How many books is too many?

Book lovers acquire stacks of books and even bookcases that overflow. My older son says, “If you haven’t used a book in six months, get rid of it.”

I explain that some are useful for college courses I only teach every two years, or is a book I want to reread or introduce grandkids to—or simply can’t part with because I love it so much! Books become friends.

Coffee mugs are available with pictures and words saying, “You can never have too many books.” Checking that statement on Google shows it’s also printed on shirts. So is this delightful thought: “You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy books. And that’s kind of the same thing.”

I don’t know how I discovered the weird-facts.org site but their April 25, 2021 post, Driven to Greatness, quotes Margaret Mitchell’s husband saying to her, “For God’s sake, Peggy. Can’t you write a book instead of reading thousands of them?” She went on to write her runaway best seller, Gone with the Wind! History doesn’t tell us what he said after her success.

I’m pleased that my grandson recently helped me acquire and install another bookcase, but I may run out of rooms and wall space eventually.

Kindles and electronic books simplify the process I have over 1100 books stored in my trusty hand-sized Amazon Kindle Paperwhite pictured above, though I still prefer holding, turning the pages and even smelling the aroma of a tangible book.

Are books, or large numbers of books, necessary for success? That might be hard to prove. Let’s just say it would be nearly impossible without them.

Your turn—What’s your definition for how many books is too many? Is it hard for you to part with them? Share your criteria for downsizing? And then go enjoy a good book.