I’m genuinely curious. I read a lot but I’m used to buying one book at a time. I don’t buy a new book until I’ve finished the one I’m reading at the moment unless I’m at something like the book fair, then I’d buy a couple because of the discounts. Recently I’ve seen a lot of people on SM that has multiple shelves of book they haven’t read yet or videos about how they bought however many books at once.
That left me wondering. Do people really do that?
by Enough-Ad-8383
18 Comments
You should see the fishing equipment I own!
And books about fishing equipment!
It’s because I have no impulse control and no real sense of mortality. I also like really pretty shelves, so all these fancy special editions with sprayed edges are my undoing.
I buy them because I will read them. Without fail, I read all the books I purchase. I currently have a stack of about 20 books to read, but I guarantee they will all be read by the end of the year.
Sometimes the urge to buy/collect is just more powerful than the urge to read what you already have. I’m sure there’s also a small segment of people who buy just to post the books they buy and never read them.
I typically only buy one book at a time unless it’s something I’ve been looking for a long time and/or I come across some really good deals.
That said, the more people buying books the better, regardless of their reasons.
I’ve been to secondhand stores and estate sales and gone crazy picking up several book at one time because they were interesting and cheap.
Consumism.
People will juggle answers in the comments and deny it left and right, but the problem is consumism. It’s just dopamine.
Not sure about anyone else, but my goal this year is to read as many books as possible! I ordered a ton of books online to help keep me on track and to give me motivation to keep pushing through (after all, I don’t want my money to go to waste!).
That’s my reasoning and one possible answer for you! 🙂
I use the public library. It’s amazing.
Honestly it’s about the collection for many people. I’m guilty of this. Part of consumerism culture. I read the books, but don’t get to all of them.
… I’m guilty of this. I go on a shopping spree then hit the library on the way home. When I feel ashamed, I just remember that I’m saving for when the zombies come and electricity will be hard to come by.
I use a kindle now, but I used to buy books at thrift stores, and I would buy a grocery bag full often. I read a couple books a week, sometimes more, so it saved me trips to buy books.
SM
They do it for the likes.
It’s my version of doomsday prepping.
When I’m at Sam’s Club, I’ll hit their book section & look up the titles to see which ones my local library has. Then I’ll buy one or two that sound good & aren’t at the library. It’s mostly because I like having books that I haven’t read in my bookcase. If the world gets crazy, I won’t be bored for a while. I know it’s bonkers.
I like to have a bunch of books to look forward to, so I buy them (used) usually 5-7 at a time. I will alternate a new book with one I already have read (I re-read all the time), to prolong the enjoyment of that feeling of having something to look forward to. Most of the time as I’m nearing the end of one book, I’ll start mildly thinking of what to read next, so I have something lined up. Currently re-reading Helen MacInnes – espionage/terrorism-based from the 40s-70s, in which a ‘regular’ person gets caught up in some kind of plot.
Shopping for books is a separate hobby from reading books.
Sales ? Buying the full collection Eg. Full Asimov/Harry Potter/LoTR series ?
(Also, I mostly buy eBooks now for ease of portability)
I’m never surprised by how differently others do things. That’s normal. It’s weird when many people do something very similarly. If there’s any way to vary, someone’s gonna do it. Welcome to Earth. We’re all like this, not just the humans.
Free shipping if you spend x and fleeting good deals.