I started this project in 2014, and have so far left books all over Europe, in France, Germany, Italy, England, etc. I always write my email inside them, and a note asking anyone who picked it up to read, to then leave it for someone else.
I had some early success, when a copy of ‘The Secret History’ I dropped in Paris was picked up and read by a stranger, who then told me they left it in Amsterdam for someone else, but then I heard nothing back from anyone else.
[I made a video about the whole project 5 years ago](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhjIJaBKDFs) and have continued doing it since just for fun, but I’m surprised how few people seem to pick them up, or at least how few people email me to say they’ve done so.
I don’t mind obviously, I’m just curious why that may be the case. I’ve spotted abandoned books on streets in my time and have always picked them up and had a look inside, and imagine other book lovers would be inclined to do the same.
Would you pick up a random book you found on a street? For context, the books are always new or in very good condition.
by Wonder_Lens
2 Comments
>I’m just curious why that may be the case
They’ll be either landing in the trash or first at a lost and found and then in the trash, most likely.
I think people might be more inclined to pick them up if you stick a note on the front as well, so people know something is inside. For me personally seeing anything left unattended I either think it’s trash or I think someone might come back for it. In this case I would think the last one, considering you say it’s a book in good condition. I do really like the idea!