UPDATE: We've just placed a new order for a bunch more bookmarks. In the meantime, you can pre-order now. We're expecting to be able to ship out in late April at the latest. Thanks again for supporting us! ORIGINAL: Y'all sold out the bookmarks so fast!! We're working on getting them restocked as FAST as possible - if you want to be notified when they restock, subscribe to the newsletter! answerinprogress.com/newsletter
Consider having the bookmarks available for download. You would avoid restocking times and shipping costs, and that means I could print it out for my kids tonight! I would pay $20 for it, easy
start with your local library!!!! i love my library and it helps me not feel bad about having a whole bunch of books because in three weeks they'll not be in your space anymore!!
Agreed. While I was working in libraries, I never felt the need to buy books (unless there was some rare find in the donated books for sale). Now that I don't work in a library and never signed up for a new library card since moving states, I've ended up buying a lot of books... Honestly, too many in my opinion. And the thing that sucks the most is if it was an underwhelming/bad read, I'm kinda stuck with it still living on my shelf (at least for now), or feel more pressure to finish it, versus if I'd only borrowed it and could return it. (I do still try to make good use of ebooks and e-audiobooks, but the physical books just hit different.)
Same. Before buying ANY book, I quickly check my public library database and if the book is available, I request it. By the time it's available, I may have lost interest, so money saved. But if I read it and love it and buy it, I know I have a book I'll pick up again.
If I just had a library near me, I don't, like where live most libraries are tied to educational places, schools universities, language learning centers, and the few public ones are nowhere near where I live.
To be fair, I think this phenomenon is true for all kinds of things and not just books. Some do the same thing with clothes. or kitchen gadgets, or power tools, or hobby / art supplies, or even buying video games that you never get around to playing. And I think that the thing they all have in common is that what you're actually buying is a possibility for something. And as such, I suspect that creative types do this way more than non-creative types.
This. The makeup youtube community and the journaling youtube community are full of content creators talking about how they keep purchasing items they never use. It seems to be part of how we participate in our various hobbies at this stage in history. Also, that aspect of the purchasing being part of participating ina possibility - or even in a fantasy version of yourself, to get you closer to who you imagine you could be - is so right on.
It's just Capitalism. Penguin is worth $990MN, they have 15% market share in US and they need to keep making more money because they have stockholders to appease. Okay, take it off the stock market then (same with others)? They went public to grow right? They're already as big as they get, how bigger will they get and do what with that money? Give it to stockholders & C-suite execs? Between culture and someone's 9th yacht, why are we justifying the need for the latter? When millions are funnelled to a few individuals, of course there won't be a lot left for operations. We always find ways to pay the bills, but we are never taught to ask why the bill is so goddamn high?
@SettlingNomads Yep. It's got nothing to do with "creative types", it's just pure capitalism and marketing. OP why do you think people buy things for "the possibility"? Because they're marketed to. They're convinced that there is a possibility inherent to the purchase they make. That's all marketing is - the possibility of being smarter, prettier, cooler, etc. Maybe some people instead want to escape to a story, or to taste something delicious, but it doesn't matter what it is or why you buy it. Most humans desire something new and to be a different version of themselves. For this reason they're susceptible to capitalism and advertising.
@@ritac9769Oh, I totally agree that EVERYONE, creative or not, deals with this to a certain extent, but as a creative, I see this happening with me, my wife, and my creative friends and family WAY MORE than my non-creative friends and family, and partly I think that's because folks that feel a strong desire to create things are constantly needing new supplies and materials - be them airbrushes, paintbrushes, sculpting tools, camera lenses, woodworking tools, guitar picks and strings - whatever their niche is, it's coming less from a position of "different version of themselves" and more from a position of "I can do a better job making things, or make new things" with more tools, etc., and there is an impulse there that I don't see in folks that aren't creatively driven.
@@colonelbyou’re wrong with that. It’s way too common for people to think they need something, like a lamp or a couch, even though they have 50 lamps or 10 couches in the house (unless you live in a mansion, that’s too many items for most modern day homes. I used to watch American Pickers, which was a show that the hosts, literally goes through people’s junk (which most are in warehouses, in large barns or garages) and majority of the episodes I saw, most of those people are collecting stuff because it looks cool or reminds them of their childhood or deceased loved ones. The problem is that too many people are drawn to those cheap prices at garage sales, flea markets, and secondhand stores, then they think they will randomly need that item, even though I’m pretty sure most items are needed.
I had a terrible "book shopping" addiction a decade ago, then decided to donate ALL of my books to the local library and since then, I've been loaning books from my library and returning them when I'm done reading. Now I have only about 10 books at home that are nostalgic and I feel sentimental towards them. I read 152 books in 2023 and I'm planning to read about 85 this year. I read mostly using my kindle or borrowed books from my library near home. It's so great!
I’m not sure if you know this already, but there’s this great app named Libby where you can borrow ebooks from the library and have them sent directly to your kindle! Cheers 🤗
LOL I went through my books a few years ago (thousands on 3 floors) and found lots of duplicates, trash, etc. I gave to the local library (great tax donation) and our library uses Amazon to make money by selling all the extras they receive. I'm down to about 1,500 but I have esoteric taste - Over 200 books on cooking (I'm a cook), lots of sci-fi, history and a huge amount of science, biographies and of course, who doesn't love a good mystery? I've read 49 so far and I'm in the middle of two others.
I gotta say, I was a bookworm growing up. But I read so much fantasy. Since I was able to read, I always had a fantasy book on my lap. Then, in college, one of my professors told me that I only read “trash” and that I should try and read “a real book”. And that professor was a huge figure for me. So I stopped reading fantasy, and bought some more “essay” books. I majored in psychology, and though it took me some time to read the texts and books we were discussing in class, I read them. But I just couldn’t sit and go through pages and pages of some person ideas. It took me like three years to read a book written by profesor Harari. After I graduated, and after many personal struggles, I came to realize that my favorite books will always be novels. I need a protagonist, a plot. And I don’t care if some academics think that “books” are just those essays thousands of pages long. To me, literature is about the characters, the stories. And after reconcile that with myself, I regain the same pace at which I used to read, and I can’t be happier. For me, personally, stories are my life, and maybe that’s the reason I studied this career (even though I know I should studied Literature back in college), and being able to submerge myself in a story, and don’t even notice the passing of time… is just the best experience I can get in this life
Elitism in the book world is the worst! Essays are great, but so are novels! So many "classics" ARE novels! Imagine this with anything: "Action movies are trash. Only documentaries are REAL films." "Forever21 is trash. Only Nordstrom and Saks have REAL clothing." Like let people like what they like. Sure encourage and recommend things you like, but don't judge and belittle the things others like.
I totally agree with you, a couple of years ago I started reading many classics and non fiction books just to demonstrate that I was smart or something like that and it just led me to a terrible reading slump. This year I started reading again as much as I did years ago and even though i really like non fiction and classics books, now I don’t deprive myself of reading “less important” books and having a good time just to prove something to others
My favorite text on this topic is Nick Hornby's preamble to his book "The Polysyllabic Spree". He talks about exactly this nonsense. Reading should be enjoyable, and not follow someone else's ideas of what you "should read". Personally I also read a lot of fantasy trash. The funny part: I have read enough good books to be able to precisely tell why some of this stuff is really badly written, but I still enjoy it if the characters are somewhat sympathetic.
In high school, I used the word "stuff" in an English assignment. My teacher, in a disgusted and disappointed voice, told me that I needed a better word. When I told her I saw that Tolkien had used it and therefore didn't see why I, a much lesser writer, couldn't, she paused, pursed her lips, and told me, "You aren't Tolkien." I wonder if Tolkien ever used as many commas as I just did...
I will always think it's good to read a variety of things, just like it's good to hear from a variety of people. But having a comfort zone or a favorite genre isn't bad, as long as you keep making that effort to keep your world open to new things.
I just love how Sabrina shoots her narration lines. Makes you feel like you're living the whole experience with her as she goes from place to place, meanders around her home, and has a revelation mid-read.
Wonderfully put! I'd also shout out her classic "standing in front of a projector" setup - it perfectly captures the mildly manic energy if explaining something random you've been researching. 😂
I buy books because the act of having them and the thought of reading them already makes me happy. So I personally accepted that I have a book collecting hobby while aiming to go through them like a to do list, this way I barely run out of books to read that matches my mood and my book collecting hobby encourages me to read more which is a win for me.
Sabrina continues her trademark blend of knowledgeable and helpless, adorkable and “I’ll turn my life into an experiment and tell the internet”. Keep up the great work.
Support your library!! You get to browse through shelves in person, read in whatever format you prefer (I love both print and audio), help support continuing access to books for everyone in your community, and you participate in a successful alternative to capitalism. Plus, you can always still buy copies of the books you love to put on your shelf.
Yeah where I live there isn't much of an option, all I have is a bookstore in a mall and a used book store, I try to support the later, the one library I should have access to is my university library and even that is currently under renovation and only available virtually.
I started doing so again. Have signed up for the public library again. And guess what? They have reeasonable limit of books I can borrow per month, I can prolong keeping each book one full month only 3 times in a raw. And thanks to this plus and an annual reading competition aimed at completing reading 150 books per year I do not have the problem described in a video. ;-)I suppose if people would go back to borrowing things used together in their community such problems could be solved. In my city this year we started a place for renting tools used for house and garden renvations. I hope for more places like this. And yes we also started a place for renting physical rehabilitation equipment for people with limited mobility or for the elderly. I really hope we can start more of such intiative. Less clutter, more many saved and more use got out of usable things. Maybe I will buy some books this year but one day I surely will donate my collection to some of my relatives and to our local library.
Capitalism is NOT a bad thing, it has helped millions of people worldwide and brought them out of poverty. I'm sorry you were brainwashed into thinking it's bad. Maybe you should check out some history books while you're in the library.
Donate unwanted books to your local library! it really helps them out! :) Whatever they don't need, they'll sell (at heavily marked down prices) and that money goes to supporting library programs.
@@thatonepossum5766 You can find the most random things there sometimes. I went to a book sale and found a copy of a book about the terracotta warriors autographed by the farmer that found them. I had previously been at the site one of the days that he was there signing books and opted not to. But, months later, I came across one of the books at a library sale. It made for a not entirely boring anecdote.
Library bookstores/book sales are awesome (and cheap) but do make sure they're currently taking donations before you drop by with donations! We get a lot of donations and sometimes need to pause to get everything sorted out.
This is why library are perfect, read as many books as you want and don't worry about space then if you really loved a book you buy it and read it again.
While you’re not wrong, this doesn’t help if you pick up a book because you think it looks good, but you’re not sure you want to read it right now. That is my biggest problem with the library, is that I don’t always know when I want to read a book. It might sound interesting, and I may not have the time to deal with it for the next three months. I love the library, and I use Libby a lot. But it’s not the perfect answer. It can be a great help.
