To not see books as a status symbol?

[Floosey]

We have a huge range of books for DS(8) from baby books he wants to keep to adult encyclopedias (he prefers non-fiction) and everything in between. We read everyday and his current bed time book is Lord of The Rings. He's a happy and confident reader with free access to books.

However, DH and I have very few books. DH dislikes reading (although he reads with DS) and my epilepsy meds affect my concentration and make it difficult for me to read. I used to be a big reader though. We also have a small house and would rather dedicate what space we have for books to DS. Neither of us are sentimental about books and pass them on when we're done with them. DH does have a few of his course books from uni.

As DS has free access to books at home and with trips to the library I don't feel he is missing out.

But people seem to look down their noses at people who haven't got wall to ceiling bookcases in every room. I sometimes read things on here which suggest that people with large book collections (even if they haven't read most of them) think they are superior to those who don't keep books. Or that someone with more books in their house is more intelligent just by them being there, like osmosis or something.

AIBU to disagree with this? Having access to books and reading is obviously hugely important but the more books you have doesn't make you a better person.

I wouldn't say everyone has floor to ceiling book shelves, but many on Mn seem to. I'm the same as you, I love reading but I mainly use kindle and the library. If I do get a book I read it then pass it on to a friend who I think would enjoy it, if I hated it and think everyone else would I take it to the free "take a book/leave a book shelf" nearby or bin it if it's that bad.

I don't get the reverence for physical books on here. It's the content and the reading of it that's important, not the actual paper it's printed on. Hoarding hundreds of books doesn't make you an intellectual.

I agree that in the age of e-readers it would be silly to assume that not having books means someone doesn’t read. That said I have hundreds of books I couldn’t bear to part with, and I do think browsing a book shelf for something to read is a different experience to picking something on an e-reader. I know not everyone feels the same though.

Never met anyone like that and I am an avid book reader

Depends what kind of books you read really. I read quite a lot of obscure stuff which is out of print so I have to buy them second hand and therefore I have a lot of physical books. I guess if you read more chicklit and stuff then you aren’t going to need bookshelves.

OP books are my absolute obsession, they’re even bursting out of my wardrobe (I’d rather go naked than bookless!)
DDs is the same plus we frequent the library, charity shops, bookshops etc but I can honestly say with absolute certainty, that I have never even considered what books or how many etc other people own?
Even thinking about my very best friends and closest families, I wouldn’t have a notion!

Who are these people?! How have they made themselves known to you?

Thing is the sort of person that would look down on other for not having hundreds of books would also likely be the sort of person who looks down on people who don't have the right books... I don't imagine they'd think floor to ceiling of mills and boon would fit their criteria of showing off intellect.

Reading is reading to me, on a kindle, the newspaper, online, a physical book, trashy romance found on the train. Who cares as long as people get enjoyment out of it.

YABU to care what anyone else thinks about the number of books in your house. Just as they ABU to care about the number of books in your house.

Having grown up in a house full of books, and having had all my own houses full of books, yes I do find it odd when houses don’t have bookshelves. In the same way that others find it odd that I don’t have a television, because they just expect to see one.

I tend to read fiction on my Kindle and buy physical reference/non-fiction books. I have far fewer book shelves than I’d like. I grew up in a house that had 100s of books (over 150 editions of one particular book), but the house I live in now is much smaller.

I am an avid reader, books are treasures but I do t keep them in the house, don’t like the clutter. I use the library or if bought pass it on to friend soon after reading. I did have a huge collection but gave them all to the charity shop ten years ago.

In real life most people think it is highly eccentric or downright odd

Oh this is so true 😂 I’m always being urged to donate my beloved books!

I used to have hundreds but had a cull. I've kept my favourites, sentimental books and a few waiting to be read. I'm a real fan of audio books - do people look down on that? Fuck them if they do, I've listened to loads of classics that I know I wouldn't have read

Oh and I'm a keen library user! They're amazing

If he enjoys the books let him keep them. We are all readers in this house even my 1.5. year old we read 4 books a day. We donalot of paper backs and some kindle/audiobook even. I prefer paper back we have two bookcass full and half a cupboard upstairs full of books.