Book Obsessed - A Collector With Over 35,000 Books

[@thelaurels13]

I don’t think he’s obsessed. He’s a book enthusiast and there’s nothing wrong with that. A house without books is like a body without a soul.

[@samuelpo3378]

good analogy

[@aaronying4989]

Unfortunately collecting books and reading has a negative connotation in the states. It’s seen as eccentric or an obsession/hoarding. 😢

[@nishthagupta1357]

Exactly

[@58angieb]

'A room without books is like a body without a soul' - Marcus Tullius Cicero.

[@58angieb]

​@@samuelpo3378& it needs credited to the philosopher Cicero! 😊

[@joerodrigues5144]

These old books on dusty shelves have warmed my heart and soul, And take me back to better times when men were brave and bold. Old faces hanging on my wall begin to crack with laughter and push me on to cuddle up and read another chapter!

[@RachelParker-1977]

I am putting this poem next to my bookshelf. 👍😁👍

[@NadaSurferTube]

@@RachelParker-1977 It really is quite nice. 👍

[@RachelParker-1977]

@@NadaSurferTube Amen!

[@martingenet2548]

Book collectors are always interesting to listen to.

[@chrisCore95]

+Martin Genet Indeed

[@pinedelgado4743]

+Chris Gerrby, I second that!!! :-)

[@robertferguson5562]

Book readers are even more interestin'

[@artco77]

It would be even better without the "music"

[@BunnyWatson-k1w]

They're interesting people. All that education and reading.

[@Currer471]

That house, must smell amazing. I would love to wake up in that cozy, warm house, sit by the fireplace with a very good book and a cup of coffee in the most comfortable chair..... that, is true paradise

[@fearnobodyandtrustnoone]

Can't get better than that! 📚

[@KwniStewart]

Every time I finish a book I feel like I am a different person, like I have changed because it's like the book I've read is a part of my personality.

[@deductionsandboredom6257]

This is a life goal! I have a total of 994 books in my room alone and my collection is growing! Many are rare and some are even leather bound professionally! Loved the video!

[@WilliamSchlott]

Good for you. I'm 30 and feel the same way about my peers. Your lucky I'm Dyslexic so I was unable to read a full book until I was about 23 and I've been trying to make up for it ever since.

[@littleredflying-fox]

Well, it looks like I need to step up my game when it comes to book collecting. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@gnrfan11]

I wish I had that collection. That is my new standard to how big I want my personal collection.

[@ThePanchoStern]

They need to make more of these videos. They are awesome!

[@Jake_S_]

Does anyone else think that old books smell amazing? There's a whole variety of different smells. One of the reasons why I don't like ebooks

[@robertferguson5562]

I love the smell of rotting books.

[@fearnobodyandtrustnoone]

Agree 100%. And ebooks suck.🤮

[@muslimsocialist9310]

I love old book smell. And seeing pages turn yellow.

[@orglancs]

Absolutely. Only a few days ago I took a big paperback to a local bookbinder's to have a hard-cover put on it, and as soon as I opened his door I could smell that heavenly scent from all the old books lying about on his benches. I bent over and picked one up and sniffed it close to, like a freshly baked cake just out of the oven, and he didn't bat an eyelid, accepted it as the most natural response in the world.

[@westva22]

I love his collection of books. I'm slowly catching up to him..

[@EastLancashireJohn]

Good for you Joe, a great collection.

[@frankreynolds4413]

No way I’ll ever have that many books but I’m constantly reading and I buy 2-3 books every other week or so or if I find something on sale. Reading has been the greatest comfort in my life…nothing else matters when I lose myself in a good book.

[@llywrch7116]

I started collecting before this guy, & the size of his collection overtook mine decades ago.

[@hc7719]

"THe thing that I love about people's first novels is that they try to put everything they know about life into it, because it might be their last book" that's so interesting, and only someone who enjoys books as much as he do can come up with that. I couldn't, but I'll remember what he said haha.

[@steveschramko2386]

My book collection is only at 10,000 and I don't think I'll live long enough to read them all. I'm in the buffet line and my plate is already full. If I live, I'll be an obese savant !

[@robertferguson5562]

Brillant.

[@saisandler5031]

Thank you from the bottom of my heart ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@epicafan911SJM]

Allright, allright... my grandpa could learn from this dude... he only had 20.000 books...

[@robertferguson5562]

Don't confuse quantity with quality, my young jedi apprentice.

[@robertimmanuel577]

@@robertferguson5562 I agree, you could buy many different fiction or nonfiction pretty much conveying the same message

[@warbywar1]

I'm running totally free of charge service for poor villagers. Pls think about donate some books WAR WAR Library Service Sri Lanka [e-mail]

[@nysrcnc]

If it will make you feel any better or worse: If you set out to read one book each week, you'll reach somewhere around 1,000 books in 20 years.