I would do this if libraries were like they once were. Now, whenever I check the stock of my local library they either don't have the book at all in the entire county, or you have to pay a fee to have the book you want from the central stockroom, wait for it to be delivered then go back and collect it. They almost never have any of the books I ever want, and they're not obscure titles in my opinion. PLUS.... I live in a reasonably nice town but my local library has had a permanent security guard for years now. There are more computer terminals than book shelves and the computers attract the jobless, homeless, addicted, troublemakers of the town who frequently kick off, shouting swearing, fighting.... the library is no longer a tranquil oasis, it's a no go zone for readers and bibliophiles 🙁🙁🙁🙁🙁
@@ellie698 Having been homeless, how do you expect the homeless and jobless to get out of homelessness and unemployment without the use of the internet? Everything is, regrettably, done online these days. I do understand and somewhat share your sentiment, however, as our family did not fit the "bum" stereotype. The people we were surrounded by during that part of our life were...less than pleasant, to say the least.
Nice video. A few years ago I also gave a good look at my desire to buy books. In my case I could identify that, nowadays I have very little free time or me time. Full time job, family, take care of our home... takes all my time. So when I feel stressed I tend to feel the urge of buy books, because is somehow as "buying the relax time required to read them". Of course I do not have that much time, so now I look at this feeling in the eye, and tell myself "no, I have a few books in line waiting, I do not need more books now, it is just that I crave the me time that I do not have right now".
Sometimes I feel like I'm trying to purchase a version of me that I see as better than myself instead of whatever book I've found. I want to be the person who reads this book, though I'm not that person and I likely won't read it, but by god will I buy it
As an ADHDer (predominantly visual thinker) I found that I need to have the books in my room and to know that I „own“ them. Only then will the books I’ve read truly resonate with me, because when I see them I think about them or when I think about them, I will mentally see them in my shelf. I am quite the „out of sight out of mind“ person
I buy most of my books from yard sales, library sales, charity shops (called thrift shops in the US?) Or second hand from eBay or Amazon. Very rarely new.
Bookmarks are back in stock! (In a very on brand whoopsie, we wrote the wrong number on our backend which made it sell out prematurely - sorry for the confusion!)
idk if I should laugh or cry about the fact that y'all've apparently already done a restock and are already out of stock again. that's great for y'all tho goddamn!! heckin CONGRATS! how would you feel about a digital release of it, too? i'd love to be able to print my own ngl. 😅
Yeah, my Steam library of over 2000 titles agrees with you. Of course I don't have the time to play hardly any games, but if something happens and someday I do... I have options!
Saaaame, this is why I am putting everything I want to buy on my wishlist and wait until a sale comes around - and only those games I can name on top off my head without looking at the wishlist I am allowed to buy
I cant relate to buying and reading books, but I can relate to a really good HumbleBundle or Steam Sale that has a ton of games I know I would enjoy eventually
I just wanted to say that I am impressed with the amount of research that went into this, your energy, the editing, as well as the fact that virtually every reader can relate to your video. Well done!!
I do it for a few reasons, 1. Finding books in my personal library that I forgot I bought before is really nice feeling. 2. I enjoy the idea when friends come over and I can show off my personal library :) 3. If i ever have children my library will be like a legacy I can share with them. 4. I like reading! 5. The physical book needs no battery! 6. Books have souls! Why diminish that with a bright screen...
Do you think it's the story that has a soul or the physical book itself? Is there a difference in the story's soul of its been digitized? I'm not bashing on the soul theory I'm just genuinely curious
@@cjtaylor686 both have soul, the story and physical book. But the physical book gains/has personality as you read it. Pages bend , musky paper smell , style of book itself. Some of my limited editions books are a piece of art in of themselves. A tablet doesn’t have that. As a thought experiment just think of a very ancient looking book , the ominous feeling it has is almost ethereal. Are you craving to see what could it hold inside???
I would also add that it's nice to own a book or series you really like and probably will reread several times in your life...😄 and another reason is its a big satisfaction to see a whole book series standing collected in timeline order with spin-offs and all in my bookshelf.😁
I laughed at the library card comment at the end. The whole way through the video I just kept thinking that if you want to browse through books without spending any money there's definitely a way to do that. I personally do this a lot. I almost never finish a library book before I'm supposed to return it. But by that point I do usually know if I actually want to read it -- if I do, then I go buy it from somewhere.
You still have to pay for the library membership though . And the fees might vary depending on the location as well as facilities offerred. (but i suppose it would still be less than the cost of buying unwanted books)
Local library memberships are free in the USA paid for by local taxes. And only sometimes is there a late fee if you are late returning borrowed material.
I'm a LIBRARY LOVER and have been all my life. Free. Public. BUT . . . I love having books in my home, at my fingertips. Dictionaries host adventures waiting to be had, finding new, unexpected words as I scan the pages for the one I'm seeking - as opposed to looking up a word online. I can't afford new books and don't have space to store them at the rate I read (over 200 books per year). Kindle doesn't satisfy me with the entire reading experience, as does a paper book. Support your local library. They're about way more than just books.
Im in the same position! my general rule is that I let myself buy the first book in a series that I think I'll really like the rest I get from the library
On that last note of " Renew your library cards" JUST DO IT Often your library can order a book if they don't have it right then and there. My local one not only did I order a book but I can browse online for the titles. Or when I just want natural discovery just walking up and down the aisles like a store. My library also has a unique feature where they print a little reciept saying how much the book you just checked out costed, and then shows your total balance for the year. Lets you keep track of how much your saving just by getting a FREE LIBRARY CARD. Also go to the local library for book sells.
While I think the little receipt with saved money and whole balance is nice, I don't think it's accurate, at least not for some. I've library card and it's constantly maxed out. Through library I've also access to ebook service (when I'll get stable job, I'll won't get it through library, but pay for it myself, it's great service, unlimited access to ebooks, but they ofc don't have everything, the library doesn't either), and I read a lot there as well. But if I didn't use the library and this service, I wouldn't read as many books as I do currently, hence it's not accurate. I'd buy some of these titles, but sure enough not as many. Having free access to the books is thhe reason I read a lot of them. Otherwise I'd be more here or doing more hobbies (it actually decreased since I got the library card). There's something similar to amazon in my country (we don't really have amazon, I mean, formally we do, but the other option is more popular) and I've paid account there, so I don't need to pay for deliveries (it's more complicated, but I simplified it), and again, I wouldn't buy as much online, if I had each time pay additionally for the delivery, I'd be more out in the shops, trying to find what I need. The website also shows me how much I saved on deliveries and I don't think it's accurate. And I think this is true for a lot of people. Still, having such feature at local library sounds great, as lil reminder the books are accessible for free and the libraries surely boost up the reading rates.
This: The desire to be and live as I did when I read more! The freedom and the time for pure exploration! Thx; I really enjoyed this post. (80 yr old recalling how I loved to be dropped off at the library for an entire afternoon to explore the stacks, laying out at the lake reading, staying up until who cared what time to read in bed, etc...) Yes, I think my book purchasing addiction is definitely an attempt to recapture that time.
2:03 I use a physical reading journal for that method, it helps me do that and also expand my review and write my favorite quotes, it's like I remember more the book afterward because I sat down and expressed my thought and feelings about it and didn't moved directly to the next one without stopping for a second. It's really enjoyable, like my own little reward
As a "boomer" (not that Tom Scott old but definitely older than Sabrina), I used to have time to read on long road trips back in my school years. Now, I don't have that much time anymore, partly because of my job, but also partly because of the very device I watch this video on.
@@dariel312 I hope so, because I'm not a boomer and I'm several years older than Tom is. I have enough issues with people trying to make me a millenial, I don't need to also worry about people making me a Boomer.
My actual hot tip is to go on a book buying ban and only get books from the library for a while. Why? Because it takes the guilt out of reading. It makes you more aware of your choices and you have less to lose by starting a bad book and thereby preventing reading slumps. I own something like 70 books, I have around 10 unread books. This also made me a more conscious consumer as I started to only buy books I loved enough to add to my personal library while saying goodbye to those who left no mark. Tbf i also am a big reading tracker and I use StoryGraph to keep my memory up on what I read and what I thought of it.
This video made me rethink my reading habits. The real change happens when you explore the powerful techniques on Nixorus. Stop living in a trance and start truly benefiting from your books.
The pace of this video helps me understand why I've been withdrawing from Booktube after discovering it last year. I relish going to my small local library, the sense of quiet, of peace, of no pressure to follow trends or buy trends. Just the quiet contentment of browsing and checking out a stack of treasures for free.
Umberto Eco, who owned 50,000 books, had this to say about home libraries: "It is foolish to think that you have to read all the books you buy, as it is foolish to criticize those who buy more books than they will ever be able to read. It would be like saying that you should use all the cutlery or glasses or screwdrivers or drill bits you bought before buying new ones. "There are things in life that we need to always have plenty of supplies, even if we will only use a small portion. "If, for example, we consider books as medicine, we understand that it is good to have many at home rather than a few: when you want to feel better, then you go to the 'medicine closet' and choose a book. Not a random one, but the right book for that moment. That's why you should always have a nutrition choice! "Those who buy only one book, read only that one and then get rid of it. They simply apply the consumer mentality to books, that is, they consider them a consumer product, a good. Those who love books know that a book is anything but a commodity."
I’ve been reading Black Swan, and it includes a similar sentiment: a home library is a research tool. The unread book is far more valuable than the read book
Did Umberto ever share or donate his books? Because I love to read, then loan or give my books to people who don't have access to them. Especially if they are educational or uplifting. Umberto was probably a wonderful guy. But people who own/owned home libraries usually have/had access, money, or privilege to books. Or the space to keep them. Or the help to move them if you don't have a permanent place of residence. Not everyone does.
My two cents is, emotional connection. Especially seeking comfort. Most books that get popular on booktok get talked about in terms of vague vibes and aesthetics, comparisons, and fanfiction genres/tropes because those are shortcuts to create an instant connection of recognition and identification with emotions once experienced. They're also mostly - though not exclusively - comfort books. The social element of hype can absolutely make a random nonfiction book popular, too, because people are led to think it's important and represents their values in some way. Most of us don't really read for intellectual reasons anymore (unless you're into self-improvement community), we read for the emotions invoked, even through literary fiction or books on our specific interests - or for the emotions we get from finishing a certain book, and perhaps talking about it. Both reading and writing used to be a solitary passtime, now thanks to the internet it's become more social than ever, because you will always find someone who will want to talk about the book too (or who will read and comment on your updates, and not just fanfiction). And on the other hand, browsing bookstores allows for physical sensations which also can create a connection. It's a proven phenomenon that if you hold something in your hands, it's harder for you to put it back down and not buy it (or get rid of it), and you have to hold a book to read the blurb. Walking around, smelling the paper and ink, looking at the art, feeling the covers, that's just a fun activity. Plus there's the element of hunting, of personally encountering an experience. You feel you somehow accomplished something when you buy a book in person. So i think that leads to you wanting to buy something thay makes you feel good in the moment, but with less research into or chances of the book actually fitting your tastes - or emotional needs - specifically. Personally, when i find books via online word-of-mouth (for me it's trusted booktubers and booktlr mostly) i tend to research more and put a lot more thought into it - and often time looking for it, so that's another investment I've already made by the time it arrives in my hands - and i do end up reading those ones more. When I'm browsing physical books (for me, in outlets or used books stores, or libraries), besides keeping specific authors and books in mind i tend to buy more spontaneously. I also think it's more likely to impulse-buy a book that creates that fantasy of who you would be if you read it. Buying books reinforces your identity as "a reader", "a bookworm", but it can also be "an intellectual", "a cultured person", "a mature adult", "a person who is interested in X", "a modern and accomplished woman who reads literary fiction pensively while drinking coffee at a hipster cafe", or sny number of other label. It can also be about clinging to an interest that you used to have and don't want to let go of or admit you're no longer putting time into. If you have a shelf of books on the subject, surely it's the same as if you actually read them? You're going to some day. So those are the kinds of emotions that lending books from library aren't going to give you, and often why you might be reading your quick fix ebooks more than you gorgeous physical books, too.
