I don’t know about you, but I seem unable to hear about a book that sounds interesting without buying it (or at the very least, putting in my Amazing basket). This applies especially to psychology or therapy books, but any books in general. I just love buying and owning books. I have shelves of unread books, a bedside table with stacks more, my work desk with an ever growing collection of ‘ones I will read soon’ and a kindle with hundreds digitally stored out of sight. I have more books than I could possibly ever read in my lifetime (unless I gave up my therapy practice and earned a living just from reading)! I do buy with the intention of reading them, but there are just so many and only a few spare hours in the day.
I’ve noticed that this phenomena isn’t particular to me. I have many friends who are similar and it’s come up amongst the Tips for Therapists followers too. Over the course of this year, they have enthusiastically recommended many books to me, many of which I now own, but am yet to read.
Tsundoku
I found out that there’s actually a name for this phenomena in Japan called Tsundoku, which literally means buying reading materials and piling them up. Tsundoku dates from the Meiji era, and is a combination of tsunde-oku (to let things pile up) and dokusho (to read books). It also refers to the stacking of books too.
I do love when languages have succinct words to describe complicated ideas.
Psychology suggests many reasons why people do this, ranging from a love of collecting things, to problems with hoarding or impulse control issues. Other suggestions are simply having a love of books, the feel of them, their smell, their endless possibilities. I believe that I fall into the latter category. For me it isn’t the act of collecting, and I am not a hoarder by nature. Although it feels good to have a sturdy amount of books, I do not receive pleasure from the sheer number of them, if anything the number can feel overwhelming at times. I want to read every book I have, but realistically I know this is unlikely to happen. So there’s a peace I still need to make of this fact.
In good company
I asked the tips for therapists community if this was something that I shared with others. It was good to know that I was in great company with my book buying obsession! Someone said that they also buy more than they can read. They find it comforting to think that they have all that knowledge within their grasp. This really resonated with me. I love the idea that if something comes up in my practice, I can just grab a book and seek guidance.
Another person said that they related and felt hungry for knowledge, stimulation, inspiration and connection. Books can give all of those things and more. No wonder some of us buy more than we can consume.
Personally, I think a part of it leans into my inherent imposter syndrome of wanting to be the expert. When practicing Therapy there is so much to know. My desire to be a good therapist contributes to my buying book after book. I want to know, I like to know and I have a desire to find out as much as I possibly can. There is a comfort in knowing that I can reach for a book to help me understand a client, or learn a new technique or get to know myself better, to grow with understanding.
At the end of this I am afraid I am no closer to having a definite answer as to why I ( and many others) buy so many books. But I am comforted by the fact that I have a wealth of knowledge, understanding and possibility at the tips of my fingers.
As a follower said, theres no such thing as too many books, only too few bookshelves.
As a side-note here are 10 psychology books (and I have actually read 9/10 of them!) that my tips for therapists followers recommended.
1. Irvin Yalom -The gift of therapy
2. Irvin Yalom -Love’s executioner
3. Bessel Van Dek Kouk- The body keeps the score
4. Robert de Board- Counselling for toads
5. Virginia M Axline – Dibs, In search of self
6. Louis Cozolino- the making of a therapist
7. Bruce Perry and Maia Szalvitz- The boy who was raised as a dog
8. Sue Gerhart – Why I love matters, have a section shapes of babies brain
9. Lori Gottlieb- Maybe you should talk to someone
10. Viktor E. Frankel – Man’s search for meaning
Happy reading!
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