Neil Gaiman's Bookshelves | Hacker News Reader

Neil Gaiman's Bookshelves

blog.shelfari.com

47 pointskqr211 comments

Don't assume he's read even a quarter of them.

From Black Swan, regarding Umberto Eco's private library of 30k books:

"... a private library is not an ego-boosting appendage but a research tool. Read books are far less valuable than unread ones. The library should contain as much of what you do not know [as possible]." (emphasis Taleb's)

That is am amazing library. Someday, maybe I hope to have one that even remotely comes to one like that.

Having said that, I for one, tend to read quite a bit, but find myself discarding books (esp. fiction) because I know I will not read those again (with the exception of a few). I have since moved my source of fiction books from buying to checking them out at the local public library.

I wonder if Neil Gaiman finds himself doing the same thing, and if so, then this collection would be the books that he found himself keeping in his library. That makes me think - how much has the man read in his lifetime?

I tend to buy books still, as I have limited time for reading and don't want the hassle of a return date or not being able to find what I want. When I'm done, I give them to the library once my copy has made the rounds with people I know who may be interested. I used to keep them all but was moving about once every 12-18 months and one time just got tired of lugging around 20 boxes of paperbacks that I would doubtfully ever re-read.

yup, whats the point in keeping a book when we know we aren't going to read it again? when I was a kid, I had a collection of about 900-1000 books, but realized no point in just hoarding them, so gave away those that I had read to my school library.

In addition to libraries, you could check out sites like bookmooch.com, I've used this particular site, it works as advertised.

The point is you can look something up when you want to. I also am never entirely certain I will not re-read parts of particular books a few years later, and it's just really nice that they're just there, ready to be read even in the middle of the night. Re-acquiring a book may be difficult in certain cases, and takes time even for the easy ones.

I resemble this problem.

More to the point: if you write, publishers will insist on sending you books -- review copies, stuff to cover blurb, multiple copies of your own publications. They mount up. Then there's the stuff you read for your own pleasure. And the books you buy for research on specific projects and dip into. And the stuff you buy because you might write about that topic, next year maybe, and don't get around to reading. (At least Amazon.com has relieved that particular pressure! Now I can afford to just jot down an ISBN and move on.) And, and ...

Damn, I need to go order another eight bookcases. Wonder where I'm going to put them?

In the middle of the room. Or on top of another one, like I'm doing.

My particular problem is having hundreds of books in my Amazon shopping cart. When I finally NEED to order a book, I first get to hem and haw over dozens of books whether I should order them or put them in the oubliette (also known as 'wish list').

This is quite fantastic, more selection than some public libraries I know.

I would not be surprised if he has read a vasy majority wholly and the rest partially. Some people just seem to really enjoy the escapism offered by books over that availible through other means (TV, Film, Video Games). Just imagine what portion of his day is either spent reading (for work and relaxation) and writing. Astounding man.

Sign of a true nerd/geek/hacker: the books are alphabetized by author (at least in the first two pictures).

When you have that many books it's a pain to find one if they aren't organised in some fashion.

Just WOW !.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com