What do your book shelves reveal about you?
By Porcospino
@Porcospino (31366)
Denmark
July 22, 2012 11:17am CST
If a stranger visited your home and had a look at your book shelves, what would he or she learn about you? Do you have many non-fiction books about a topic that you are especially interested in or do you have have books about many different topics? Do you have many novels from one particular genre? Or do you read many different genres?
I think that a stranger would learn two things about me if he or she looked at my book shelves. There are many travel guidebooks, phrasebooks and dictionaries, and it would be easy to guess that I am interested in travelling and other countries. I also have many books about nursing and psychology and those books reveal my interest in working with people and my previous jobs.
I don't have a lot of novels, because I borrow most of my novels at the library, but I a few books by a Danish author called Vita Andersen. I like her books a lot and I have read them several times. I also have a few collections of poems by my favourite poets like Michael Strunge and Dan Turell.
3 people like this
19 responses
@phoenix35 (384)
• Philippines
24 Jul 12
My husband and I collect Stephen King's novels back then. I also love adventure, mystery and romance books. So, I have these stuff as additional. When, we became busy at work and had children, reading novels had become impossible. While he settled for ghosts stories and manga comics, I occasionally bought medical books as references for my online writing. So, I guess when people visit our place, they'll just think of us as wide readers :)
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
6 Aug 12
I like Stephen King's books a lot. I haven't bought any of them, but I have borrowed many of them at the library. I share your husband's interest in ghost stories and I have some collections of ghost stories in my home, but most of my other books are non-fiction books about travelling or about nursing or psychology. I get most of my novels from the library, because it would be too expensive to buy all of the books that I want to read.
@phoenix35 (384)
• Philippines
7 Aug 12
Most of our novels are second hand actually, from Book Sale. It's very seldom that we go to the city, but when we do, we always visit that place to buy books.
1 person likes this
@MissPiggy (1748)
• Indonesia
24 Jul 12
Well, at first sight, these strangers will find right out that I like Agatha Christie's collections. And also there are many novels, most of them are called Chicklit. 
I also collect dictionaries, since I love learning languages. I still have my books which I used when I was still in University. I just don't want to keep them away. So they're just stuck in my shelves. And then there are also some English conversation books, as this is what I really master in teaching. Overall, I have one three-row bookshelf, one four-row bookshelf, one table with piled books waiting for another shelf, and also some piles of books on the floor. All of them are in my bedroom.
I also collect dictionaries, since I love learning languages. I still have my books which I used when I was still in University. I just don't want to keep them away. So they're just stuck in my shelves. And then there are also some English conversation books, as this is what I really master in teaching. Overall, I have one three-row bookshelf, one four-row bookshelf, one table with piled books waiting for another shelf, and also some piles of books on the floor. All of them are in my bedroom. 1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
7 Aug 12
I used to read a lot of Agatha Christie books when I was younger. I always borrowed her books when I visited the library. We have share the interest in languages, I have many dictonaries, phrasebooks from the countries I have visited, and language courses where you can learn a language on your own. I have an old language course from the time that I lived in Poland (cassette tapes) and I haven't used them for ages, but I still have them...somewhere I have some book shelves in the living room, but they are full of books and I don't know what to do with the rest of the books. I am sure that a stranger would find it easy to guess that I love reading.
I have some book shelves in the living room, but they are full of books and I don't know what to do with the rest of the books. I am sure that a stranger would find it easy to guess that I love reading.
@allyoftherain (7208)
• United States
23 Jul 12
If someone looked at my bookshelves they would realize that I'm a big fan of fantasy, and most of my books are YA (Young Adult) novels. I have a few non-fiction books which are devotional and inspirational books, but I keep that part of my collection tucked away in my vanity rather than out on my bookshelves. I think my bookshelves were certainly tell people that I'm a big reader, since there are so many books. 
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
6 Aug 12
I remember from another discussion that you like fantasy books a lot. I haven't read many fantasy books, but we have another thing in common because I am also a big reader. Some time ago I got a visit from a new friend and she said "Wow, you have so many books"...and she didn't even see the books that are tucked away in my closet 
I intend to go through all of my books and pick out the ones that I don't plan on reading again and try to sell some of them, because I am running out of space. I did that when we moved, but I think that I need to do it again.
