Could You Live With Just 30 Books?

[Jim Owen]

Apparently not. I’m wondering what will happen if I ever retire and therefore lose the office.

[Standicz]

If it means owning 30 books, probably yes. I am 35, I've read many books and the passages that really speak to me I keep mostly in my head, the technical stuff I can look up on the internet. Nowadays I mostly listen to audiobooks while commuting to work. My two and a half years old daughter owns many more books than I do. Maybe I will have a bookcase one day, just to showcase my...umm.. way of thinking to friends and visits.. who knows..

[dirkronk]

Not a chance. Ever.

I MIGHT be able to winnow my copies of just Mark Twain and P.G. Wodehouse writings down to 30 volumes. Maybe. No promises, though.

My wife and I are going through books to downsize, and I'll guess that I've already given away or sold 500 books or more, and will certainly get rid of more. But after we get through, I'll be surprised if there are any less than several hundred volumes that we consider essential, regardless of how ruthless we are.

Dirk

[Wadcutter]

As a side note guys, I’ve often wondered what happens to all those Kindle books you buy when you er uh, “pass on.” Do you actually “own” these Kindle books forever and can pass them on to someone else or how does that work?

[Dru Edwards]

I couldn't have done that a few years ago but during my last move a few months ago I got rid of my undergrad textbooks and most of my master's text books. The big problem is that I have all of Stephen King's books except his two most recent ... that's over 30 right there.

[RedJoker]

Originally Posted by Wadcutter

As a side note guys, I’ve often wondered what happens to all those Kindle books you buy when you er uh, “pass on.” Do you actually “own” these Kindle books forever and can pass them on to someone else or how does that work?

Good question. I don't particularly care either way but it's an interesting thought.

[Glennwillow]

I have hundreds of books. I suppose I could get rid of a lot of them, but I keep getting new ones to read. I read new books all the time, two or three at a time.

Some people don't get much joy out of reading; I do. I'll limit something else.

- Glenn

[David Eastwood]

I had cataract surgery a bit over a year ago. One of the most gratifying outcomes was that I can now read books comfortably, for the first time in years.

I have a lot of catching up to do, and have way, way more than 30 books on the list to read. Many of them are childhood and family heirlooms, or classics I never quite got to, and I'm really looking forward to acquainting, and reacquainting, myself with them.

That being said, there's an awful lot of clutter in the collection, and we could well do with a clear-out. Cookbooks, in particular

[H165]

I could live with 30 books. My problem is music CDs - about 3,000 of them in fact They constitute the major clutter in my place, but I DO listen to them.

[Wadcutter]

Hey, one man’s clutter is another man’s prized possessions.

[Riverwolf]

Once upon a time I thought books looked good on shelves.
Only hardcovers, and the splines had to be an assortment of colors.
I no longer think that way or understand why I ever did.

I use my local library now and never have more than 3 checked out at a time.

Okay, music and guitar books are still cool and I do have a shelf full of those.

[Mr. Paul]

This Christmas I tried something new and asked my oldest son to "give" me a handful of his favorite books to read and return when finished. They are spectacular books and I will read them all within a couple months. Could be a new tradition!

[Bob Womack]

For the amateur recordist there is probably no better diffuser array than shelves and shelves full of books, lined up with the edges against the back rather than with the spines aligned. A Kindle can't quite do that.

I read this question out loud and asked my wife about me. "No way."

Bob

[ManyMartinMan]

Originally Posted by Wadcutter

...Could YOU live with just 30 books?. ....

Absolutely. I read and am reading a new book currently. I, however, do not "collect", accumulate or otherwise hold on to things I have consumed and completed. I have some books I've had for decades, not a hundred or 80. I could in a very short time divest myself of most of these books without concern or regret.

[Wadcutter]

Remember what Marilyn Monroe said when someone asked her what she wanted for her birthday, she replied “I don’t know, but don’t get me a book, I already have one.” 😩