How many books do you own?
By puccagirl
@puccagirl (7294)
Israel
September 28, 2010 8:05pm CST
So just out of curiosity... since I know there are many people who read a lot here on MyLot: How many books do you guys own/have at home?
In my case, I think I have somewhere between 300-400 books at the moment. I used to have more but I got rid of them when I moved a while ago.
How about you?
7 people like this
21 responses
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
29 Sep 10
Wow, that is a lot of books. I am not sure how many books I have but not 300-400, maybe 100.. I have a lot of magazines however.
1 person likes this
@puccagirl (7294)
• Israel
3 Oct 10
I used to have tons and tons of magazines too, but these days I mostly read blogs instead, so I don't have as much. It saves a lot of space I guess.
@knicnax (2233)
• Philippines
29 Sep 10
Wow, you really counted how many books you have? I don't know how many books I have, probably close to 50, My dad has more than a hundred though. Books are really expensive so I make it a point to look in bargain bins, but I usually find love stories there so I don't buy much from there. I used to buy used books in ebay, for a Php 20 to 120 per book. (Php 45 = USD 1).
I stopped buying since I got an aPad. I just download books of the net. Though I'll probably still buy books because new books/alive authors charge for the ebooks, which are expensive as compared to a physical book :)
@puccagirl (7294)
• Israel
3 Oct 10
No, I haven't really counted them, it is an estimate. I think I will also start reading ebooks more, they are cheaper and do not need storage after all, so it is indeed a great solution.
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
29 Sep 10
Are you talking about what I personally own or what my family also have? If you are talking about what we all have, I can't count them. My son has his bookcase in his room, then I have two in the living room, one for my reading books and one for my cookbooks..Then I have three school books and then probably about 4-6 boxes in the attic that probably hold about 30-50 books depending on the size. I would say that if my husband would take one whole wall and turn it into a large bookcase,I can start a small library..lol
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
3 Oct 10
Lol, you sound like me, obviously you would since you have many books like I do..Readers unite!!! 
@puccagirl (7294)
• Israel
3 Oct 10
That would be really nice I think, Carmela! I have always wanted to have a library of my own!
1 person likes this
@FFBernie (42)
•
6 Oct 10
I have more than a 100 stock at home. But since high school i have been reading from the my schools library. Would Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew count? I have in my collection sci fi, paper backs , self help , books about health , etc. Of course religious books also.
1 person likes this
@NoWayRo (1061)
• Romania
29 Sep 10
I have about 6,000 books - sometimes I think I might go into business by opening a library for the neighborhood. This is the result of three generations buying books constantly, even if they're weren't always heavy readers.
I still buy books by the dozen every time I walk into a bookstore, even if, as you might imagine, I have tons of literature I haven't read at home. One time, when I was on a trip abroad, I got so excited about the selection of English literature available there, that I bought about 30 books, and had to throw away some of my clothes, because I couldn't fit everything into the suitcase.
I rented out my apartment last year, and I had give the tenant a price reduction, so that she would keep some of my books there, because I had no idea what to do with them.
@GhostCat (313)
• United States
9 Oct 10
My husband and I have well over 6000 books. When we got married 20 years ago, we each brought around 3000 books into our combined household. We've been trying to pare down our books ever since we got married. Neither of us had gotten rid of any books. We both still had all our books from university. Many of them we never looked at again. There are some books I am reluctant to part with because I love the titles. But I also like to reread books. But there are many books that I just could never quite finish. I tend to hang on to them because I think I will eventually finish them, but since I have scanned them like I did when writing papers in college I'm not likely to finish them.
Ten years ago we had a house fire and moved from a 4 bedroom house to a 2 bedroom apartment. We have been trying to down size all our belongs and the extensive book collection, difficult when we keep buying books.
I keep thinking I want a Kindle or an iPad for reading books, but there is something about the feel of a book in your hands, the touch of the paper that I can't get from the electronic media. Maybe I am just too old to convert completely to the electronic media, but it would make storing books much easier. 
@puccagirl (7294)
• Israel
3 Oct 10
Wow, that is impressive! I would love to have a large collection like that, believe it or not! Having a library at home is a life long dream of mine!
@JUNGLE (1157)
• South Africa
7 Oct 10
I have my own personal library at home,and at present I have just over 2000 books.I mainly own technical books that deal with Drawing & Painting,Meditation,Hatha Yoga,Cinema Books, [mainly concerning movies of the earliest times through the 20s,30s,40s,50s,and 60s]Kung fu,Jiu jitsu and many assorted How To Books.I also have lots of fiction and other novels,and lots of comic books[I have just started a collection]I also began downloading free ebooks from the internet.I love reading and learning from books.
@abbey19 (3106)
• Gold Coast, Australia
29 Sep 10
I have always loved books from as far back as I remember - and still do! I robably own about 300 books, and my hubby always wants me to have a clear-out and get rid of the books I've read, but I just can't seem to do it - they feel like my old friends!