I intend to go through all of my books and pick out the ones that I don't plan on reading again and try to sell some of them, because I am running out of space. I did that when we moved, but I think that I need to do it again.
@imAbigael (475)
• Philippines
23 Jul 12
I have a small book shelves and I think it defines me as a very different types of person, i have books of spiritual, comedy, drama, comics and etc
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
6 Aug 12
It sounds like you have many different types of interests and a visitor would probably guess that you like many different types of books. I think that my own book shelves only reflect my main interests like travelling and psychology, but I actually have many other types of interests as well.
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
7 Aug 12
I have the same problem. I have far too many books and my book shelves are full so I keep the rest of the books in a closet at the moment. I need to find another solution and I plan on going through my books and pick out some of the books that I don't plan on reading again. I will try to sell those books and maybe I will get more book shelves for the living room so that I don't have to keep the rest of books in my closet.
@camyferns (32)
• India
24 Jul 12
honestly i wouldn't care a damn about what strangers think about me beocz to me they are strangers and i would'nt invite them home forget going thru my books on the shelf.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
6 Aug 12
I think that few people would invite a stranger into their home and ask him or her to go through their bookshelves My discussion was just meant as a place to discuss the kinds of books that we own and things that those books reveal about ourselves.
My discussion was just meant as a place to discuss the kinds of books that we own and things that those books reveal about ourselves.
@Fishmomma (11377)
• United States
22 Jul 12
One of the first things we unpacked last year while moving into our new home were books. I love to cook and the shelves have lots of cookbooks that I regularly use. Its a great way to find something else I can use in a recipe when the ingredient isn't on my shelf now. I enjoy trying new recipes.
The other books are mysteries and I have been reading them for many years. Its fun to solve the crime before the end of the book and see if your right.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
30 Jul 12
I have many cookbooks, too. Most of them are books about food from around the world because I am interested in food from other countries and I like to experiment with foreign recipes. I don't read mysteries anymore, but I used to read a lot of them and I had many different ones when I was younger. When I lost interest in them I gave them away, and today most of my books belong to other genres.
@crimsonladybug (3112)
• United States
22 Jul 12
I think first maybe that I'm a little OCD... All of my books are grouped into similar groups... All of my Stephen King books have their own shelf, all my YA novels are together, all of my Jim Butcher books are on their own shelf.
I still have all of my college literature texts and several non-fiction-y type books. Autobiographies, diaries, that sort of thing plus "true" ghost stories, Bullfinch, a book of Greek mythology. I also have a whole section of books related to King Arthur. I think it would be quite easy to tell which books I've read already and which I haven't because of the creases in their spines :lol:
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
30 Jul 12
I think that I would do the same thing if I had many books by the same author. Generally I am not the most organized person in world, but some things like my books and my photoalbums are well organized. I have novels and poetry and I have many non-fiction books as well. The non-fiction books are organized according to the topics. My collection of novels and poetry is pretty limited, because I get most of my novels at the library instead of buying them, but I have some novels and some poetry by my favourite authors.
@anklesmash (1412)
•
23 Jul 12
A look at my bookshelves would show my interest in history.The type of book i have in the greatest number are history books about all eras of history so you couldnt work out my favourite area of history.As well as learning what type of book i like they would also learn that i can be quite organised.This is shown by the fact i have organised the books on my shelf by genre for example all my books on the second world war are all together and all my religious books are all together.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
6 Aug 12
I read history books, too but I think that it is much harder to guess my interest in history just by looking at my book shelves, because I own very few books about history, I get much of my books from the library instead. My books are also well organized, but I think that people would get a wrong impression of me if they judge me based on the way that my books are organized My books, my cds and my photoalbums are well organized, but aside from that I am not a very orginazed person and the rest of the rooms tend to be quite messy.
