dave

Someone once made the case to me that having bookshelves at home was narcissistic.

The books are all read, will unlikely ever be opened again, and are prominently on display so visitors are in awe of one’s reading accomplishments. Apart from potentially inspiring conversation (competing to display greater literary knowledge), they serve as nothing more than ego boosters or inconvenient wall-paper.

Found it hard to mount a rousing defense for the venerable paper tome. I don’t like the smell of them, they’re awkward to shift and consume valuable trees. Looking at my limited shelf at the moment, considering all the problems it is going to cause me, I can’t think of many reasons other than a desire to display knowledge that makes me keep them.