My book journey building a meaningful collection

It's fair to say that physical books may become obsolete in the next 30 years, but I refuse to give up on them. In Indonesia, where I live, literacy rates are among the lowest in the world, with only 1 out of every 1000 people reading a book. Despite this, I am determined to continue reading and collecting physical books, and to spread the love of reading to others. I may not have the same platform offline as I once did, but I am extending my reach online by managing book communities with other passionate book lovers. Ironically, despite calling myself a minimalist, I have a hard time applying that philosophy to my books. However, my approach to building my collection has been to focus on meaning and significance, rather than quantity. I strive to curate a collection of books that have personal value and will enrich my life, rather than simply accumulating a large number of books for the sake of having them.

I have always enjoyed reading and collecting books. However, acquiring books can be costly, so it sometimes takes me a while to save up and purchase the works of my favorite authors. I am grateful when I am given books as gifts, as it allows me to expand my collection without incurring extra expenses. When I was in university, we were often provided with reading materials in the form of PDFs. Some people would print these materials to save money, but I quickly realized that this practice is illegal and unethical. Unfortunately, I still see people doing this today, despite the legal and moral implications. The same also applies with music and movies.

In the last five years, I have been fortunate enough to collect the works of Fitzgerald, Jules Verne, and Kafka. However, there are still many authors that I have yet to add to my collection, such as Hardy, Shakespeare, Jack Kerouac, and Orwell. I also plan to acquire some self-help books in print, including the works of Mark Manson and Yuval Noah Harari, as I believe these books will be meaningful and enriching additions to my collections. There is also a collection from Matt Haig that I want to add to my collection. I was inspired to buy his books after reading reviews by @annacarstairs, who convinced me to purchase it.

Currently, my book collection is growing and becoming more disorganized. That’s why I am calling my mom for help to organize it. She’ll come to visit me for the holiday and also help me organize my books. When I said that my room is a mess, she instantly knew that I've been sleeping with books. I have a habit of sleeping with many books, and it's a dream come true for me that I am now able to get paid for reading (read:curating) 😀. I am grateful for the opportunity to do something that brings me so much joy and fulfillment.

As my collection grows, I realize that I need to be more selective and let go of books that no longer bring me meaning or enjoyment. From now on, I plan to be more mindful and deliberate in my book purchases, only acquiring books that I truly want to read and learn from. In today's digital age, I do enjoy the convenience of audiobooks and ebooks, but if I really love a book, I will make sure to add a print copy to my collection. There is something special about holding a physical book in my hands and having the ability to highlight them.

This post was inspired by a chapter in Letters from a Stoic that you can see above, which argues that reading too many books can be a distraction. The chapter advises that we should focus on a few books that will help us reach our goals and master our chosen field, and only indulge in books that carry significance. In short, we should learn from those who have mastered their craft and read their works.

Another reason I can add is that, I want to take care of my books properly. From my experience managing a library, I know that dust and dust mites can easily collect on books and cause allergies. I use mothballs to prevent damage from lice, but it's the dust that is most concerning to me. I want to keep my books clean and free from dust. I will show you my book revamp next week after I am organizing it with my mom. So, stay tuned!