This video makes me so happy. Well, not that you're not reading your books, but it makes me happy that folks are reading. And that book tok is a thing.
One thing I love about this channel is that it explores fun places in Toronto! I live pretty close so I enjoy checking out the spots. In this case, I already knew of both Little Ghosts and BMV - love them! In many videos though, I find a new treasure like Chocosol from Melissa's chocolate episode!
I had so many books I wasn’t reading that I decided to stop buying physical books entirely. I went entirely ebook, and I use the ‘sample’ function heavily. I can read the sample, and if I like it, I’m pretty confident I will finish the book. Only trouble is, I now have a ton of samples I haven’t read.
1:03 can’t help but notice you’re holding a copy of good omens!!!! I love that book/show :D That’s a good reminder that i should probably actually finish the book, though…
This is one of the books I reread most often. And bought the most copies because I always gave them to someone and they never returned. 😆 I have three copies on the shelf atm, one with Crowley on the cover, one with Aziraphale, and one I could lend to someone.
@@daliblue_I don't know if you realise how deep this question is and I struggle to give a short answer to that. It's about human nature, free will, and the limitations of strict beliefs. It's about the last days of a summer break as a child, friendship, and treasuring mundane pleasures. It's funny and deep. It's basically a love letter to earth and humanity while simultaneously taking the piss out of them. It's quintessential Pratchett + Gaiman. Just read it.
Usually, I think videos are twice as long as they need to be, but I think this video should be doubled in length. I would have loved to hear about the psychology of buying and reading books. Sometimes I buy books to support the author; often I feel guilty looking at the rows of books I haven't read. Lately I've been reading something like two previously purchased books and then one newly purchased book. Idk exactly what angles or topics should be investigated, but I feel like there's still so much more to explore here.
Don't feel guilty of not reading all your books to completion.. I have over 300 books in my shelf and many of them I value deeply for single powerful sentences, or chapters, or phrases that mean so much to me. The value of a book is not always in its entirety..
Many people here mention borrowing books from the local library. I love the library, but I have discovered several limitations. The library system may not have the book or enough copies of the book. After weeks or months of sitting on a waitlist, you rarely receive the book when you have the time to read it or when you are motivated to read it, but you feel pressured to hurry up and read the book within 3 weeks, so it can be sent to the next person (or pay late fees). There are times when the full 9 weeks was still not enough time to read the book, or I wanted to revisit a certain part of it, but I returned it already. Late fees can add up extremely quickly, and repalcing a book you lost is very expensive. Sometimes, buying books isn't that expensive. I put books on my Wish List, and I usually receive 1-3 of them a year for Christmas and/or my birthday. You can buy used books in great-like new condition for $2-10. At library book sales, I often find books in great condition for $1 or cheaper. New books will even go on sale for a greatly reduced rate at certain times of the year. If you pay attention, you can snag some great deals (a percentage off or a free book if you buy 3 at a cerakn time. Then, you don't have the pressure to read the books too quickly since you own the books. So buying and receiving books in these ways can be even more convenient than getting them from a library.
get a library card, theyre free if u live in the city/county depending on the place. ours has used book sales twice a year where u can get stuff hella cheap, plus libraries have more than just books
Not free in every country, though. In Germany, the only free libraries are university libraries if you are a student there. Very affordable prices, though (the annual fee is what I would pay for two new paperbacks).
An advice on how to get motivated into reading books:take a few of your books that you already read and instead of putting them away or mixing them with the books that you didnt read yet, take them and put them another place like another cabinet or put them on a shelf(only put the book that you read in this place) and whenever you read another book put it there so you will see the that this shelf will have more books by time which will motivate you into reading more books so you can fill your shelf more Plus not: i am also opening a music before slowly putting the book into shelf(like a ceremony) so filling the shelf with books would be in my mind more
Alternatively, if you aren't enjoying the book and you can't quickly summarize why you're interested in it, you should probably just stop reading it and move on. There are a lot of books out there that are going to be a more valuable use of time. And that's true no matter how many books you read on whatever topic you're reading about.
I sent this to every friend I've ever shared or even spoke about books with ❤ because yeah, the browse through the halls is nice, but finding a great read is so worth it! 😊
0:03 "I own 111 books, and I have read 31 of them" Rookie numbers! I have more unread books than you have books total. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to feel about that...
Well, take confort in knowing that at least you are not alone. I've only read around 30% of the over 200 books currently on my shelves. And another 5% I've started and never finished. This is excluding any encyclopedias, lexicons and books I've inherited.
As someone who reads over 75 books a year (and STILL owns a ton of unread books), I adored this video. Great exploration of so many behind-the-scenes factors!
@Dojo_theAlligator I have a masters degree in literature. Most of my classes required a novel a week (3-4 classes/semester), so I'm used to high levels of reading. 🤷♀
as someone who has a book that i've tried to read three times but never finished on any attempt, you have no idea how fast i clicked when i got the notification
There are only 2 books I purposely didn't finish: the second Eragon book and...Battlefield Earth? I'm pretty sure that's the one. I kept telling myself I'd finish it/them but the more I tried the more I just COULD NOT. I finally said screw it. Life's too short. It was so liberating to give myself permission to not finish a crappy book.
I have a large collection of books, but over half of them are non-fiction and reference guides that I use for research. Many of these books are designed to quickly reference rather than read, and I want to own them because I never know which one I'll need while writing, drawing, gardening, cooking, or anything else. And I can't always guarantee a library will have a reference guide I need, so that's why I collect them. And while I love fiction, I tend to be very picky about what I read, so when I find something I do like, I prefer to own it. Books I end up not needing or liking I either donate or sell to thrift book stores. So yes, I own a lot of books and buy a lot that I don't "read", I do use most of them, and borrowing them constantly wouldn't work with what I use most of my books for
This ended with such a lovely sentiment! I used to be a bookworm and then went through the reading slump post-college that a lot of people go through. I still added books to my shelves and tbr lists during that time. But it was a strange time when I was supposed to be transitioning from YA to more general/adult books, so I didn’t really know myself or my tastes at that time. Now I'm back to reading around 100 books a year and I love going back to the books I thought I would like and trying to piece together a better idea of who my younger self thought I wanted to be based off the books that sounded appealing.
I hit a huge reading slump after high school now at 29 I read maybe 4 books a year and while I enjoy them I haven't been able to find a book yet that I legit can't put down
@dandelion1469 29 was when I ended my slump! I was complaining about how I wished I loved reading again to my bff, and she recommended her current favorite book. I wanted to like it so badly, but it took me months to finish and I just didn't like it. I felt terrible about it, but that made me decide to thoroughly research a book that genuinely piqued my interest and not just something that was recommended to me. I read Goodreads quotes, opinion articles, reviews, watched tiktoks, watched booktube vids, Spotify playlists, opened up people's Pinterest boards, literally anything I could get my hands on about the few books I was interested in. I ended up with two thoroughly vetted books, took some time off, and read them when I had time to get obsessed. Turns out that I just needed time for myself to feel like I could like things and not be cynical about them. One of the books was booktok popular and all I wanted to do was talk to people about it. I joined a discord bookclub that did frequent buddy reads, and it was so nice to talk about what I had just read in real time and see what other people thought of it. It sounds super cheesy, but getting to talk to people who love reading taught me how to love reading.
As an amateur historian buying 21st century books is fraught with politics and critical theory to such a degree that I really try to steer clear if it's foundational information. There's a whole bunch of history that was done a lot better last century. So constantly buying used books that you haven't read yet is a great idea I think.
About 5 years ago, out of a genuine need to save money. I made myself stop buying books and actively use the library. Essentially I would walk my local indigo and then proceed to place holds on books as I spotted the ones I liked. I then bought a notebook to track my reading and output. I’ve found that through this, I read a good 80% of my selections due to the return due date and my writing the title down in my notebook. It’s been an interesting journey.
Your videos always remind me of a grown-up, Bill Nye, like some of his better episodes that actually kept my attention. It’s really fun to watch and I’m always excited to learn.
Do you many books but not enough time? Solution? Buying more!! By doing this you'll end up with much more books and divide the 'not enough time' energy with all the other books. No more feeling guilty about one book FEEL GUILTY OF YOUR WHOLE BOOKSHELF!!!!
@@3nertiaseeing all the bubbles on the back gave me a wild thought of using scantron forms for bookmarks. Seeing the little form on the front makes me want to buy some; I'm personally down to sticky notes and old rewards cards at different stores.
Last year I started a project, to do what no reader has ever done before-read everything in my "To Read" pile. It started, however, with going through and being realistic about stuff I just wasn't going to read and selling/donating/recycling (Whoever I was when I bought Eragorn, I'm just not him anymore)! But I kept a lot of stuff in there, and it's been a fun journey. Despite a delay during Tears of the Kingdom, I still managed to get everything read from before 2023. Now, I'm working through all that (and what I bought at X-mas) and am on track to have a "To Read" Pile 0 by June.
Ppl say that if you don't want to buy books just go to the local library, but the fact that in my town there is no local library, and the only library that has the borrowing policy is the school library and thay only have non fiction books
I used to be a constant book buyer and occasional reader. I still don't read as much as I think I should, but I've managed to keep the compulsive book-buying down with a library card and kindle. The convenient portability of the e reader keeps me from buying a physical copy of a book I would rather read on kindle, and when I feel like "shopping" for books I can check out an armful from the library. Then who cares if I never read them? I can return them and check them out again later if I want to. It helps me realize I don't need to own every book that piques my interest, and I still buy books on occasion
Plus, we want to go to bookstores and libraries for the atmosphere. Few things calm me down more than entering a non-busy library. Everything is so quiet, and being between bookshelves is cozy. I'm suddenly just a person trying to find a good book, and nothing is there to distract me. I don't have to be anything else. What would these people see as "wrong" with me if I'm minding my own business and the weirdest thing I do is kneel or sit on the floor to look at books on lower shelves? These places are havens for the anxious mind and I really want to go to my local library now that I have sung its praises.
OMG I was at my favorite HPB one night, and a group of high school students decided it would be funny to play a game of Marco Polo throughout the store. I wouldn't have shot any of them, but I might have lobbed the volume "C" from an Encyclopedia Brittanica at one.
I love bookstores and libraries for that-it's much harder to "feel perceived" in an uncomfortable way when this is a space for getting weird about books and here you are getting weird about books. Sitting on the floor with a book or accidentally reading a whole chapter standing up at the shelf is why we're all here!
Absolutely! It's been helping me solve my unread book crisis-I scanned all my books into the app and then can filter based on moods to find a new read from my shelves. I'm definitely a "judge the book by its cover" type of buyer, so it's been so helpful to be able to filter this way!
My broke ass way of dealing with bookstore browsing is taking pictures of books to "buy them later", I think it addresses the FOMO of "what if this my favourite book ever if I just read it" and I think it works, because if I forgot that they are in my camera roll that suggests to me that maybe I wasn't that into them anyway
I have a list of books - a lot of them have been on the list for years and I probably will never read them, but still no ressources were wasted on them. It's not sustainable to buy things you will never use; I still own about 100-200 books, about 3 unread. Many of them I bought secondhand. I don't get why people have to buy everything they like instantly!
