The Joy of Books

 


"May blessings be upon the head of Cadmus, the Phoenicians, or whoever it was that invented books." (Thomas Carlyle) That's a nice way of saying #GiveThanks for books!

I've always loved books. I have a few thousand scattered around the house, and a few thousand more still in boxes waiting their turn to join the ranks. I love the look and feel of a full shelf. I'm not a fanatical collector, though I do have a few slightly valuable books and some nice sets. But my main motivation is that I love to browse among them, recalling the ones I have read, feeling the anticipation of the ones I have not yet read. Ironically, I don't have a lot of time for reading right now; so instead I my books bring me the joy of expectation.

People who visit often ask if I've read all my books. Of course not! Where's the fun in that? I've read lots of them; I've read portions of most of them. But I'm one who believe that a personal library reflects not what you know, but what you WANT to know. It's a reminder of all the things you DON'T know - yet. In a way, owning lots of books keeps one humble. But it also keeps one curious and eager.

I apologize in advance to my children or my wife or whoever survives me, and one day will have to deal with this acquisition of my lifetime. Maybe they'll be able to find another ignorant would-be scholar who can just take over the passion in one fell swoop.

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