[@humanfirst11]

13 of those 20 years are already over! 😊

[@beautyintheskies]

Yep time is limited. So use it wisely!

[@Raven-rv9ge]

Wow makes me feel better about my collection I have about 400 so I am no where near that yet lol 😄😄😄😄 but I love books

[@noviepratiwi74]

This is amazing.... Sir, I salute you for having those kind of books... Bless u.. you have an interesting life to have those books....

[@kshirley58]

I'm sure he has read plenty of the books we saw in this video, but, I am curious to know how many he has and hasn't read out of the books he personally owns.

[@robertferguson5562]

I guarantee a fraction.

[@robertimmanuel577]

He started collecting in the 1970's so no doubt he must've read most of it

[@doctor1alex]

You can’t read a thousand books a year so no, he will have only read a very small fraction.

[@laurensouthgate2458]

Wow amazing collection.

[@codykrause4973]

i want to live in a house filled with books

[@robertferguson5562]

Only a fool buys new books.

[@koeman1873]

@@robertferguson5562 Meaning?

[@robertferguson5562]

@@koeman1873when a new book comes out, buy a second hand 1.

[@robertimmanuel577]

@@robertferguson5562 I agree. There's a new book I bought that costs 16 dollars, but saw someone selling the same copy for 2 Dollars, but used. Never trade your money for condition.

[@RachelParker-1977]

Your collection is incredible! Thanks for the recommendations.

[@Damfino83]

I adore this video. B&N- please produce more Book Obsessed videos!!

[@muslimsocialist9310]

I love book collectors ❤😌. I used to try and collect books. But, its a challenge just keeping a roof over my head lool.

[@KOMET2006]

WOW!!! And to think, my library once amounted to 12,000 books. Now, it is a tad shy of 10,000 books.

[@laurademilio8884]

Keeps his books nice and neat, arranged in order, knows which books are where. Not cool to take over daughter's room with his collection, but everything is in its place and he seems to know just what he has in his collection. It's not like piles of books messily all over the place scattered on the floor like uncontrolled hoarders do. My husband and I are big readers and prefer to own our own books over the limited public library offerings, but every few months or at least a couple of times a year we "weed out" any seldom-read or never re-read books on our shelves, or anything we've just lost interest in, and get them into a box (es) to donate to the thrift store or library used book sale if friends do not want them. We regularly purchase new and used books in our interest range but don't want to be overwhelmed with clutter or items we would "never be able to get around to eventually reading," so can honestly say we've read all the many books in our home, and there are books in every room but kitchen, bathroom and basement, but all on shelves & arranged by subject or our own personal specification of category. I am of the opinion that when books fill the attic, basement, and garage, there are too many books to keep track of and to prvent from mildew, grime and mold.

[@Flat_Earth_Sophia]

His books are kept HORRIBLY! What are you talking about?

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

Looks like a delightful life to me, regardless of whether it is 'obsessed' or not. To each their own. My preference is for white shelves, but again, to each his/her own.

[@LuckyGuu]

Awesome video, thanks a million books! Now in no certain order: 1984 (okay, yes, it's my favorite), FAKE, Clifford Irving, Miles From Nowhere, Barbara Savage(don't read the back cover until the end!), Full Tilt, Dervla Murphy, I Caught Flies for Howard Hughes, Ron Kistler, A Confederacy of Dunces, Toole (I got so into Ignatius that I wanted to meet him!!), A One Hundred Dollar Misunderstanding, Robert Gover, The Uneasy Chair, Wallace Stegner, The Wanderer, Fritz Leiber - I love $5 per bag!

[@pizzaschachtel]

yes!! you are sooo right! elinors house is a place I dreamed of forever.

[@sweetydeh]

I wish B&N would continue to make these videos. They are great.

[@CameraGirl4AGdolls]

@TheUniverse3000 Exactly!! I have over 200 books and my dad says "You shouldn't get any more books." And I say "It's fun reading and collecting!! And what you said really is what I've been trying to say!!! Thank you!! ByEsErS1!1!

[@brattette]

I don`t judge you Joe Perlman. I applaud you.

[@nightcoreangles9305]

I love books

[@exequielliraibanez2657]

Muy interesante, buen punto de partida para meditar que los libros son como las enredaderas!! se pueden tragar una casa!!