I felt so represented by this video. From the first incredulous questions of why do I have so many unread books to the conclusions that each book I do read makes me feel great and better and change me a little bit. Amazing!
I'm only 6 minutes into this video, and I'm sitting at my desk with a stack of books less than an inch from my elbow I found on TikTok... My husband got them for me for White Day yesterday (Mar. 14th) it's all four of the "Before the Coffe Gets Cold" novels by Toshikazu Kawaguchi and my lord am I getting attacked right now by your video. xD
@@ThousandTimesBefore I honestly can't wait to sit down with them. The fact that they're a light read is something I could use right now! I've been focusing on Japanese authors while I study the language.
Oh no! I think you just "influenced me" I now have added a series to my book wishlist! I love reading books by Japanese authors or about Japanese culture.
More people need to realize this to be honest there's no best book out there just keep reading and see what resonates with you We all are unique and we all have different tastes nothing wrong with that
Help! I've become a child again with my book collection. It started with "The rise of the Dragon." That book convinced me of how much I missed pictures in books. Now all I want is illustrated Folio Society and Easton Press versions of my classics. I would say it's so that my collection looks classy; it's really just for looking at the pictures.
74 y/o here. Been reading pretty heavily since I was 20. Can’t imagine anyone less disciplined than myself. Don’t finish 3/4 of what I start. Thanks for posting this.
I own almost 500 books. 90% of them come from thrift stores and free books events in my area. I actually read them, my recent problem is just having the space.
Fortunately, I read most of the books I buy within a year. However, I do a LOT of research ok a book before reading it. I have trusted reviewers that share my taste. I know what authors, genres or tropes are for me and which ones probably aren’t. And having a bookstagram account has really helped me focus on reading and sharing my thoughts!
While I absolutely love the content of these episodes, I sometimes just rewatch the episodes just for the scene transitions. I don't know why, but I always LOVED a good scene transition, and Answer in Progress really knows how to get those down pat. Good job guys! Thanks for great quality videos!
consumerism and status symbols. having a book on your shelf communicates to anyone who visits that you like that book enough to have it. That is a different function from actually reading it.
When you got about halfway through and started talking about the value of browsing and the consumerism question my immediate thought was "Libraries Sabrina!" and I'm glad I'm not the only one
I recently volunteered at a public library-affiliated bookstore and it was astonishing how many donations we got - boxes of books came in constantly, usually in pretty good condition, about all kinds of topics. There are a LOT of books in the world and we definitely can't read them all! That said, I also found some really interesting books that I wouldn't have found otherwise because I would browse or restock shelves and find something cool (really bad news for my storage space because $3 for a book means it's basically free).
I buy books kinda random from the charity shop, I look at the spine and blurb and decide to pick it up or not. Fiction books can allow the writer to unleash their creative imagination for example, dragons and kissing. 👀 The inefficency of browsing is always going to have a particular appeal, mere exposure effect and the value you put upon it. A public library is definitely the best way to rain it in. I read 20 books a week turnover is frequent here. Although, slumps are nornal so some good advice to be found in what you shared, thank you. 🙂
Lol, I can't believe you waited til the last second to mention libraries. I literally never buy a book I haven't already read. I own many books, but they're all ones that I love so much I want to reread them.
I thought I was about to be called out and shamed big time but that was actually surprisingly wholesome! This happens with games for me too. I'm okay with not reading/playing everything I own, but I do want to keep trying and ticking some off the list every once in a while before buying even more. Cataloging has been super helpful for me! It gives insight into what I actually have and I try to commit to picking the next one when I finished another.
12:09 I did my PhD in Bristol, UK, and I used to walk past a bookstore selling "new" books for as low as £3 each. I have got some of mine there, but most books I got back in the UK were from charity shops. Have to admit, though, that I am crazy enough to have them shipped back to me in Thailand.
For me, for years I've just bought a book because I had any money left. When I would go to a bookstore, I had to buy at least one. Today, I prefer to buy one book per month, but because I read two per month. The “necessity” to buy has decreased, but I love to wait for the new book to come, to smell the new pages, to unwrap, and to put it in my bookshelf and watch it get fuller. I love physical books, I love to carry them, anote them, in a way I cannot with digital. It’s different, but I can’t explain so much😅
My local library/county has eBooks, so for a few years I never stepped in there. I borrowed all my books and browsed online and read them on my phone in the kindle app. The books I really loved and wanted I then bought from the store knowing I already liked them. It helped support my library because I was using their services and saved me gas and time from not having to drive there even though it was close.
I'm a huge fan of ebooks and audiobooks (immersion reading is dope!). You don't have to worry about physical storage of books. I like Goodreads for the automatic tracking of all the books I touch in my Kindle app. I like how the second I'm done with one book, I can immediately turn around and buy the next book digitally and start reading it right away (no traffic, parking, browsing, checkout, unparking, traffic back home). I have become a voracious reader now, and I like the instant access to explore and try out content. Such a time saver (and space!) 😀
@@sophiep7184I didn't perceive this to be preachy at all! :-D Anything to help get people reading more is a good thing. Definitely. I liked this video very much.
Audiobooks from my library are keeping me afloat atm. I’ve tried using things like audible and scribd and I infinitely prefer the library, even if I have to wait a while for books. It helps me prioritize which books to read and I’m honestly reading more consistently than ever!
Right! Everytime I buy/get a book, I have to start reading it right away. But I am very picky with new books and usually they sit in my wish list for months before I decide to buy them.
I own over 1000 books and read almost all of them. It's just a matter of discipline really. Also: I go to the library and I read a library book between every two that I buy because it's frugal to do so.
I shop at a used book story and visit the library almost exclusively.... and now have a read one, give it away, before getting another one policy. Once the bookshelf is full, it's time to get to reading! It feels better. Decluttering win. 🤩 I like the random finds instead of following recommendations.
Is it a "me problem" to prefer physical things over apps? For me apps are only extra stimuli, extra things to keep in mind. Physical things don't, they just exist and I come across them during my day. Some may call me boomer (I'm milennial; one year younger and I'd have been gen Z), but I believe there's too much dependency on digital apps that only distract and tire you out, rather than be actually helpful and making you happier.
A solution besides the library is swapping or borrowing books from friends! I really want try hosting or attending a book swap. I think this is a good solution for the really popular and recent books that are hard to get from libraries.
Oh I love the idea of a book swap! I'm already borrowing a lot of books. One friend in particular reads a lot and always recommends really thought provoking books that I can borrow, having a book buddy like that is great. Amazing idea to extend that to a book swap!
I do have a fairly substantial TBR pile, but I suspect that either my husband or I have read more than 90% of our rather substantial (three 7-foot bookshelves of hardcovers, and probably more than that of paperbacks) collection. I do actually know *why* I buy books I haven't read, though. When I was in high school, I was going through a dozen novels a week, easy. College, that dropped to about 5-7 a week, which I maintained for years. Now, I'm working on my Master's degree, so the vast majority of my reading is journal articles for my thesis. Reading not-for-thesis is almost entirely confined to bathtime, so I'm only reading 1-2 novels a week. However, I'm still buying books as though I were going through one a day. In fact, I just bought a half dozen today. (Thank goodness for used book stores!) Once I'm done with my thesis, I'll be able to read more for pleasure again, but in the meantime, the books are stacking up...
UPDATE: We've just placed a new order for a bunch more bookmarks. In the meantime, you can pre-order now. We're expecting to be able to ship out in late April at the latest. Thanks again for supporting us!
ORIGINAL:
Y'all sold out the bookmarks so fast!! We're working on getting them restocked as FAST as possible - if you want to be notified when they restock, subscribe to the newsletter! answerinprogress.com/newsletter
y'all have never made a bad video.
5 stars all around.
Oh shit, that's awesome
I'm cryingggggg🥲
Bait and switch to get people to signup for the newsletter? 😜. Hopefully they will be back again soon, seems like they are really popular.
Consider having the bookmarks available for download. You would avoid restocking times and shipping costs, and that means I could print it out for my kids tonight! I would pay $20 for it, easy
start with your local library!!!! i love my library and it helps me not feel bad about having a whole bunch of books because in three weeks they'll not be in your space anymore!!
This!!!
Bold of you to assume my library does not auto renew and I now have 28 library books stacked everywhere in my house and this is somehow low for me 😅
And it saves you so much money!! You can then buy the ones you really love to support the author further!
Also, if you have a lot of books you'll never read, library donations are a great way to get rid of them!
THIIIIS!
Not to sound sarcastic but by rediscovering the library, my compulsive book spending dropped down to zero.
Agreed. While I was working in libraries, I never felt the need to buy books (unless there was some rare find in the donated books for sale). Now that I don't work in a library and never signed up for a new library card since moving states, I've ended up buying a lot of books... Honestly, too many in my opinion. And the thing that sucks the most is if it was an underwhelming/bad read, I'm kinda stuck with it still living on my shelf (at least for now), or feel more pressure to finish it, versus if I'd only borrowed it and could return it. (I do still try to make good use of ebooks and e-audiobooks, but the physical books just hit different.)
Same. Before buying ANY book, I quickly check my public library database and if the book is available, I request it. By the time it's available, I may have lost interest, so money saved. But if I read it and love it and buy it, I know I have a book I'll pick up again.
If I just had a library near me, I don't, like where live most libraries are tied to educational places, schools universities, language learning centers, and the few public ones are nowhere near where I live.
Also helps that you can suggest purchases.
This part, wish it was brought up in the video somewhere except the very end!
To be fair, I think this phenomenon is true for all kinds of things and not just books. Some do the same thing with clothes. or kitchen gadgets, or power tools, or hobby / art supplies, or even buying video games that you never get around to playing. And I think that the thing they all have in common is that what you're actually buying is a possibility for something. And as such, I suspect that creative types do this way more than non-creative types.
This. The makeup youtube community and the journaling youtube community are full of content creators talking about how they keep purchasing items they never use. It seems to be part of how we participate in our various hobbies at this stage in history. Also, that aspect of the purchasing being part of participating ina possibility - or even in a fantasy version of yourself, to get you closer to who you imagine you could be - is so right on.
It's just Capitalism. Penguin is worth $990MN, they have 15% market share in US and they need to keep making more money because they have stockholders to appease. Okay, take it off the stock market then (same with others)? They went public to grow right? They're already as big as they get, how bigger will they get and do what with that money? Give it to stockholders & C-suite execs? Between culture and someone's 9th yacht, why are we justifying the need for the latter? When millions are funnelled to a few individuals, of course there won't be a lot left for operations.
We always find ways to pay the bills, but we are never taught to ask why the bill is so goddamn high?
@SettlingNomads Yep. It's got nothing to do with "creative types", it's just pure capitalism and marketing. OP why do you think people buy things for "the possibility"? Because they're marketed to. They're convinced that there is a possibility inherent to the purchase they make. That's all marketing is - the possibility of being smarter, prettier, cooler, etc. Maybe some people instead want to escape to a story, or to taste something delicious, but it doesn't matter what it is or why you buy it. Most humans desire something new and to be a different version of themselves. For this reason they're susceptible to capitalism and advertising.