I am going to have to sort through them one day soon when we finally downsize, but I know I will have a hard time parting with them! 
I am going to have to sort through them one day soon when we finally downsize, but I know I will have a hard time parting with them! @puccagirl (7294)
• Israel
3 Oct 10
I know how you feel! I have a real hard time getting rid of books too, so far I have only ever done it when I have moved, because then I really had to, otherwise I almost never do it. (even though I should probably)
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
3 Oct 10
Hi Puccagirl,
I have around 20 books in all. I used to have a room that was literally lined with bookshelves. It was my little get-away room when I lived with my ex. When I moved into my apartment, I had a lot less room and so had to get rid of a lot of things. I donated a lot of my books to the salvation army, keeping only some of the reference type books and my Alice in Wonderland set, Anderson Fairy Tale book and a few books that I want to read. I still read a lot but now, I pass on the books after I've read them and I also visit the library more. I just don't collect books like I used to anymore.
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
29 Sep 10
I have always been an avid reader. Reading books is something I have always enjoyed. i do have a lot of books, but i don't have nearly the amount you do. Hundreds of books is quite an awesome collection!@puccagirl (7294)
• Israel
3 Oct 10
Well, I would say that it is a good start. I do not plan to stop buying books any time soon, so I am sure my collection will still grow!
@redmaryjane (891)
• United States
29 Sep 10
I counted about 450-480. I've only read 90. This makes me feel inferior. I am planning to give some away when I move though.
The reason why I have so much books is mainly because I shop for them. I'm the type who shops for books. As in my retail therapy lies solely in books. A new Booksale branch opened very near my house very recently and very recently, I was in a kind of low point that needed a joy that can be bought with books that cost 10-20 Php.
@puccagirl (7294)
• Israel
3 Oct 10
I know what you mean, I buy so many books too, but I read most of them to be honest, so I think it is okay. You should try to read some of your books, since you already have them, I think. At least take a look and try to remember what attracted you to them in the first place before you give them away.
@kath83 (81)
• Philippines
5 Oct 10
I think I have a collection of books that rangers to 350-400, without counting magazines and journals. Some are story books for children, others are reference materials, languages, history and pockets books. Some of my elementary books are still present. I don't throw books, these are precious to me and my family. You can backtrack your childhood with these books.
@asyria51 (2861)
• United States
5 Oct 10
If you include all of the books that i have when I start teaching again, i have way over a thousand. Books that are adult and I have read or re-read I probably have close to 200. My husband had close to that amount but cleaned some out a while ago. I have all of the Stephanie Plum books up to 15. I have a bunch by VC Andrews, but have not read them since I was in high school or early college. I just hate parting with books. They are my guilty pleasure.
@Owenebs (14)
• New Zealand
29 Sep 10
in my study i have a large bookshelf roughly 3m wide by 3m tall, also, in my bedroom i have a smaller on 1m wide by 3m tall, and another book shelf in my sewing room 6m long by 1 m tall, in total i firuge roughly 1500 books, give or take a few hundred. i grew up in a house with a personal library, so im used to being aorund a lot of books, a house just doesnt feel like a house unless it has a lot of books in it.
@puccagirl (7294)
• Israel
3 Oct 10
wow, that is an impressive collection as well! I agree by the way, I also grew up in a house with a lot of books, and I do think that has influenced me, because almost none of my friends read as much as I do, or buy as many books as I do either.
@GardenGerty (157735)
• United States
29 Sep 10
I probably have about as many as you do. I would not even dream of having enough time to count them, or even to locate where they are. I have shelves and shelves, in several different rooms. Honestly, I think it it is smarter to read at the library. I have a lot of little kids books and paperback books. Reading is a good hobby.
@lynnemg (4529)
• United States
30 Sep 10
Without going through and counting each book, I will estimate that I have 100-200 books in my home. I also have a lot at my mom's house that I have yet to get and bring home. Of the one's I have, I plan to go through them and donate the ones I have duplicates of to the local library.
@jaiho2009 (39142)
• Philippines
29 Sep 10
Hello,
I don't know how many books do i exactly had,but i can say that i had a hundreds book in my daughter's room becoz she also loves reading and i transferred some books to her room.
I do love reading a lot,and i always look for books sales in my favorite bookstore.
Have a good day always
@sjhaeki (795)
• Philippines
3 Oct 10
wow... that many and you actually kept a tally about it. well, i'm not really one who buys books to read, i borrow from the library. i probably have around 20 - 30 books, half are fiction half are medical books, since i'm in a medical field ( i just assume it's a half-half).
@Owenebs (14)
• New Zealand
29 Sep 10
well i have a large bookshelf in my study that is about 4m by 3m, and a smaller one in my bedroom about 3m by 1m, and two in my sewing room, one 6m by 1m, and the other 1m by 3m, so in total i figure i have roughly 1500 books, give or take several hundred. i grew up in a house with a personal library, so to me a house just doesnt feel like a house unless it has a lot of books in it...