My books, my cds and my photoalbums are well organized, but aside from that I am not a very orginazed person and the rest of the rooms tend to be quite messy. @sender621 (14893)
• United States
22 Jul 12
My bookshelves would reveal a lot about my reading habits and my personality. there would be a lot of poetry and history bokks because I find those categories facinating to read about. there would also be oplenty of historicak=l romance novels. those are just a few of the things my bookshekves would tell about me.1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
24 Jul 12
I think that historical romances sound interesting. I have read historical novels in the past, but I don't remember reading any historical romances. I don't have many novels in my book collection, because I borrow most of my novels at the library instead of buying them. You also mentioned poetry, that is one of the things I also like. I have some books by some of my favourite Danish poets and I like to read their poems.
@fannitia (2167)
• Bulgaria
22 Jul 12
Hi, Porcospino, your discussion reminds me that I also have to make something about the missing shelves. I have books about many different topics because many of them were collected from other people who have lived in my home. I got rid of some of them. You know, we had "Bolshaja Sovietskaja Encyclopedia" - a famous encyclopaedia from the Soviet times with many volumes. I have novels an poetry from my favourite authors. I have books in French and Russian. I don't know what a stranger could think about me - maybe that I like books, all kind of books, because they are too much. My daughter says that the future belongs to the virtual books but she likes to read old paper books, thanks God.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
30 Jul 12
My husband says the same thing as your daughter. He thinks that I am totally oldfashioned because I like my paper books but I am not ready to give them up. It sounds like you have many different kinds of books. The thing about the missing books shelves sound familiar. I have some books shelves in the living room, but there isn't room for all of my books, so I keep the rest of them in a closet at the moment. I would like to find another solution, but I haven't decided what I am going to do with the rest of the books. I am pretty sure that stranger would also be able to guess that I like books.
but I am not ready to give them up. It sounds like you have many different kinds of books. The thing about the missing books shelves sound familiar. I have some books shelves in the living room, but there isn't room for all of my books, so I keep the rest of them in a closet at the moment. I would like to find another solution, but I haven't decided what I am going to do with the rest of the books. I am pretty sure that stranger would also be able to guess that I like books. @asyria51 (2861)
• United States
23 Jul 12
A few months ago, it would have been that I have spent way too much money on books, most of which put me directly into the NERD category. Since getting my tablet and a Kindle app, I have purged a huge amount of my paper books. The ones that are left are the nerdiest of the nerdy/geeky.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
30 Jul 12
Which nerdy topics are you interested in? I still have all of my paper books, and I plan on getting rid of some of them, because I think that I have too many books, and I don't use all of them. My husband wants to buy me a kindle, but I love my paper books and I don't want to give them up. He thinks that my books take up too much space and I do understand what he means I have decided to go through all of my books and decide which ones I want to keep because there isn't enough space for all of them. Right now I don't have time for that, but it is one of my goals in the future.
I have decided to go through all of my books and decide which ones I want to keep because there isn't enough space for all of them. Right now I don't have time for that, but it is one of my goals in the future.
@subhojit10 (7375)
• India
22 Jul 12
Well a stranger entering my room would find only engineering books and some other comic books.
I believe that it becomes evident about a person's mentality and behavior by seeing his book shelf.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
28 Jul 12
I think that you can learn a lot about a person if you look at the book shelf. The book shelf reveals what kind of topics that a person is interested in or what kind of education and work the person has chosen. You can also find out if the person prefers fiction or non-fiction or a combination of both. If you look at my book shelf it will be easy to guess that I am interested in travelling and that I work with people (many books about nursing, psychology, psychiatry etc) I wonder what else people would be able to guess about me
@Raine38 (12391)
• United States
23 Jul 12
Hmm, let's see. I have Pride and Prejudice and all its inspired books (the like of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, and Arranged Marriage-Alternate Pride and Prejudice). So I guess that means I'm a romantic in a bit of old fashioned way. I also have books the likes of Freakonomics which probably tells I'm fond of exploring conventional wisdom's role in our lives. Then I have the bible, prayer journals and other catholic related books which show my faith and religion. Then there's a whole lot of Finance and Accounting books which speaks of my profession. More importantly, I guess anyone who sees my books will say I need to clean up and stack them properly on the shelves lol!
