Tsundoku

For a long time, I have felt guilty about the number of unread books I have in my personal collection (both in the Kindle app and on my bookshelf). I recently came across a Japanese term for this phenomenon that has helped me to rethink the practice and intentionally lean into collecting unread books without feeling guilt.

Tsundoku is a Japanese term that refers to the practice of acquiring reading materials and letting them pile up without reading them. It is a combination of two words: “tsunde-oku” (to let things pile up) and “dokusho” (reading books). There is NOT a negative sentiment attached to this term in the Japanese culture.

The more I’ve thought about tsundoku, the more I’ve realized there are a lot of similarities between this practice and the art of wine collecting that are worth pondering. For example:

• Personal Enjoyment: Many wine collectors purchase wine to drink and enjoy in the future — this is also true of the practice of buying books to read and enjoy in the future.
• Emotional Significance: Wine can serve as a reminder or souvenir of a momentous occasion. I think the same is true of collecting books. I can memorialize moments in time by purchasing books recommended by a friend or obtained in light of a specific event to read in the future.
• Diversification: Many collectors purchase wine to serve as a form of investment diversification. This is also true of my collection of unread books — I want to ensure that I have a diverse collection of reading material available at all times.
• Prestige and Status: For some, collecting wine is a status symbol. I think this is true of tsundoku as well. Some readers like to fill their bookshelves with the types of books they want others to know they read. This is not a personal reason for me to collect unused books (especially since most of mine are in my unseen Kindle library), but I could see why some would be drawn to the status aspect.
• Discover and Exploration: Finally, many wine collectors are driven by a passion for wine and a desire to experience its nuances. This is absolutely true of unread books as well. The entire reason I read as much as I do is because I follow my curiosity and wonder. As a byproduct of moving quickly and exploring new topics, I have a collection of unread books that I have an intention of returning to.

Reframing the practice of collecting unread books as an experience similar to collecting wine has helped me to not only feel less guilt about my unread books, it has also encouraged me to lean into the practice even more. I am more intentional about buying books that I hope to someday read, but I also choose not to feel any guilt for not getting to those books.