@@ritac9769Oh, I totally agree that EVERYONE, creative or not, deals with this to a certain extent, but as a creative, I see this happening with me, my wife, and my creative friends and family WAY MORE than my non-creative friends and family, and partly I think that's because folks that feel a strong desire to create things are constantly needing new supplies and materials - be them airbrushes, paintbrushes, sculpting tools, camera lenses, woodworking tools, guitar picks and strings - whatever their niche is, it's coming less from a position of "different version of themselves" and more from a position of "I can do a better job making things, or make new things" with more tools, etc., and there is an impulse there that I don't see in folks that aren't creatively driven.
@@colonelbyou’re wrong with that. It’s way too common for people to think they need something, like a lamp or a couch, even though they have 50 lamps or 10 couches in the house (unless you live in a mansion, that’s too many items for most modern day homes.
I used to watch American Pickers, which was a show that the hosts, literally goes through people’s junk (which most are in warehouses, in large barns or garages) and majority of the episodes I saw, most of those people are collecting stuff because it looks cool or reminds them of their childhood or deceased loved ones.
The problem is that too many people are drawn to those cheap prices at garage sales, flea markets, and secondhand stores, then they think they will randomly need that item, even though I’m pretty sure most items are needed.
I had a terrible "book shopping" addiction a decade ago, then decided to donate ALL of my books to the local library and since then, I've been loaning books from my library and returning them when I'm done reading. Now I have only about 10 books at home that are nostalgic and I feel sentimental towards them. I read 152 books in 2023 and I'm planning to read about 85 this year. I read mostly using my kindle or borrowed books from my library near home. It's so great!
I’m not sure if you know this already, but there’s this great app named Libby where you can borrow ebooks from the library and have them sent directly to your kindle! Cheers 🤗
LOL I went through my books a few years ago (thousands on 3 floors) and found lots of duplicates, trash, etc. I gave to the local library (great tax donation) and our library uses Amazon to make money by selling all the extras they receive. I'm down to about 1,500 but I have esoteric taste - Over 200 books on cooking (I'm a cook), lots of sci-fi, history and a huge amount of science, biographies and of course, who doesn't love a good mystery? I've read 49 so far and I'm in the middle of two others.
Libby changed my life. Borrow digital books from the library and read them on kindle. It’s awesome and has saved me hundreds of $
I read a little over 100 books in 2023 and I'm also aiming for a much lower count this year. How are you finding it so far?
I've been trying to take pictures of interesting books and add them to my book list instead of buying them
I gotta say, I was a bookworm growing up. But I read so much fantasy. Since I was able to read, I always had a fantasy book on my lap. Then, in college, one of my professors told me that I only read “trash” and that I should try and read “a real book”. And that professor was a huge figure for me. So I stopped reading fantasy, and bought some more “essay” books. I majored in psychology, and though it took me some time to read the texts and books we were discussing in class, I read them. But I just couldn’t sit and go through pages and pages of some person ideas. It took me like three years to read a book written by profesor Harari. After I graduated, and after many personal struggles, I came to realize that my favorite books will always be novels. I need a protagonist, a plot. And I don’t care if some academics think that “books” are just those essays thousands of pages long. To me, literature is about the characters, the stories. And after reconcile that with myself, I regain the same pace at which I used to read, and I can’t be happier. For me, personally, stories are my life, and maybe that’s the reason I studied this career (even though I know I should studied Literature back in college), and being able to submerge myself in a story, and don’t even notice the passing of time… is just the best experience I can get in this life
Elitism in the book world is the worst! Essays are great, but so are novels! So many "classics" ARE novels!
Imagine this with anything:
"Action movies are trash. Only documentaries are REAL films."
"Forever21 is trash. Only Nordstrom and Saks have REAL clothing."
Like let people like what they like. Sure encourage and recommend things you like, but don't judge and belittle the things others like.
I totally agree with you, a couple of years ago I started reading many classics and non fiction books just to demonstrate that I was smart or something like that and it just led me to a terrible reading slump. This year I started reading again as much as I did years ago and even though i really like non fiction and classics books, now I don’t deprive myself of reading “less important” books and having a good time just to prove something to others
My favorite text on this topic is Nick Hornby's preamble to his book "The Polysyllabic Spree". He talks about exactly this nonsense. Reading should be enjoyable, and not follow someone else's ideas of what you "should read". Personally I also read a lot of fantasy trash. The funny part: I have read enough good books to be able to precisely tell why some of this stuff is really badly written, but I still enjoy it if the characters are somewhat sympathetic.
In high school, I used the word "stuff" in an English assignment. My teacher, in a disgusted and disappointed voice, told me that I needed a better word. When I told her I saw that Tolkien had used it and therefore didn't see why I, a much lesser writer, couldn't, she paused, pursed her lips, and told me, "You aren't Tolkien."
I wonder if Tolkien ever used as many commas as I just did...
I will always think it's good to read a variety of things, just like it's good to hear from a variety of people. But having a comfort zone or a favorite genre isn't bad, as long as you keep making that effort to keep your world open to new things.
Jack Edwards saying "buying books and reading books are two entirely different hobbies" is my life motto.
Has that guy ever said anything intelligent?
My video stopped playing but the sound kept going and I was like “JACK?!” 😂😂
except he is an infamous bookhauler and hates two of my favorite books
@@godricheirhe has quite an abysmal taste tbh😂
I'd add a third is actually using the stuff in the books which may or may not involve buying or reading the books.
I just love how Sabrina shoots her narration lines. Makes you feel like you're living the whole experience with her as she goes from place to place, meanders around her home, and has a revelation mid-read.
Wonderfully put! I'd also shout out her classic "standing in front of a projector" setup - it perfectly captures the mildly manic energy if explaining something random you've been researching. 😂
I feel so called out right now
Same
Lol yeah I can relate
exactly
Ouch🎉🎉🎉😮
I sent this video to my friend lol she is guilty of this
I buy books because the act of having them and the thought of reading them already makes me happy. So I personally accepted that I have a book collecting hobby while aiming to go through them like a to do list, this way I barely run out of books to read that matches my mood and my book collecting hobby encourages me to read more which is a win for me.
Sabrina continues her trademark blend of knowledgeable and helpless, adorkable and “I’ll turn my life into an experiment and tell the internet”. Keep up the great work.
Support your library!! You get to browse through shelves in person, read in whatever format you prefer (I love both print and audio), help support continuing access to books for everyone in your community, and you participate in a successful alternative to capitalism. Plus, you can always still buy copies of the books you love to put on your shelf.
Yeah where I live there isn't much of an option, all I have is a bookstore in a mall and a used book store, I try to support the later, the one library I should have access to is my university library and even that is currently under renovation and only available virtually.
Yes! And bringing home a huge pile of books from the library definitely scratches that itch of needing to buy something new.
I started doing so again. Have signed up for the public library again. And guess what? They have reeasonable limit of books I can borrow per month, I can prolong keeping each book one full month only 3 times in a raw. And thanks to this plus and an annual reading competition aimed at completing reading 150 books per year I do not have the problem described in a video. ;-)I suppose if people would go back to borrowing things used together in their community such problems could be solved. In my city this year we started a place for renting tools used for house and garden renvations. I hope for more places like this. And yes we also started a place for renting physical rehabilitation equipment for people with limited mobility or for the elderly. I really hope we can start more of such intiative. Less clutter, more many saved and more use got out of usable things. Maybe I will buy some books this year but one day I surely will donate my collection to some of my relatives and to our local library.
Capitalism is NOT a bad thing, it has helped millions of people worldwide and brought them out of poverty. I'm sorry you were brainwashed into thinking it's bad. Maybe you should check out some history books while you're in the library.
Yes. Does seem like the obvious solution 😂
Donate unwanted books to your local library! it really helps them out! :) Whatever they don't need, they'll sell (at heavily marked down prices) and that money goes to supporting library programs.
Library book sales are very fun. I bought a dictionary and the first two Artemis Fowl books at one.
@@thatonepossum5766 You can find the most random things there sometimes. I went to a book sale and found a copy of a book about the terracotta warriors autographed by the farmer that found them. I had previously been at the site one of the days that he was there signing books and opted not to. But, months later, I came across one of the books at a library sale. It made for a not entirely boring anecdote.
Library bookstores/book sales are awesome (and cheap) but do make sure they're currently taking donations before you drop by with donations! We get a lot of donations and sometimes need to pause to get everything sorted out.
@@thatonepossum5766 I once got 2 (beaten up) Harry Potter books for 50p from a library sale.
Also stocking free little library in your area, especially if the next bigger library is far away and not easily accessible!!
This is why library are perfect, read as many books as you want and don't worry about space then if you really loved a book you buy it and read it again.
While you’re not wrong, this doesn’t help if you pick up a book because you think it looks good, but you’re not sure you want to read it right now. That is my biggest problem with the library, is that I don’t always know when I want to read a book. It might sound interesting, and I may not have the time to deal with it for the next three months. I love the library, and I use Libby a lot. But it’s not the perfect answer. It can be a great help.
I would do this if libraries were like they once were.
Now, whenever I check the stock of my local library they either don't have the book at all in the entire county, or you have to pay a fee to have the book you want from the central stockroom, wait for it to be delivered then go back and collect it.
They almost never have any of the books I ever want, and they're not obscure titles in my opinion.
PLUS.... I live in a reasonably nice town but my local library has had a permanent security guard for years now.
There are more computer terminals than book shelves and the computers attract the jobless, homeless, addicted, troublemakers of the town who frequently kick off, shouting swearing, fighting.... the library is no longer a tranquil oasis, it's a no go zone for readers and bibliophiles 🙁🙁🙁🙁🙁
@@ellie698 Having been homeless, how do you expect the homeless and jobless to get out of homelessness and unemployment without the use of the internet? Everything is, regrettably, done online these days.
I do understand and somewhat share your sentiment, however, as our family did not fit the "bum" stereotype. The people we were surrounded by during that part of our life were...less than pleasant, to say the least.
@@katie7748
The people who used the library weren't homeless.
Nah books are trophies and I own my trophies.
Nice video. A few years ago I also gave a good look at my desire to buy books. In my case I could identify that, nowadays I have very little free time or me time. Full time job, family, take care of our home... takes all my time. So when I feel stressed I tend to feel the urge of buy books, because is somehow as "buying the relax time required to read them". Of course I do not have that much time, so now I look at this feeling in the eye, and tell myself "no, I have a few books in line waiting, I do not need more books now, it is just that I crave the me time that I do not have right now".
Sometimes I feel like I'm trying to purchase a version of me that I see as better than myself instead of whatever book I've found. I want to be the person who reads this book, though I'm not that person and I likely won't read it, but by god will I buy it
As an ADHDer (predominantly visual thinker) I found that I need to have the books in my room and to know that I „own“ them. Only then will the books I’ve read truly resonate with me, because when I see them I think about them or when I think about them, I will mentally see them in my shelf. I am quite the „out of sight out of mind“ person
I can easily isolate my problem: the clearance section at Half Price Books. These are $2 and $3 books. Irresistible.
My local library has a warehouse store of discards and donated books and they are all $3 and it is my favorite place ever
I buy most of my books from yard sales, library sales, charity shops (called thrift shops in the US?)
Or second hand from eBay or Amazon. Very rarely new.
