This piece on the Guardian is a few months old, but I think about it often:
You be the judge: should my wife clear out her old books?
Here’s the precis: Andy says he wants his wife, Sally, to get rid of some of her old books because she keeps every book she's ever read, and they clutter up the house and gather dust, and there's no reason to keep so many books when they have access to a library and audiobooks/ebooks. He thinks Sally should adopt a one in one out policy.
Sally says no, she’s going to keep buying books and won't part with a single volume, not until the house is overflowing with them, because she likes to have a big collection and doesn't like reading audiobooks or ebooks.
The "jury”—readers of the article—have voted on a verdict, and the result was a whopping 79% in agreement with Sally; she shouldn’t have to clear out any of her books.
This outcome surprised me, but perhaps it shouldn’t have. It probably reflects the type of audience who reads the Guardian. More on this later.
Now, I adore books too. I'm a writer and a reader. I get it. Books are wonderful. Truly, they are. But… I have to say I agree with Andy on this one.
This is just my opinion, but I think that when you own so many books that your house becomes messy, unclean, and a health and safety issue, and when this affects other people in your household, it’s a problem. Refusing to change your book consumption habits at this point is entitled behaviour.
There is also something that irks me about the "books are sacred" attitude that many people seem to possess. The same people who think that reading ebooks and audiobooks is inferior to reading paper copies, and that you're not a "real" book lover if you don't own a large collection of physical books. The people who think that what's on your bookshelf is what defines you as a person. The people who get outraged by the advice “Ideally, keep less than 30 books” often falsely attributed to Marie Kondo.
Here’s my take: owning lots of books DOES NOT make you a smarter or more interesting person, and I find this kind of attitude extremely snobby. (This is also why the 79% figure makes sense, because I think the Guardian readership can be quite snobby).
The number of physical books owned is not the determining factor in whether you are a true book lover, and getting rid of books you won't reread isn't a crime against humanity when you can access the same content in the form of an ebook, audiobook, or library book.
Besides, the real voracious readers out there simply can't afford to buy and keep every book they ever read because they'd run out of money and space if they did. That's why subscription programmes like Audible and Kindle Unlimited exist.
Another example: My parents are avid readers but you wouldn't be able to tell from their bookshelves. They use the library, borrow books from friends, and they frequent a local used bookstore and sell the books back when they're finished with them. I consider them to be book lovers.
Yes, some physical books are special—signed copies, rare editions, books with sentimental value, books with amazing artwork. I'd never urge anyone to part with those special volumes—but at the end of the day, most physical books aren't that special and can be replaced if necessary.
Again, all of this is my opinion, and I’m just venting based on my experience as someone who loves books, but hates clutter and untidiness.
I’d like to close this essay/rant with my own poll, just for fun. Feel free to completely disagree with my viewpoint! I understand how much books mean to people.
POLL: Is it okay to keep buying books without discarding any when it’s causing clutter that negatively impacts the person/people you live with?
Yes - Books are joy, and every single book I own holds a special place in my heart. Ebooks/audiobooks just aren't the same, and discarding books is pure evil. The other people in my household will just have to deal with it.
No - There is a middle ground of owning some books, using the library, borrowing from friends, and consuming digital formats. Discarding books is fine if it's not a rare/special edition and can be easily replaced.