Floor to ceiling books fill Kemper's loft home

The personal library of R. Crosby Kemper III rivals that of many public libraries. He gives a tour of his book-filled loft home in the Crossroads District.

[@TheJMusicNow]

Imagine how much information must be in this man's head after reading all those books...

[@knpstrr]

Why would you think he read all of those? There is no way.

[@noahnoah4526]

@@knpstrr Assuming he kept all the books he has read and is in his early to mid 60s and reads 2-3 books a week I don't think its that far fetched.

[@knpstrr]

@@noahnoah4526 Really? Not far fetched? 65 years x 52 weeks x 3 = 10,140 books read. In an article he says the apartment has about 25,000 books. If he even read at that incredibly fast pace with that consistency, he wouldn't have read even half of all of these.

[@noahnoah4526]

@@knpstrr I very highly doubt there is 25K books there, I don't even think there is 10K but maybe. My bad for not reading this article you read.

[@knpstrr]

@@noahnoah4526 His word against yours.

[@moose_squirrel_colombo5786]

I’m 18 right now and his library is basically my life’s dream. If I owned and read that many books I would consider my life a success. Edit: WOAH I did not expect to get this many likes! I can’t believe I haven’t seen this comment in nearly two years 🤯🤯🤯 I’m 20 years old now. I’ve started reading more and have accumulated a number of good reads. By far, Khaled Hosseini is my favorite novelist. An amazing story teller, that man!

[@DropTehBazz]

Most of the books in his collection are probably disposable garbage, mind you.

[@fahrenheigh]

I really dislike people who fetishize books but never bother to actually read.

[@knpstrr]

@@fahrenheigh Because that is nothing more than vanity -- wanting a big personal library just to have it.

[@nanjappa42]

Your aim is high and noble. I started reading seriously at your age, and have been reading for the last 60 years. I did not start with the intention of "collecting" but what I read, I don't throw away. So over the years I have a huge accumulation of read books. I like to personalise my books with underlining, cross references, notings, etc. But I do not display my books. It is precious like one's wife, and not for public gaze. Over the years, i review my books and discard what I no more value. So I give you some tips, so that your money may be spent well. - Do not buy mass market paperbacks- they are cheap now, but not economical in the long run. -Do not buy novels by modern writers- they are mostly trash. Don't be lured by 'best seller' or such claims. Such novels you can read in some library. -If you have to buy paperback, buy a 'trade' paperback, preferably one with signature -sewn binding. They are durable. - Buy hardbacks which are signature sewn ( like the books in Everyman's Library or Library of America). -If you feel they are costly, you may try used books. In my experience, they are quite good and cheap. But shipment charges will be high , if they come from US. If you have friends there, ask them to bring some for you. Amazon is a good source of used books,but mind the shipping charges. -Before buying a book, read the reviews. Amazon site contains a good lot of reviews, but they are all jumbled up- you cannot decide which review belongs to which edition. - Buy the Classics in English literature. The book should preferably contain introduction and notes, so that the finer points are explained. Classic should be real Classics, not what people label so nowadays. -Buy English poetry : in my experience, Norton critical editions are quite useful, with plenty of notes and other material. -If you buy translations ( eg. Tolstoy, Victor Hugo, Dostoevsky Homer) decide on a translation which suits you. You can read reviews and decided. People take pains to write good reviews which are helpful.] Even if you read one book a week, see what a huge collection you will have over the years. So be choosy. I wish you all the best. Reading maketh a man, conference a ready man, writing an exact man.

[@thirdwave--hardunderground9085]

@@nanjappa42 would you suggest charles dickens? I started reading just a few years ago and never liked reading novels of new authors. (Mostly read biographies). Like you suggest i want to read more classic literature in the future. So what do you think about charles dickens? Can you also suggest further reads?

[@amandac9894]

Oh my god literal goals I could literally live there. I adore books so much and not just audiobooks or kindles, they don’t have the same feel as real books. He must be such a smart man.