Even though my tablet is loaded with hundreds of other books, I still prefer having the actual physical books.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
6 Aug 12
It sounds like your books reflect many different interests and many different sides of your personality. If a stranger visited my house he or she would probably get a pretty good impression of my work and my interests as well. I have many books about nursing and psychology and I think that it would be quite easy to guess that I have had many jobs where I work with people. I have many guidebooks and phrasebooks and those books reveal my interest in travelling and other coutries and cultures. I also have some spirtual books and they reveal some of the things that I believe in.
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
22 Jul 12
Sadly, I have no bookshelves here, and most of my books are already boxed up again. So, what this would tell someone is that I'm in the process of relocating again.
Now, as for the books themselves... Well, I have a range of books from a huge complete works of Shakespeare (from my college days) to vampire novels to books about food. I think that my collection would convey that I am college-educated, love food and have pretty eclectic tastes. I think that my political leanings would also be rather clear based on the books that I own.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
23 Jul 12
It sounds like you have many different kinds of books. My books also tell people something about my education because I have a lot of books about nursing, psychology and psychiatry and many of them are related to my education and my work. I think that it would be easy to guess that I am interested in working with people if you look at my book shelves. My interest in food from around the world would not be easy to guess, because my books about food are in a closet in the kitchen (there is no enough space on the books shelves)
@bhanusb (5709)
• India
22 Jul 12
Hi Procospino,
In my book shelves I have many fiction books and novels of my native language(Bengali). I have some poetry books also. I have few English classic books and English to Bengali & Bengali to English dictionaries. I have to consult dictionaries for translating purpose. Because of and on we have to use English. I like to travel. But unfortunately I have only one travel guide book. I have some booklets about traveling. Now you can guess about me.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
23 Jul 12
It is nice to hear that you have both novels and poetry. I like poetry and I have some books written by some of the popular Danish poets as well some Italian poetry that I bought when I was living in Italy. Like you I have dictories on my book shelves. I read many books in English and sometimes I need to look up a word in the English-Danish dictionary. I also have other dictionaries like German, French and Italian. I don't use those dictionaries that much, I still keep them in case I have to look up a word in one of those languages, but most of the time I only read books in Danish and in English.
@Torunn (8607)
• Norway
22 Jul 12
Most important, it would reveal that I have too many books! Since they're stacked on top of eachother, I've got some shelves with two rows and some books that don't have a shelf to stay in yet :-)
I've got quite a lot of non-fiction, not biographies, mainly science. Not just acoustics or physics, I'll read nearly anything so I've got biology, archeology, books about language etc.
I've also got quite a lot of English books and some German books. Most of the novels I have are not in Norwegian, I'm not a very avid reader of new Norwegian books. I've read the classics, but I don't have them as I've read my parents copies.
Also quite a lot of fantasy. Not so much science fiction, I don't think I've got any "pure" science fiction books. *looks around* No, mainly fantasy and historical crime. And comics, but you can't see them, I have too many so they're stacked away in the basement!
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
22 Jul 12
I have the same problem. I also have too many books I have some book shelves in the living room, but they aren't large enough for all of my books, so I have to keep some of my book in a closet. My husband has talked about getting some extra book shelves, but so far the rest of the books are kept in piles in the closet. I don't know the Norwegian authors very well. The only author I remember is Ingvar Ambjornsen and the stories about Elling. I don't really know any of the older authors or the classics. I have never read much fantasy, but historical crime sounds interesting.
I have some book shelves in the living room, but they aren't large enough for all of my books, so I have to keep some of my book in a closet. My husband has talked about getting some extra book shelves, but so far the rest of the books are kept in piles in the closet. I don't know the Norwegian authors very well. The only author I remember is Ingvar Ambjornsen and the stories about Elling. I don't really know any of the older authors or the classics. I have never read much fantasy, but historical crime sounds interesting. @KOSTAS499 (1624)
• Greece
11 Aug 12
They reveal that I do not really like reading. All I have is motorcycle magazines and some rock/metal books ro music magazines. I would read those any time.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
22 Jul 12
I like to read about the different religions, too. I don't own a lot of books about religions, but I sometimes borrow them at the library. I am a Christian myself, but I like to read about other religions as well.
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