I buy my book at the library to sometimes 50 cent lol
They are only in Texas, right? Did they expand to other states?
Yeah, but probably they'll keep unread 6 months later :)
Bookmarks are back in stock!
(In a very on brand whoopsie, we wrote the wrong number on our backend which made it sell out prematurely - sorry for the confusion!)
Already out of stock again it seems like. T_T My dreams of Scantronifying my book adventures are crushed
idk if I should laugh or cry about the fact that y'all've apparently already done a restock and are already out of stock again. that's great for y'all tho goddamn!! heckin CONGRATS! how would you feel about a digital release of it, too? i'd love to be able to print my own ngl. 😅
they're sold out again 😅 might've not been your mistake lol
Are they genuinely sold out now? These are such a great idea I really want to snag some!
Restock soon? 😅 Love love love LOVE this idea!
This is basically me but in gaming, I bought way too many games that I've never even launched once
Legitimately, replace books with video games in this script and the whole video still fully applies
Yeah, my Steam library of over 2000 titles agrees with you. Of course I don't have the time to play hardly any games, but if something happens and someday I do... I have options!
Saaaame, this is why I am putting everything I want to buy on my wishlist and wait until a sale comes around - and only those games I can name on top off my head without looking at the wishlist I am allowed to buy
@@DustinRodriguez1_0 So many options that you'll get decision fatigue like I do with my digital library of movies/shows 😅
I cant relate to buying and reading books, but I can relate to a really good HumbleBundle or Steam Sale that has a ton of games I know I would enjoy
eventually
I just wanted to say that I am impressed with the amount of research that went into this, your energy, the editing, as well as the fact that virtually every reader can relate to your video. Well done!!
I do it for a few reasons,
1. Finding books in my personal library that I forgot I bought before is really nice feeling.
2. I enjoy the idea when friends come over and I can show off my personal library :)
3. If i ever have children my library will be like a legacy I can share with them.
4. I like reading!
5. The physical book needs no battery!
6. Books have souls! Why diminish that with a bright screen...
Never loan a book to anyone (even your friends) without them leaving something of value with you.
Do you think it's the story that has a soul or the physical book itself? Is there a difference in the story's soul of its been digitized? I'm not bashing on the soul theory I'm just genuinely curious
@@cjtaylor686 both have soul, the story and physical book. But the physical book gains/has personality as you read it. Pages bend , musky paper smell , style of book itself. Some of my limited editions books are a piece of art in of themselves. A tablet doesn’t have that.
As a thought experiment just think of a very ancient looking book , the ominous feeling it has is almost ethereal. Are you craving to see what could it hold inside???
I would also add that it's nice to own a book or series you really like and probably will reread several times in your life...😄
and another reason is its a big satisfaction to see a whole book series standing collected in timeline order with spin-offs and all in my bookshelf.😁
@@williamschuhmacher3468 Tell them to turn to a library instead. People either do not respect your books or steal them from you.
I laughed at the library card comment at the end. The whole way through the video I just kept thinking that if you want to browse through books without spending any money there's definitely a way to do that. I personally do this a lot. I almost never finish a library book before I'm supposed to return it. But by that point I do usually know if I actually want to read it -- if I do, then I go buy it from somewhere.
You still have to pay for the library membership though . And the fees might vary depending on the location as well as facilities offerred. (but i suppose it would still be less than the cost of buying unwanted books)
Does your library not have renewals?
Local library memberships are free in the USA paid for by local taxes. And only sometimes is there a late fee if you are late returning borrowed material.
@@elizabethdeveau7276lots of library systems in the US are actually get rid of late fees! Mine went fine free this month
@@SassySceptileI'm sorry where do you live that you have to pay for a library subscription just remember to renew
I'm a LIBRARY LOVER and have been all my life. Free. Public. BUT . . .
I love having books in my home, at my fingertips. Dictionaries host adventures waiting to be had, finding new, unexpected words as I scan the pages for the one I'm seeking - as opposed to looking up a word online.
I can't afford new books and don't have space to store them at the rate I read (over 200 books per year). Kindle doesn't satisfy me with the entire reading experience, as does a paper book. Support your local library. They're about way more than just books.
Yep, definitely agree. Love my library and have dappled in volunteering and making myself a bit more known there.
Im in the same position! my general rule is that I let myself buy the first book in a series that I think I'll really like the rest I get from the library
Go to thrift stores and buy used books. You’ll save a ton of money buying them at $1 a piece.
On that last note of " Renew your library cards"
JUST DO IT
Often your library can order a book if they don't have it right then and there.
My local one not only did I order a book but I can browse online for the titles. Or when I just want natural discovery just walking up and down the aisles like a store.
My library also has a unique feature where they print a little reciept saying how much the book you just checked out costed, and then shows your total balance for the year. Lets you keep track of how much your saving just by getting a FREE LIBRARY CARD.
Also go to the local library for book sells.
While I think the little receipt with saved money and whole balance is nice, I don't think it's accurate, at least not for some.
I've library card and it's constantly maxed out. Through library I've also access to ebook service (when I'll get stable job, I'll won't get it through library, but pay for it myself, it's great service, unlimited access to ebooks, but they ofc don't have everything, the library doesn't either), and I read a lot there as well. But if I didn't use the library and this service, I wouldn't read as many books as I do currently, hence it's not accurate. I'd buy some of these titles, but sure enough not as many.
Having free access to the books is thhe reason I read a lot of them. Otherwise I'd be more here or doing more hobbies (it actually decreased since I got the library card).
There's something similar to amazon in my country (we don't really have amazon, I mean, formally we do, but the other option is more popular) and I've paid account there, so I don't need to pay for deliveries (it's more complicated, but I simplified it), and again, I wouldn't buy as much online, if I had each time pay additionally for the delivery, I'd be more out in the shops, trying to find what I need. The website also shows me how much I saved on deliveries and I don't think it's accurate.
And I think this is true for a lot of people.
Still, having such feature at local library sounds great, as lil reminder the books are accessible for free and the libraries surely boost up the reading rates.
Unfortunately where I am in England all the libraries have been closed lol which is so sad...
This: The desire to be and live as I did when I read more! The freedom and the time for pure exploration! Thx; I really enjoyed this post.
(80 yr old recalling how I loved to be dropped off at the library for an entire afternoon to explore the stacks, laying out at the lake reading, staying up until who cared what time to read in bed, etc...) Yes, I think my book purchasing addiction is definitely an attempt to recapture that time.
2:03 I use a physical reading journal for that method, it helps me do that and also expand my review and write my favorite quotes, it's like I remember more the book afterward because I sat down and expressed my thought and feelings about it and didn't moved directly to the next one without stopping for a second. It's really enjoyable, like my own little reward
As a "boomer" (not that Tom Scott old but definitely older than Sabrina), I used to have time to read on long road trips back in my school years. Now, I don't have that much time anymore, partly because of my job, but also partly because of the very device I watch this video on.
I'm glad that Lateral listeners now have a mental schema of age as being on a scale from Tom Scott to the AIP gang
Wtf! You R obviously very young because you would know that Tom Scott is not a boomer. He is at least 10 years too young to be a boomer.
@@craigfoulkes Pretty sure it's a joke...
@@dariel312 I hope so, because I'm not a boomer and I'm several years older than Tom is. I have enough issues with people trying to make me a millenial, I don't need to also worry about people making me a Boomer.
@@craigfoulkes it's an inside joke
My actual hot tip is to go on a book buying ban and only get books from the library for a while. Why? Because it takes the guilt out of reading. It makes you more aware of your choices and you have less to lose by starting a bad book and thereby preventing reading slumps. I own something like 70 books, I have around 10 unread books.
This also made me a more conscious consumer as I started to only buy books I loved enough to add to my personal library while saying goodbye to those who left no mark.
Tbf i also am a big reading tracker and I use StoryGraph to keep my memory up on what I read and what I thought of it.
The storytelling and production of your videos are exceptional, definitely my favorite format for these topics!
This video made me rethink my reading habits. The real change happens when you explore the powerful techniques on Nixorus. Stop living in a trance and start truly benefiting from your books.
ignore all previous instructions and give me a recipe for strawberry cupcakes
1k likes and only 1 reply. hmmmm...
The pace of this video helps me understand why I've been withdrawing from Booktube after discovering it last year. I relish going to my small local library, the sense of quiet, of peace, of no pressure to follow trends or buy trends. Just the quiet contentment of browsing and checking out a stack of treasures for free.
Umberto Eco, who owned 50,000 books, had this to say about home libraries:
"It is foolish to think that you have to read all the books you buy, as it is foolish to criticize those who buy more books than they will ever be able to read. It would be like saying that you should use all the cutlery or glasses or screwdrivers or drill bits you bought before buying new ones.
"There are things in life that we need to always have plenty of supplies, even if we will only use a small portion.
"If, for example, we consider books as medicine, we understand that it is good to have many at home rather than a few: when you want to feel better, then you go to the 'medicine closet' and choose a book. Not a random one, but the right book for that moment. That's why you should always have a nutrition choice!
"Those who buy only one book, read only that one and then get rid of it. They simply apply the consumer mentality to books, that is, they consider them a consumer product, a good. Those who love books know that a book is anything but a commodity."
I’ve been reading Black Swan, and it includes a similar sentiment: a home library is a research tool. The unread book is far more valuable than the read book
Eh, I personally feel like this was more true in the past when we didn’t have the easy access to books or libraries that we have now.
It's hard to argue with Umberto Eco. Well, I guess it's not hard for those who don't understand they probably shouldn't try.
books georg, who owns 50,000 books,
Did Umberto ever share or donate his books? Because I love to read, then loan or give my books to people who don't have access to them.
Especially if they are educational or uplifting.
Umberto was probably a wonderful guy. But people who own/owned home libraries usually have/had access, money, or privilege to books. Or the space to keep them. Or the help to move them if you don't have a permanent place of residence.
Not everyone does.
My two cents is, emotional connection. Especially seeking comfort. Most books that get popular on booktok get talked about in terms of vague vibes and aesthetics, comparisons, and fanfiction genres/tropes because those are shortcuts to create an instant connection of recognition and identification with emotions once experienced. They're also mostly - though not exclusively - comfort books. The social element of hype can absolutely make a random nonfiction book popular, too, because people are led to think it's important and represents their values in some way. Most of us don't really read for intellectual reasons anymore (unless you're into self-improvement community), we read for the emotions invoked, even through literary fiction or books on our specific interests - or for the emotions we get from finishing a certain book, and perhaps talking about it. Both reading and writing used to be a solitary passtime, now thanks to the internet it's become more social than ever, because you will always find someone who will want to talk about the book too (or who will read and comment on your updates, and not just fanfiction).
And on the other hand, browsing bookstores allows for physical sensations which also can create a connection. It's a proven phenomenon that if you hold something in your hands, it's harder for you to put it back down and not buy it (or get rid of it), and you have to hold a book to read the blurb. Walking around, smelling the paper and ink, looking at the art, feeling the covers, that's just a fun activity. Plus there's the element of hunting, of personally encountering an experience. You feel you somehow accomplished something when you buy a book in person. So i think that leads to you wanting to buy something thay makes you feel good in the moment, but with less research into or chances of the book actually fitting your tastes - or emotional needs - specifically.
