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Old 10-02-2017, 12:05 PM   #4344
astrangerhere
Professor of Law
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Are we defining TBR as "all books owned but unread?" How does that work when you have a spouse? My wife has books that I've no interest in and same me for her. In fact, she is really the only one who still spends any significant amount of money on books. She wants to own a thing, and I am happy to read it from the library.

I think I take a different approach to TBR than most. I keep a terrifyingly thorough reading spreadsheet each year. Around October of the prior year, I walk through my physical library and make a list of around 25 things in there I want to get read, or at least start. If I have seen a book 3 years running and still don't care to add it to the list - off to donation it goes.

I do basically the same thing with my Calibre index. Print a physical copy of the list, highlight 25-50 that I want to read. Seen a thing 2 or 3 years running and don't want to read it? To the recycling bin it goes.

That gives me a base TBR for the year that allows for additions of new things or library books that still gets me to me 100ish books a year goal.

This method serves two purposes for me:

1 - it reminds me just how much I have (and why I really, really don't need more), and lets me get eyes on the entire collection at least once a year.

2 - it keeps me from being overwhelmed by the analysis paralysis of knowing I won't ever get to all of it.
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