Collecting Books: A Love Story

Once upon a time, in a previous blog post we shared some suggestions of types of books to consider collecting and tips on how to style with literary flair.  

I also confessed to owning a not-insignificant number of books. Alright, let’s be completely honest, when it comes to books I have an almost obsession. And no one can stop me.

However, in an effort to be a bit more selective in my choices and sheer quantity, I did create two rules for myself. 

Rule #1: Only What You Can Carry

The first rule I committed to is that I could no longer drive to the bookstore, I must walk there and back. Which requires selective choices as I can only purchase what I am physically able to carry home. 

It’s good motivation to stay disciplined. 

Turns out books are really heavy! (It was around that time that I committed myself to lifting weights, there could be a correlation.)

Rule #2: Long-term Commitment Required

And the second rule is to do some research before walking to the bookstore. Make the effort and take the time to investigate and see what subjects are covered and how the text, photography and artwork is incorporated into the book as a whole. Only those books that speak to me in both content and aesthetics (and that I can lift) make it into my home.

I’m trying, it’s not that easy when you are constantly surrounded by beautiful books during the course of your work. As a designer, they are everywhere. There are so many books that I see and love, yet they don’t meet the two requirements in my self-imposed criteria. However, they may be perfect for someone else.

If the Rules Don’t Apply, Share Boldly and Often

Truthfully, I can’t stand the idea of a book person being separated from a book that they could love. So maybe, just maybe we could create a sort of matchmaking service for books? 

With that in mind, we’ll be posting a series of books via our Instagram account. It will include some of my favorites, some from my wish list and some that weren't quite right for me but maybe you would love (fingers crossed you’ll invite me over to visit). We’ll cover a variety of subjects and price points along the way. If there’s something you’d like us to search out, drop us a line or a comment and let us know.