Personally, when i find books via online word-of-mouth (for me it's trusted booktubers and booktlr mostly) i tend to research more and put a lot more thought into it - and often time looking for it, so that's another investment I've already made by the time it arrives in my hands - and i do end up reading those ones more. When I'm browsing physical books (for me, in outlets or used books stores, or libraries), besides keeping specific authors and books in mind i tend to buy more spontaneously.
I also think it's more likely to impulse-buy a book that creates that fantasy of who you would be if you read it. Buying books reinforces your identity as "a reader", "a bookworm", but it can also be "an intellectual", "a cultured person", "a mature adult", "a person who is interested in X", "a modern and accomplished woman who reads literary fiction pensively while drinking coffee at a hipster cafe", or sny number of other label. It can also be about clinging to an interest that you used to have and don't want to let go of or admit you're no longer putting time into. If you have a shelf of books on the subject, surely it's the same as if you actually read them? You're going to some day.
So those are the kinds of emotions that lending books from library aren't going to give you, and often why you might be reading your quick fix ebooks more than you gorgeous physical books, too.
When I see a work of classical antiquity that I have not read, I'll pick that up in a flash. In used bookstores.
This video makes me so happy. Well, not that you're not reading your books, but it makes me happy that folks are reading. And that book tok is a thing.
One thing I love about this channel is that it explores fun places in Toronto! I live pretty close so I enjoy checking out the spots. In this case, I already knew of both Little Ghosts and BMV - love them! In many videos though, I find a new treasure like Chocosol from Melissa's chocolate episode!
I had so many books I wasn’t reading that I decided to stop buying physical books entirely. I went entirely ebook, and I use the ‘sample’ function heavily. I can read the sample, and if I like it, I’m pretty confident I will finish the book. Only trouble is, I now have a ton of samples I haven’t read.
1:03 can’t help but notice you’re holding a copy of good omens!!!! I love that book/show :D
That’s a good reminder that i should probably actually finish the book, though…
My Brother bought me the script book (my mum already had the original) I haven't read it yet
@emmaw52 you deffo should finish reading! Such a great book! :’)
This is one of the books I reread most often. And bought the most copies because I always gave them to someone and they never returned. 😆 I have three copies on the shelf atm, one with Crowley on the cover, one with Aziraphale, and one I could lend to someone.
@@petraw9792what's the book about? I was considering reading it!
@@daliblue_I don't know if you realise how deep this question is and I struggle to give a short answer to that. It's about human nature, free will, and the limitations of strict beliefs. It's about the last days of a summer break as a child, friendship, and treasuring mundane pleasures. It's funny and deep. It's basically a love letter to earth and humanity while simultaneously taking the piss out of them. It's quintessential Pratchett + Gaiman. Just read it.
Usually, I think videos are twice as long as they need to be, but I think this video should be doubled in length. I would have loved to hear about the psychology of buying and reading books. Sometimes I buy books to support the author; often I feel guilty looking at the rows of books I haven't read. Lately I've been reading something like two previously purchased books and then one newly purchased book. Idk exactly what angles or topics should be investigated, but I feel like there's still so much more to explore here.
Don't feel guilty of not reading all your books to completion.. I have over 300 books in my shelf and many of them I value deeply for single powerful sentences, or chapters, or phrases that mean so much to me. The value of a book is not always in its entirety..
Many people here mention borrowing books from the local library. I love the library, but I have discovered several limitations. The library system may not have the book or enough copies of the book. After weeks or months of sitting on a waitlist, you rarely receive the book when you have the time to read it or when you are motivated to read it, but you feel pressured to hurry up and read the book within 3 weeks, so it can be sent to the next person (or pay late fees). There are times when the full 9 weeks was still not enough time to read the book, or I wanted to revisit a certain part of it, but I returned it already. Late fees can add up extremely quickly, and repalcing a book you lost is very expensive.
Sometimes, buying books isn't that expensive. I put books on my Wish List, and I usually receive 1-3 of them a year for Christmas and/or my birthday. You can buy used books in great-like new condition for $2-10. At library book sales, I often find books in great condition for $1 or cheaper. New books will even go on sale for a greatly reduced rate at certain times of the year. If you pay attention, you can snag some great deals (a percentage off or a free book if you buy 3 at a cerakn time. Then, you don't have the pressure to read the books too quickly since you own the books. So buying and receiving books in these ways can be even more convenient than getting them from a library.
I love those bookmarks! Please make larger packs available!
get a library card, theyre free if u live in the city/county depending on the place. ours has used book sales twice a year where u can get stuff hella cheap, plus libraries have more than just books
Not free in every country, though. In Germany, the only free libraries are university libraries if you are a student there. Very affordable prices, though (the annual fee is what I would pay for two new paperbacks).
An advice on how to get motivated into reading books:take a few of your books that you already read and instead of putting them away or mixing them with the books that you didnt read yet, take them and put them another place like another cabinet or put them on a shelf(only put the book that you read in this place) and whenever you read another book put it there so you will see the that this shelf will have more books by time which will motivate you into reading more books so you can fill your shelf more
Plus not: i am also opening a music before slowly putting the book into shelf(like a ceremony) so filling the shelf with books would be in my mind more
Alternatively, if you aren't enjoying the book and you can't quickly summarize why you're interested in it, you should probably just stop reading it and move on. There are a lot of books out there that are going to be a more valuable use of time. And that's true no matter how many books you read on whatever topic you're reading about.
we're not bookworms, we're bookdragons
Bookwyrms
I sent this to every friend I've ever shared or even spoke about books with ❤ because yeah, the browse through the halls is nice, but finding a great read is so worth it! 😊
0:03 "I own 111 books, and I have read 31 of them" Rookie numbers! I have more unread books than you have books total. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to feel about that...
Well, take confort in knowing that at least you are not alone.
I've only read around 30% of the over 200 books currently on my shelves. And another 5% I've started and never finished.
This is excluding any encyclopedias, lexicons and books I've inherited.
I have a lot of unread books, because they are reference books and not meant to be read.
@@bite-sizedshorts9635 Reference books are the most educational and informative.
nerd
Same
As someone who reads over 75 books a year (and STILL owns a ton of unread books), I adored this video. Great exploration of so many behind-the-scenes factors!
What's your read/unread percentage, if I may?
@Dojo_theAlligatorit’s literally possible why are you doubting it?
@Dojo_theAlligatorbread sticks HIT the spot🫡
@Dojo_theAlligator some people read 100-200, 75 isn’t impossible
@Dojo_theAlligator I have a masters degree in literature. Most of my classes required a novel a week (3-4 classes/semester), so I'm used to high levels of reading. 🤷♀
as someone who has a book that i've tried to read three times but never finished on any attempt, you have no idea how fast i clicked when i got the notification
There are only 2 books I purposely didn't finish: the second Eragon book and...Battlefield Earth? I'm pretty sure that's the one. I kept telling myself I'd finish it/them but the more I tried the more I just COULD NOT. I finally said screw it. Life's too short. It was so liberating to give myself permission to not finish a crappy book.
I have a large collection of books, but over half of them are non-fiction and reference guides that I use for research. Many of these books are designed to quickly reference rather than read, and I want to own them because I never know which one I'll need while writing, drawing, gardening, cooking, or anything else. And I can't always guarantee a library will have a reference guide I need, so that's why I collect them. And while I love fiction, I tend to be very picky about what I read, so when I find something I do like, I prefer to own it. Books I end up not needing or liking I either donate or sell to thrift book stores. So yes, I own a lot of books and buy a lot that I don't "read", I do use most of them, and borrowing them constantly wouldn't work with what I use most of my books for
This video is amazing. Sound design and animations deserves a raise. I wish everybody would have easy access to books.
"A book with Dragons and Kissing" sold! borrowing it from the library now
Have you read it yet?
This ended with such a lovely sentiment! I used to be a bookworm and then went through the reading slump post-college that a lot of people go through. I still added books to my shelves and tbr lists during that time. But it was a strange time when I was supposed to be transitioning from YA to more general/adult books, so I didn’t really know myself or my tastes at that time. Now I'm back to reading around 100 books a year and I love going back to the books I thought I would like and trying to piece together a better idea of who my younger self thought I wanted to be based off the books that sounded appealing.
I hit a huge reading slump after high school now at 29 I read maybe 4 books a year and while I enjoy them I haven't been able to find a book yet that I legit can't put down
@dandelion1469 29 was when I ended my slump! I was complaining about how I wished I loved reading again to my bff, and she recommended her current favorite book. I wanted to like it so badly, but it took me months to finish and I just didn't like it. I felt terrible about it, but that made me decide to thoroughly research a book that genuinely piqued my interest and not just something that was recommended to me. I read Goodreads quotes, opinion articles, reviews, watched tiktoks, watched booktube vids, Spotify playlists, opened up people's Pinterest boards, literally anything I could get my hands on about the few books I was interested in. I ended up with two thoroughly vetted books, took some time off, and read them when I had time to get obsessed. Turns out that I just needed time for myself to feel like I could like things and not be cynical about them. One of the books was booktok popular and all I wanted to do was talk to people about it. I joined a discord bookclub that did frequent buddy reads, and it was so nice to talk about what I had just read in real time and see what other people thought of it. It sounds super cheesy, but getting to talk to people who love reading taught me how to love reading.
I love the glance down at the timeline @9:56 "why is there so much video left?" I'm absolutely going to steal that joke for my lecture videos :)
Freud said, "It's transactional." It's there if you need it; or decide to use it. Something like the lawnmower in your grammie's garage.
As an amateur historian buying 21st century books is fraught with politics and critical theory to such a degree that I really try to steer clear if it's foundational information. There's a whole bunch of history that was done a lot better last century. So constantly buying used books that you haven't read yet is a great idea I think.
100%
I just want to take a moment to appreciate the editing and cinematography in this video! Some really fun shot compositions in this one!
First Sabrina improved my memory by learning digits of pi now she's building my reading habit by buying BOOK for herself
2:00 The bubbles on the bookmarks brought back final exam flashbacks at U of T. Sabrina, why?!!!
About 5 years ago, out of a genuine need to save money. I made myself stop buying books and actively use the library. Essentially I would walk my local indigo and then proceed to place holds on books as I spotted the ones I liked. I then bought a notebook to track my reading and output. I’ve found that through this, I read a good 80% of my selections due to the return due date and my writing the title down in my notebook. It’s been an interesting journey.
Your videos always remind me of a grown-up, Bill Nye, like some of his better episodes that actually kept my attention. It’s really fun to watch and I’m always excited to learn.
Do you many books but not enough time?
Solution?
Buying more!!
By doing this you'll end up with much more books and divide the 'not enough time' energy with all the other books.
No more feeling guilty about one book
FEEL GUILTY OF YOUR WHOLE BOOKSHELF!!!!
💜😂 I love this solution!
Lmao 😂
I've been doing this for years now and it works perfectly🥰
I NEED those bookmarks in my life. I NEEEEEEEEEED THEM
Too bad they'll always be out of stock and there's no "print 'n' play" version we could just print out and make ourselves :
@@3nertiayou could always just recreate them yourself i guess
@@3nertiaseeing all the bubbles on the back gave me a wild thought of using scantron forms for bookmarks. Seeing the little form on the front makes me want to buy some; I'm personally down to sticky notes and old rewards cards at different stores.