[@ItsTooLatetoApologize]

Literal goals. LOL! So punny!.😉

[@folksurvival]

Owning a lot of books doesn't necessarily mean a person is intelligent.

[@cilliansands6166]

You're not a better reader for dissing digital or audio books, you get the same content delivered in a different format. What different does it make if it's paper or not? You don't need to "feel" the book, you just have to read it.

[@bella-pt8hz]

Inspirational i also dream to have a private library

[@knpstrr]

I bet you do have your own library, just not as many works.

[@ciganyweaverandherperiwink6293]

I'd love to have experienced the lively dinner table discussions he spoke about at the beginning. Wonderful. Lucky, lucky man.

[@drizer4real]

For me this topnotch ASMR, I look at this clip and I get more quiet and relaxed. There’s something about strolling through a library like this that comforts the soul

[@Lorax_Tribe]

Impressive library! I have two bookcases full, a reference library of psychology (complete CW of Jung, including the Red Book), mythology, greek history and art, atlas, astronomy, etc. and I'm trying to make a little book nook for comfortable reading and reference. My books are spilling onto the floor now, so a third bookcase is needed.

[@marclayne9261]

Awesome!!! I also have CW, 20 vol, of CG Jung.....I found a set in middle of nowhere Montana, lol...

[@dorianphilotheates3769]

0:33 - When my Greek family have “argumentative discussions” over the dinner table, out come the knives...

[@princess010607]

Goals. This guy is living my dream.

[@sandramalone3522]

Im a collector mostly of vintage books so I am truly a lover of books, and the more the better.

[@igottarestartthis23]

Amazing collection. This man's level of mental knowledge is most likely outstanding if he read all of those books!

[@ag-bk5wf]

Impossible to recall all these books in his head. He must read but forgets over tine.

[@Jonmad17]

The point of reading widely isn't to remember everything, it's to know what you want to read more deeply. He's probably an expert in the few fields he's really interested in, but has a more general understanding of other fields.

[@newyardleysinclair9960]

man i love this space.

[@annamattos8627]

He is not afraid of stacking or climbing. I love this!!!

[@thelaurels13]

Now that’s a library to aspire to. Love it.

[@tamejhouletaures1916]

So beautiful

[@MohamedShou]

I just spotted a great book in that amazing library that I’m gonna get soon. Thanks 👍🏾

[@AchievewithA]

Magnificent! My personal library has about 100 books and my goal is to finish these all before I buy more (in bulk). Of course if I find one I need... we always find one we need. Lol that’s how it grows!

[@arvindersinghwalia38]

Beautiful collection.

[@carlblaskowitz7817]

Something to work towards to be sure. An epic collection of books, music, movies, documentaries.. etc. Luckily a collection much larger than this including all film, television and most known musical works can fit under 80 terabytes, be instantly searchable, shared with friends and fit into a quarter size, floor standing equipment rack. All of this and much more is available on torrent and usenet. If you want it, have at it... seriously the more collections that exist, the better preservation is achieved. Build up a library server, install plex and calibre and fill it to the gills. If you need tangible and physical, use an ereader or print and bind at home. There is no reason why everyone in the modern first world cant a rough approximation of the sum of human knowledge stashed in his or her back bedroom closet.

[@shafinaz.s9884]

It is a personal dream to own my own book place...amazing place this is.

[@BlueStarDog5]

Good looking library! I'd like to have the space for something like that

[@marclayne9261]

I love books.....my library, of 4,000 volumes...great video....

[@Ubermensch201]

I've just started my collection at 31 and I'm addicted to Leather Bound Classics.. I hope to have this many books someday

[@ashokgurung2632]

Damn!! This library is heavenly paradise for me. I also have lot of books but m still in the process of collection more and more books. And i m quite sure one day i will be like him. :D

[@ashokgurung2632]

Bigtombowski what do you mean. I Dislike him??

[@platoschauvet]

This guy's definitely in the right job!

[@edianecavalheiro4289]

Amazing place...heaven..

[@TheWolfgangfritz]

Erasmus said something to the affect that if he had to give up anything it would be food and a warm coat rather than give up his Library. I hope I got that right but that was the gist of it.