[@TheLegence]

My kind of laddie. Its true. Each book evoking strange olfactory sensations. Truly old older oldest books gives you a olfactory sense of time. It would be ancient time constant if any body thought over it in Renaissance

[@ethansmusic8570]

omg it like looking into my future

[@JimOverbeckgenius]

I've just purchased 2 medieval rooms in Italy, near my overflowing villa & art-gallery, to further decant masses of my books & to prepare even more space for further purchases. The builders are rapidly working on room 2, with the 1st finished except for internal doors. My living room is fit for a minor Renaissance prince, as I collect art, carpets ETC but I'm seriously looking forward to decorating the new rooms, with fitted bookcases, carpets, desks, paintings and objects. I've written a vast illustrated volume which is still ongoing & 50+ years in the making: hopefully some of it can be placed in display cabinets, because books especially are IT.

[@amnesiac-original]

It was very interesting and enjoyable video. Thanks.

[@cheeverbeaver]

A wonderful short--great topic.

[@londonliz43]

You sir are my hero.. Take that husband of mine.. and I thought my 500plus was a great amount.. I can only dream of being as big as this gentleman some day..We are not hoarders, we are collectors of the written word. So many books so little time.

[@ParaSniper2504]

My paltry collection of 2,455 books is nothing! LOL! You put them in your attic! Can't do it in Texas!!!!!

[@themanwhoknewtoomuch6667]

1000 likes... this are the videos I love!

[@jhankri]

The author of "A Gentle Madness" pronounced me one of the "gently mad" at a lecture and kindly inscribed my copy of his book accordingly. Alas I've had to pare my book collection down to a more manageable size. It's been painful and I'm curious to see if I can curb my book lust in the future.

[@drizer4real]

Brilliant

[@chihabreda6681]

Well done.great books

[@laurarox80]

I get the feeling my house won't have visible walls..just bookshelves. xD Hmm we have one hundred years of solitude in the basement, I may just pick it up, my interest is peaked.

[@LuckyGuu]

@LuckyGuu A One Hundred Dollar Misunderstanding is a trilogy. Also read, Atlas Shrugged (of course) and Missing Beauty, Carpenter. I encourage everyone to read about Howard Hughes! *You will never stop buying! You may need a stronger house. Q: Where are your favorite "types" of places to buy books?

[@BunnyWatson-k1w]

I used to read one book per day, taking weekends off. Those were in my early academic days. Now it's more like two per week.

[@KwniStewart]

yeah it is amazing. And it only happens with books for me. Not with movies not with music...;)

[@65950368]

i am a book obsessed too. but my collection does not exceed 1000 books because i live in a country where english books are not fully available and there's no way for me to buy via internet. i envy you best wishes

[@65950368]

I live in Morocco, you see.. Take care

[@abstractbybrian]

@2:03. I collect Allison ? Short stories. Anyone know what her last name is?

[@spackretired]

Portchnik. Allison Portchnik. She loves being reduced to cultural stereotypes.

[@steve_bal4]

When your entire attic is full of books you're not sure what you're gonna do with that's called "hoarding" not collecting.

[@TT-fq7pl]

@Mark D he's not slagging him off. He's just pointing out that collecting requires some degree of discrimination, a point with which I completely agree.

[@adventureguy4119]

I have an issue I am obcessed with books but yet read very little.

[@LuckyGuu]

@CSATexan 4....................that's amazingly low, how come? Lately I've been buying "collectable" paperbacks from 1950-1970s. The covers are great! Have you ever collected any of these? Some are worth $10-$50+! I buy them for 25-100 cents, don't tell anyone.

[@LuckyGuu]

@CSATexan how many books did you buy this month?

[@sundance81677]

You can learn a lot about someone by the books they surround themselves with.

[@mikeywestside8509]

A couple of years ago I started reading "the classics" and I was really disappointed. I learned that it's best to stop wasting time reading a book that you're not really into. I'm okay with not completing a book. Time is a precious commodity and I will not waste it on books that I don't like. There are some classics that I really do like but I will stop taking people's recommendations from now on.

[@book3311]

We share bibliomania. It’s a beautiful thing my friend.

[@Odaz]

Living my dream

[@lestat34208]

um think u need to go to the library after the attic is full lol

[@isabelaoliveira9270]

Amazing

[@LuckyGuu]

@CSATexan since my Dad is 86.5 he has lost interest in reading(very sad because he is the one who "imprinted" the love of reading on my soul), anyway, he said I can have all his books..........which I plan to trade for book credit, so expand my collection!

[@reemsaif3105]

He can open a library 😊

[@masadate86]

My dad keeps telling me to download digital books, forget that!!!!

[@Flat_Earth_Sophia]

They are better than nothing. But there is no such thing as a "digital book". It's an oxymoron.

