Quote:
Originally Posted by crossi
I once wanted a physical library. I dreamed about having a room just for books. I had a large collection of paper books. Four bookcases jammed full and 29 boxes I didn't have shelf space for. After getting my ereader I replaced about half with the ebooks and donated the paper books. It was liberating to no longer have all my space overrun with boxes. I'm also thinking of the future. I'm at the age when I need to start planning about needing to downsize to a smaller place and eventually look at retirement homes. Retirement apartments are tiny. In not too long a time I'll need to dispose of almost all my paper books because I simply won't have room for them. So I say no. Spend your money on something you'll actually use unless you have enough to just throw it away. I've been getting rid of a lot of physical stuff, not just books. Clothes that I don't like or don't fit. Appliances and tools I bought but never use. Art work that no longer appeals. The more I get rid of the freer I feel.
|
Exactly!
If someone really gets warm and fuzzy looking at a nice bookcase full of classics then go for it! Who am I to criticize?
But not for me. I'm from the 'Bic disposable' school of book collecting; read 'em, delete 'em and move on. Technology is changing too fast to try to collect a bunch of ebooks. If I ever get the urge to re-read a particular book in the future, I'm quite confident that it will be readily available in a convenient format. I don't need to own it. (All I need to do is remember the name of it, but that's another rant! And GoodReads can help me there)
Instead, I will expend my digital resources on things that are truly irreplaceable and have lasting personal value, like pictures of my family, trips taken, and other personal memories.