[@misselder1]

I need more walls!

[@dorianphilotheates3769]

I’ve been collecting books ever since we beat the Kaiser and hope to have a library like that within another couple of decades.

[@alexnicoles5575]

YES I am in love. This is my dream oh my gosh I’m just want to be there in a nice cozy chair and just stay there forever

[@woofer13]

Your book collection(s) are exactly like mine, floor to ceiling in 9 of our thirteen rooms. The only rooms that don't are our 2 bathrooms, the kitchen, and the mud room. I cherish the books more than any other possession I have.....and I read every single day. I have too many favorites now, but when I was young, Nobody's Boy by Hector Malot, and Picccoli by Philippe Halsman were.

[@fightingbear8537]

Very nice library. I am curious as to what is his favorite book.

[@bumzilla8586]

General Steven D. Lee 5683 his fav book is ‘how to eat pussayy’ by Herman Munster

[@jonpendragon2066]

He said in video Harold and the purple crayon

[@god5535]

When I watch all these modern 4:00am morning slash minimalism and grey t-shirt fad, videos such as this give me assurance. Where's the joy and diversity and spice of life if you can't live a little and relegate for a spartan lifestyle of never ending self-"improvement".

[@book3311]

I had a post life dream where I had a grand library. I woke up and created Book 33 Library. I just need this man’s room.

[@zazanapolite3985]

MAGNIFIQUE

[@ZombieProdigyUS]

Can you even imagine how smart you would be if you retained even 50% of knowledge found in those books???? He must be a genius by now.....

[@aielafiflee3567]

This is the best home decor ever: The Edu-Adventure Style. (Those books seem like modern+Antique+universe+ (what else, guys?) Style. 🙏🎉❤️❤️

[@rydenr.2999]

That’s the dream!

[@bogusiac.5502]

Dream house😍

[@tehaneponcolona2984]

wow! ❤️😍

[@skringardhildegard4000]

That's bookhoarding, I wouldn't be surprised Because he's a library director

[@saukraya3254]

Use your smartphone as bar code scanner and you can add remark on where each book is now, as and when you find them. I.e.now in the car.

[@rupantiii]

OMGGGG SOOOOO MANNNNYYYY BOOOOOOOKSSSSSSS!

[@jackedson7854]

This is great to see a huge personal library. My own is very extensive and I certainly love the books. I am concerned about what will happen with my books after I am gone.

[@toliyeptho3313]

Pass me some, so I'll take a good care😊

[@sergioalves5278]

Tenho cerca de 1300 livros; na minha família ninguém gosta muito de ler. Acho que meus livros vão ser vendidos para reciclagem. Estou preocupado com isso também, amigo.

[@grahamjones1269]

Us bibliophiles have this nagging thought at the back of our minds. Do we make a will? Or, whilst we are still alive, give them to people whom we know will love them too? I recommend the essay, 'Book buying', by Augustine Birrell.

[@lecobra418]

Personally, I have three very young sons, and I'm building a huge library mostly for them, hoping one of them would also love to read and would be glad to keep all those old volumes!

[@JimOverbeckgenius]

I collected my first library 9 to 16 and gave it away in its entirety & started my second 18 to 36. I bought a bookshop and maxed with a turn-over collection of 9000 books & 13000 American comics, selling over 12+ years. I now live in a large Italian villa which is full of volumes + I've just bought 2 medieval rooms for reading & storing, the first is nearly finished & the second is full of workers laying floors, plastering etc to make way for extensive shelving to decant God knows how many books into. Never have a mother who throws away books because "they've been read & harbour germs", especially when there's a 19th century original drawing of Rimbaud among them [worth a small fortune], which goes into the fire. My art gallery gets more volumes on a daily basis [see KZbin Dolcedo Art of the Thunderbolt] + I collect artworks, drawings ETC ETC. It's wonderful to see collections.