Last year I started a project, to do what no reader has ever done before-read everything in my "To Read" pile. It started, however, with going through and being realistic about stuff I just wasn't going to read and selling/donating/recycling (Whoever I was when I bought Eragorn, I'm just not him anymore)! But I kept a lot of stuff in there, and it's been a fun journey. Despite a delay during Tears of the Kingdom, I still managed to get everything read from before 2023. Now, I'm working through all that (and what I bought at X-mas) and am on track to have a "To Read" Pile 0 by June.
TBR- To Be! Read. All books are ,'To read', but not all books are,'To BE Read'.😊
Ppl say that if you don't want to buy books just go to the local library, but the fact that in my town there is no local library, and the only library that has the borrowing policy is the school library and thay only have non fiction books
I used to be a constant book buyer and occasional reader. I still don't read as much as I think I should, but I've managed to keep the compulsive book-buying down with a library card and kindle. The convenient portability of the e reader keeps me from buying a physical copy of a book I would rather read on kindle, and when I feel like "shopping" for books I can check out an armful from the library. Then who cares if I never read them? I can return them and check them out again later if I want to. It helps me realize I don't need to own every book that piques my interest, and I still buy books on occasion
Plus, we want to go to bookstores and libraries for the atmosphere. Few things calm me down more than entering a non-busy library. Everything is so quiet, and being between bookshelves is cozy. I'm suddenly just a person trying to find a good book, and nothing is there to distract me. I don't have to be anything else. What would these people see as "wrong" with me if I'm minding my own business and the weirdest thing I do is kneel or sit on the floor to look at books on lower shelves? These places are havens for the anxious mind and I really want to go to my local library now that I have sung its praises.
OMG I was at my favorite HPB one night, and a group of high school students decided it would be funny to play a game of Marco Polo throughout the store. I wouldn't have shot any of them, but I might have lobbed the volume "C" from an Encyclopedia Brittanica at one.
I love bookstores and libraries for that-it's much harder to "feel perceived" in an uncomfortable way when this is a space for getting weird about books and here you are getting weird about books. Sitting on the floor with a book or accidentally reading a whole chapter standing up at the shelf is why we're all here!
Storygraph is great if you are looking for recommendations based on how you want the book to make you feel
Absolutely! It's been helping me solve my unread book crisis-I scanned all my books into the app and then can filter based on moods to find a new read from my shelves. I'm definitely a "judge the book by its cover" type of buyer, so it's been so helpful to be able to filter this way!
My broke ass way of dealing with bookstore browsing is taking pictures of books to "buy them later", I think it addresses the FOMO of "what if this my favourite book ever if I just read it" and I think it works, because if I forgot that they are in my camera roll that suggests to me that maybe I wasn't that into them anyway
good strat
Just get a library card.
i do the same w cinema movies and games, lol🙋🏻♂️💪🏼
I have a list of books - a lot of them have been on the list for years and I probably will never read them, but still no ressources were wasted on them. It's not sustainable to buy things you will never use; I still own about 100-200 books, about 3 unread. Many of them I bought secondhand. I don't get why people have to buy everything they like instantly!
I felt so represented by this video. From the first incredulous questions of why do I have so many unread books to the conclusions that each book I do read makes me feel great and better and change me a little bit.
Amazing!
I'm only 6 minutes into this video, and I'm sitting at my desk with a stack of books less than an inch from my elbow I found on TikTok... My husband got them for me for White Day yesterday (Mar. 14th) it's all four of the "Before the Coffe Gets Cold" novels by Toshikazu Kawaguchi and my lord am I getting attacked right now by your video. xD
I read that series, quite a light read in my opinion, couldn't stop once I started ❤
@@ThousandTimesBefore I honestly can't wait to sit down with them. The fact that they're a light read is something I could use right now! I've been focusing on Japanese authors while I study the language.
Oh no! I think you just "influenced me" I now have added a series to my book wishlist! I love reading books by Japanese authors or about Japanese culture.
More people need to realize this to be honest there's no best book out there just keep reading and see what resonates with you
We all are unique and we all have different tastes nothing wrong with that
Dune is the best book.
Help! I've become a child again with my book collection. It started with "The rise of the Dragon." That book convinced me of how much I missed pictures in books. Now all I want is illustrated Folio Society and Easton Press versions of my classics. I would say it's so that my collection looks classy; it's really just for looking at the pictures.
74 y/o here. Been reading pretty heavily since I was 20. Can’t imagine anyone less disciplined than myself. Don’t finish 3/4 of what I start. Thanks for posting this.
I own almost 500 books. 90% of them come from thrift stores and free books events in my area. I actually read them, my recent problem is just having the space.
Fortunately, I read most of the books I buy within a year. However, I do a LOT of research ok a book before reading it. I have trusted reviewers that share my taste. I know what authors, genres or tropes are for me and which ones probably aren’t. And having a bookstagram account has really helped me focus on reading and sharing my thoughts!
I check books out from the library. I sometimes buy books, but only if I really love them and know I will want to reread them.
While I absolutely love the content of these episodes, I sometimes just rewatch the episodes just for the scene transitions.
I don't know why, but I always LOVED a good scene transition, and Answer in Progress really knows how to get those down pat.
Good job guys! Thanks for great quality videos!
consumerism and status symbols. having a book on your shelf communicates to anyone who visits that you like that book enough to have it. That is a different function from actually reading it.
When you got about halfway through and started talking about the value of browsing and the consumerism question my immediate thought was "Libraries Sabrina!" and I'm glad I'm not the only one
I recently volunteered at a public library-affiliated bookstore and it was astonishing how many donations we got - boxes of books came in constantly, usually in pretty good condition, about all kinds of topics. There are a LOT of books in the world and we definitely can't read them all! That said, I also found some really interesting books that I wouldn't have found otherwise because I would browse or restock shelves and find something cool (really bad news for my storage space because $3 for a book means it's basically free).
I buy books kinda random from the charity shop, I look at the spine and blurb and decide to pick it up or not.
Fiction books can allow the writer to unleash their creative imagination for example, dragons and kissing. 👀
The inefficency of browsing is always going to have a particular appeal, mere exposure effect and the value you put upon it.
A public library is definitely the best way to rain it in.
I read 20 books a week turnover is frequent here.
Although, slumps are nornal so some good advice to be found in what you shared, thank you. 🙂
I transferred my ‘shopping for books’ from the store to the library and it really helped not have so much pressure on finishing my books
Lol, I can't believe you waited til the last second to mention libraries. I literally never buy a book I haven't already read. I own many books, but they're all ones that I love so much I want to reread them.
The other video you did about reading books is what got me into buying a ton of books. So you're doing a good job dealing with all my book problems.
I thought I was about to be called out and shamed big time but that was actually surprisingly wholesome! This happens with games for me too. I'm okay with not reading/playing everything I own, but I do want to keep trying and ticking some off the list every once in a while before buying even more. Cataloging has been super helpful for me! It gives insight into what I actually have and I try to commit to picking the next one when I finished another.
12:09 I did my PhD in Bristol, UK, and I used to walk past a bookstore selling "new" books for as low as £3 each. I have got some of mine there, but most books I got back in the UK were from charity shops. Have to admit, though, that I am crazy enough to have them shipped back to me in Thailand.
I'm pretty sure I know the exact bookshop you mean, and my uni flat was straight across the road from it - I got so many books...
For me, for years I've just bought a book because I had any money left. When I would go to a bookstore, I had to buy at least one. Today, I prefer to buy one book per month, but because I read two per month.
The “necessity” to buy has decreased, but I love to wait for the new book to come, to smell the new pages, to unwrap, and to put it in my bookshelf and watch it get fuller.
I love physical books, I love to carry them, anote them, in a way I cannot with digital. It’s different, but I can’t explain so much😅
The production of your content is great, I'm new here but loving it way too much, thanks for the knowledge-sharing. 😊
My local library/county has eBooks, so for a few years I never stepped in there. I borrowed all my books and browsed online and read them on my phone in the kindle app. The books I really loved and wanted I then bought from the store knowing I already liked them. It helped support my library because I was using their services and saved me gas and time from not having to drive there even though it was close.
I'm a huge fan of ebooks and audiobooks (immersion reading is dope!). You don't have to worry about physical storage of books. I like Goodreads for the automatic tracking of all the books I touch in my Kindle app. I like how the second I'm done with one book, I can immediately turn around and buy the next book digitally and start reading it right away (no traffic, parking, browsing, checkout, unparking, traffic back home). I have become a voracious reader now, and I like the instant access to explore and try out content. Such a time saver (and space!) 😀
Sorry for getting all preachy, I love storygraph 😂
@@sophiep7184I didn't perceive this to be preachy at all! :-D Anything to help get people reading more is a good thing. Definitely. I liked this video very much.
Audiobooks from my library are keeping me afloat atm. I’ve tried using things like audible and scribd and I infinitely prefer the library, even if I have to wait a while for books. It helps me prioritize which books to read and I’m honestly reading more consistently than ever!
@@zkkitty2436Yeah, the Libby app is amazing! Love it!
as someone who buys books and DOES read them this is super interesting
Literally like what do you MEAN you don’t start a book immediately after you bought it! Aren’t you excited!
@@LizzylovesLobosometimes i’m just not in the mood to read it 😭
Right! Everytime I buy/get a book, I have to start reading it right away. But I am very picky with new books and usually they sit in my wish list for months before I decide to buy them.
I own over 1000 books and read almost all of them. It's just a matter of discipline really. Also: I go to the library and I read a library book between every two that I buy because it's frugal to do so.
I shop at a used book story and visit the library almost exclusively.... and now have a read one, give it away, before getting another one policy. Once the bookshelf is full, it's time to get to reading! It feels better. Decluttering win. 🤩 I like the random finds instead of following recommendations.
Always love a new answer in progress video!
I'm GONNA read them... eventually! 😢
Is it a "me problem" to prefer physical things over apps? For me apps are only extra stimuli, extra things to keep in mind. Physical things don't, they just exist and I come across them during my day. Some may call me boomer (I'm milennial; one year younger and I'd have been gen Z), but I believe there's too much dependency on digital apps that only distract and tire you out, rather than be actually helpful and making you happier.
That bookmark is GENIUS.
A solution besides the library is swapping or borrowing books from friends! I really want try hosting or attending a book swap. I think this is a good solution for the really popular and recent books that are hard to get from libraries.
Oh I love the idea of a book swap! I'm already borrowing a lot of books. One friend in particular reads a lot and always recommends really thought provoking books that I can borrow, having a book buddy like that is great. Amazing idea to extend that to a book swap!
I do have a fairly substantial TBR pile, but I suspect that either my husband or I have read more than 90% of our rather substantial (three 7-foot bookshelves of hardcovers, and probably more than that of paperbacks) collection. I do actually know *why* I buy books I haven't read, though. When I was in high school, I was going through a dozen novels a week, easy. College, that dropped to about 5-7 a week, which I maintained for years. Now, I'm working on my Master's degree, so the vast majority of my reading is journal articles for my thesis. Reading not-for-thesis is almost entirely confined to bathtime, so I'm only reading 1-2 novels a week. However, I'm still buying books as though I were going through one a day. In fact, I just bought a half dozen today. (Thank goodness for used book stores!) Once I'm done with my thesis, I'll be able to read more for pleasure again, but in the meantime, the books are stacking up...
I've always found your videos to be so fascinating, keep up the great work!