[@LuckyGuu]

@JAMESMCCULLA yes! I'm a sucker for a great book jacket and should have moved to NYC directly after HS graduation to make it my 2nd career, along with Bellman! Yes, Bellmen are sexy, if only sexy on the inside!

[@christinejoylaureta7626]

I missed reading a novel!!!

[@BeautyDoll3]

well, i guess his son and daughter will never have to ask him to get a book for them, cuz he'll probably already have it!

[@powerslave6944]

35,000? My God thats a lot of books but what I really wana know is does he really read all of them?

[@pedrovargas7513]

Thats impossible 😂

[@jongreenleaf1000]

Why i stick to one genre

[@YoungJusticeLuv]

I wonder if someone bought all the Harry Potter Items cuz I'd love to see it.

[@VaslavTchitcherine1]

Alice Munro just won the Nobel so not under appreciated anymore, Mr Perlman.

[@408Magenta]

+Vaslav Tchitcherine Nobel in Literature means squat.

[@w1011457]

I hope he never has to fumigate for dust mites...

[@OneSummerSky]

Amazing collection. Have you read (1Q84 by) Haruki Murakami?

[@meow98]

very interesting, but the first thing that comes to mind is hoarder.

[@FrankSally]

God, one poorly placed candle and that place is gone.

[@AveryFB]

frank sally lol

[@robertferguson5562]

My greatest fear.

[@teresabolster6923]

I thought the same

[@1mustdrinkwater]

I hope that he has an extra pair of glasses on hand. He doesn't want a Mr. Bemis situation on hand. #timeenoughatlast

[@vanzetti7]

He's like Don Quixote LOL:-)

[@sw3aty_forte]

I think Jefferson owned around that many books.

[@kintakintyea]

Ahaa' ma freen' A'l bet yee hinna got "Thi lyfe an tymes o an enshoar loon!! Gordon

[@MrScottJJohnson]

Wouldn't that be the funniest thing if he didn't have Harry Potter in that entire collection.

[@johnbaker6572]

This would drive me bananas having all this shit piled up in the house. However...I find collectors extremely interesting in their life styles.

[@bloodaxe5028]

No Twilight ?

[@whosthatafghan]

He must have been pissed when kindle came out...

[@andrewbrendan1579]

I hope the basement, garage, and attic have climate control. I volunteer for the Red Cross Book Fair in Bloomington, IN, and people sometimes give us books that have clearly been in a garage or basement: dirt, bugs, mouse droppings. Thankfully most donations are OK. Recently in the area for recyclables I found a 1930 Shakespeare & Co. copy of "Ulysses". Whew! close call!

[@londonliz43]

You sir are my hero.. Take that husband of mine..

[@Holt-mir-einen-Traubensaft]

The name for this habit is "tsundoku".

[@reynardthefox9072]

So jealous. I travelled around so much since childhood that I could never keep a physical library. I do keep thousands of Ebooks though.

[@Flat_Earth_Sophia]

Ebooks are not books!

[@reynardthefox9072]

@@Flat_Earth_Sophia not everyone has a normal stable life and still I manage to read and enjoy one book a week no matter your opinion

[@Flat_Earth_Sophia]

@@reynardthefox9072 I do not have opinions. And no you don't.

[@reynardthefox9072]

@@Flat_Earth_Sophia you think as you may... There is no Frigate like a Book To take us Lands away Nor any Coursers like a Page Of prancing Poetry - This Traverse may the poorest take Without oppress of Toll - How frugal is the Chariot That bears the Human Soul -

[@Flat_Earth_Sophia]

@@reynardthefox9072 Just stop lying. Its disgusting.

[@tanyadavis6187]

Love theses beautiful books. #tandolls757.

[@WWld]

interesting, but music is really intrusive

[@jonathanbarnes3061]

Always had more books than bookshelf space.

[@joellemartin4466]

I want to go to his house ahahhahaha so ok baaaddd.

[@marcusulpiustraianus6096]

I already have 1500 books and I can't buy much more because of space. Imagine 35000...

[@Flat_Earth_Sophia]

Must be nice to be rich.

[@CameraGirl4AGdolls]

@calebengler LOL!! Soooooo true!! =)

[@marclayne9261]

I only have 2,000 books...Oh Dear....

[@pincopalino3378]

These book-loonies are dangerous lunatics - now there's an idea for a lunatic book that the lunatic might collect - jeez my thing is getting so Borgesian .Gottago and write a story about it that will end up in somebody's library - PS (don't try and steal the plot; Italo Calvino got there before you). Rinse an repeat.

[@abstractbybrian]

I thought my wife and I had a lot. Over 2500

[@Flat_Earth_Sophia]

The books are stored horribly and will be damaged quickly. This is not a bibliophile, it's just hoarders.