sells both new and used books, the line has blurred a bit. I’ll frequently take boxes of books from home down to the bookstore, and there’s a constant flow going the other way. If I just count the stuff that I have in the house and my office at the bookstore, it’s probably in the 1,000-1,999 range somewhere. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015.md?page=4)