# 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:** 17\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/101 "2014-08-28T20:51:22Z")
How many books are available via download to my kindle? I can have any one of those on my device in a few seconds. Do I “have” them if I can access them faster than the owner of a physical copy could track that copy down and have it in his hands? ETA: in case it’s not obvious by this point, yes, I’m high. ---
**Author:** ![jerseymule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jerseymule/32/3155_2.png) [@jerseymule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerseymule)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/102 "2014-08-28T20:57:42Z")
I said between 2000 and 3999, but have never really counted or estimated. But all of my many bookshelves are full and books are piled up on other furniture and on the floor. I also have a ton of LPs, DVDs, CDs, and VCR tapes to add to the clutter. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/103 "2014-08-28T23:04:41Z")
I have so many, I created a singularity when I tried to put them up. ---
**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:** [August 28, 2014, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/104 "2014-08-28T23:30:07Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > How many books are available via download to my kindle? I can have any one of those on my device in a few seconds. Do I “have” them if I can access them faster than the owner of a physical copy could track that copy down and have it in his hands? > > ETA: in case it’s not obvious by this point, yes, I’m high. I have a Nook _and_ a Kindle. I consider them two items. No matter how many word-bundles I add to their memory I will still have two items. In case it’s not obvious by this point, yes, I’m old. How many others of those over 10,000 in the poll are over 50? I’d bet all. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/105 "2014-08-29T00:25:11Z")
I’m pleased with what I found when I finally, after 14 years, Googled “Exapno Mapcase.” ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/106 "2014-08-29T01:44:03Z")
Between library sales, garage sales and BookOff in Manhattan . . . far too many. My eldest is following in my footsteps. We have 25 bookshelves in the house. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/107 "2014-08-29T01:59:40Z")
I haven’t counted lately, but AFAIK it’s a bit over 2,000. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/108 "2014-08-29T02:48:44Z")
I started counting, and was past 500 before getting out of the guest room. Easily over 1000 altogether, but well under 2000. I’ve built most of my own bookcases, so that they hold a lot of books of a lot of different sizes without a lot of wasted space, and can handle the weight of all those books. The double bookcase I built for the guest room is a thing of beauty - a couple of big lower shelves for oversized volumes, then a deep shelf just a few inches high for atlases that get stored lying flat, then four more shelves of normal depth above that. But I’m almost as proud of my bookshelves for paperbacks, because they’re no deeper than you need for paperbacks, which means that they can sit against a wall and take away only a few inches of floor space from the room. ---
**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:** [August 29, 2014, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/109 "2014-08-29T17:00:38Z")
> [@susan](#): > > You’re my dream date. Well, a couple thousand of the books are my wife’s. On the other hand she’s at work an awful lot of the time. The possibilities… > [@susan](#): > > I’m pleased with what I found when I finally, after 14 years, Googled “Exapno Mapcase.” It’s a great username, and I can say that because I put no effort into it. I was looking at _Harpo Speaks_ shortly before I joined, thought “that would be cool” and just entered it. People like it. And the best part is that except when I clear my cookies I never have to think about spelling it. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/110 "2014-08-29T20:05:40Z")
> [@](#): > > Well, a couple thousand of the books are my wife’s. Hey, I mostly swing that way anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/111 "2014-08-29T21:38:51Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I started counting, and was past 500 before getting out of the guest room. Easily over 1000 altogether, but well under 2000. > > I’ve built most of my own bookcases, so that they hold a lot of books of a lot of different sizes without a lot of wasted space, and can handle the weight of all those books. The double bookcase I built for the guest room is a thing of beauty - a couple of big lower shelves for oversized volumes, then a deep shelf just a few inches high for atlases that get stored lying flat, then four more shelves of normal depth above that. > > But I’m almost as proud of my bookshelves for paperbacks, because they’re no deeper than you need for paperbacks, which means that they can sit against a wall and take away only a few inches of floor space from the room. I think I’m in love. With your bookshelves, of course. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/112 "2014-08-30T02:25:36Z")
> [@susan](#): > > Hey, I mostly swing that way anyway. Get a room already, youse guys! Bookshelves, a bed, hot tub. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/113 "2014-08-30T03:31:30Z")
Who needs a bed or a hot tub? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/114 "2014-08-30T04:26:55Z")
100 to 249, I think. Quite a few are in boxes. I’ve gotten out of the book-buying habit, mostly, due to lack of shelf space and trying to save some bucks. I’m much more likely to get books from the library these days. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/115 "2014-08-30T10:56:59Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > I’m guessing about 2,500. I’d estimate that I’ve read about a quarter of these; I PLAN to read another quarter (these are in a specific bookcase, scolding me every time I walk by for doing stuff like Doping); I USE another quarter from time to time (cookbooks, atlases, etc.); and the last quarter were inherited from people like my grandparents – most of these will never be read. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/116 "2014-08-30T12:29:36Z")
> [@susan](#): > > Who needs a bed or a hot tub? What better place to enjoy a good book? ---
**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:** [August 30, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015/117 "2014-08-30T16:19:24Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Get a room already, youse guys! Bookshelves, a bed, hot tub. > [@susan](#): > > Who needs a bed or a hot tub? You fall off the bookshelves. They’re too narrow. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-books-do-you-own/533015.md?page=5)