[@JimOverbeckgenius]

PS First collection books/ephemera on pugilism & boxing [inc signed Dempsey & Tunney stuff], second collection on maths, logic and philosophy, bookshop specialized in Military & Art, especially Native American & Civil War literature and now I collect anything I so desire, whilst continuing to write probably the largest continuous illustrated script since Leonardo on maths, logic, philosophy, language foundations [Greek, Latin, Arabic, German & English] ETC ETC.

[@beautifullibrarynarrations3371]

Incredible library . You can see my collection at Easton press and fs leather library

[@pinklady7184]

If anyone wants to build own library, go for 2 feet in shelf length so that shelves can withstand sagging under the weight of books.

[@hokuspokus8570]

I'm not jealous about books but about his skills allowing to read them.

[@ahmadtugimin9916]

I dont keep the books i have read, but gave them away to my nephew. Jesus! I am surprised to know that he has a big library consisting of my books.

[@jozefgurzynski7380]

I wonder how many he's read cover to cover.

[@EmmanuelGoldstein74]

Nice, he has a Willmoore Kendall book. 3:05

[@pandittroublejr]

👍👍👍

[@newyardleysinclair9960]

I'd love to sit there at night in the chair with ottomon with a little light on reading those books

[@kalijasin]

Many books about America and so much missing.

[@ScottPostma]

Idyllic!

[@ericcasagrande]

The word "hoarder" comes to mind! I love books and this is definitely a great video, but absolutely no way I'd want that many books taking up so much space even in a house, let alone an apartment. Thanks for sharing with us!

[@BLANTTA2]

Goals

[@sheepboy2560]

all my books are in my hard drive and phone. no fuss. his library is impressive though.

[@gerarddevita-xl5ji]

Did you read all ??

[@sirarthurdayne127]

Think I saw a bed in his loft.

[@zakattack8624]

My library consists of classical fiction, Classical Latin works, Roman history, general history, biographies, political science books, Star Wars books/movies/comics (Canon and Legends), comics (mostly DC), manga, video games, vinyls, and CDs.

[@folksurvival]

So a large chunk is soy.

[@trippasnippa119]

This is me when showing people myanimelist profile

[@Nick_Barone]

Being rich helps. Being wealthy helps more.

[@Faerieshimmer]

If I had a library like Kemper I would label the shelves by categories and alphabetical order. (I would ask a few people to help me lol).

[@user-tu2xf4uf3n]

CAN I INHERIT THAT LIBRARY IF YOUR KIDS DONT WANT IT -- DAD ? !!! !

[@morningdewacademic]

This is so awesome! You all should check out Steve Donoghue's channel and see all of the books this man owns! This is my dream to one day have floor to ceiling bookshelves! I have close to 500 in my home and over 3K on my kindle but I so want to have floor to ceiling bookshelves! Books give you knowledge and knowledge gives you power!

[@donaghcoffey2416]

This reminds me of Christopher Hitchens flat...

[@jintsfan]

Now THIS is the US I like. Anglo. I hope this guy lives maaaaany more years. As to the library, I’d like to take some shopping trolleys and just load up the books I’d like in my collection.

[@fergaoneill5323]

I don't have 1 book

[@tinuflint393]

I bet y need a lifetime to dust every book he owns . Oh myyyy

[@marth5326]

i would pay him money if he let me reorganize those shelves

[@vijaykumar-ks9su]

But there is a beauty in a chaotic library

[@derbuchhandel]

bookstore berlin germany

[@maychen5138]

This comment section is awesome, bookworms assemble!!

[@pauldavies9360]

Ever heard of a library card?

[@maplenook]

They don’t have all books

[@DavidEmswiler-oz6rx]

Beautiful personal collection but, OUCH!!!, please close your blinds. I hate to see those colorful spines getting sunned. One of my pet peeves.

[@Lookatmeshine]

Love the extensive collection but it drives me nuts to see so many messy piles!

[@JoshuaShepherd]

A library is to be used, not fussed over because it isn't tidy. The end goal is understanding, not instagram.

[@colinsmith6116]

B O R I N G

[@paulwoods5033]

You should read Irish history

[@JoshuaShepherd]

Where to start?