> I suspect that in a generation or two, to walk into a home with bookshelves filled with books will be akin to walking into a home with original art on the walls. Both will be rare occurrences — even if the art is not by an old master or even if the books are not first editions or even classics. Their material presence on the shelves will provide aura enough
This is already the case today, at least for me. So many homes and apartments without books, or just a few decorative ones on a coffee table. Anytime I end up in an apartment with a decent bookshelf I get excited and immediately run over to judge their taste and see where it intersects with my own.