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You Keep Buying Books You Never Read, The Japanese Have A Word For It
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What Happened?
The Japanese term 'tsundoku' describes the habit of acquiring books with the intention of reading them, only to leave them unread. This phenomenon highlights our love for collecting stories and the pleasure of anticipation.
Key points
- Tsundoku refers to the accumulation of unread books.
- The term combines Japanese words for piling up and reading.
- The concept has been in use since at least 1879.
- Buying books can provide psychological satisfaction even if they remain unread.
- Umberto Eco viewed unread books as valuable intellectual resources.
Key insights
- The concept of tsundoku challenges the notion that every book must be finished.
- Readers may benefit from being selective about their book purchases.
- The pleasure of acquiring books can lead to a collection that reflects personal interests.
Why it matters
Understanding 'tsundoku' can help readers appreciate their book collections without guilt.
Source
Times Now
