Hey guys! Just wanted to let you know that my new book, Things That Matter, is finally here. I put my heart into it, and I can’t wait to share it with you. You can pick up a copy at www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/676394/things-that-matter-by-joshua-becker/
People are often surprised that as a children's librarian, I don't have many books in my home. This is because as soon as I read something, I give it away. This is being a good librarian.
I am a former librarian and have loved books since I was a toddler. I come from a family of books lovers. My grandmother was a librarian and so is my cousin. They are one of the things I have loved most in the world. Many of the books I have are books I even bought when I was in high school. I have always been an excellent judge of books and good literature and what I got 40 years ago I still love today. For example, I bought the "I Ching" and all the books of John Steinbeck and Ray Bradbury while a teenager. Just looking at all the books I am surrounded by makes me happy. I do donate a lot that I know I'll never look at again once I'm done with them or that I realize aren't really any good. But I still have hundreds. I recently retired and look forward to finally reading them, although I realize I won't even be able to read half of them in what is left of my life. But when I am sad or things aren't going well in my life I pick up a book to read that I have already selected and it makes me happy. Just seeing all the worlds I can enter when I want to is exhilerating. I hope that someday, when I'm gone, my books will all be donated to the library for their excellent book sales frequented by people who love books as much as I do. I am such a reader that I take a book with me wherever I go so that I am never bored while waiting.
Lori, you sound a lot like me. We have a similar taste in authors and I always have a book with me wherever I go. I love short stories. I have many anthologies and collections from different authors. These days I'm enjoying The Psalms of King David for the peace they give me. I came to this video because I still possess too many books, even after donating many boxes already. I need to get my house organized!😳
@@cathywithac3793 thank you for this recommendation of "The Psalms of King David". I have recently been studying the scriptures with the help of a great church go to and am especially interested in this now. Is this in the Bible, or a seperate book?
My father and his brothers saved up hard earned money in their teens and twenties to buy a collection of Russian literature. They really loved reading those books and sharing their toughts on it with one another. When my father died in 2007 the books went to my uncle. When he died in 2013 my aunt brought the books to me. Due to the emotional value it was very hard for me to get rid of the beautiful but large collection. I succeeded in doing this by asking myself whether I would read the books myself in the near future. Due to my life phase and activity level the answer was no. Maybe I would after my retirement but that's very far away and at the moment I like to read other books or do other things. It was a hard thing to do however and some people questioned me about it. But the books were bought by two theology students in their twenties and they were really happy with them so this made it more easy and I know my father would have liked this.
You did the right thing! Books should be used...not hoarded. I can't tell you how many people buy these classics sets for their family thinking they will be passed down forever. Then they get infested with mold and/or begin deteriorating. Then someone passes away and I get a call (as a librarian), and I have to sadly tell the people we can't use them (National Geographics...same thing). And almost all of these stories can easily be accessed through your library, interloan, and even public domain. I would recommend to write down the titles and perhaps download a few to an eReader and actually read them. This would make your father and uncles far more happy--that you carry on the tradition of reading these stories and discussing them.
I’ve heard many stories of people not willing to let go of books of much less significance than these books! What a special gift that will bring enjoyment to potentially hundreds of people.
Guidelines: 1. Decide to do it. (Stop putting it off, and make the decision to own fewer books.) 2. Realise books do not define you. 3. Remove "scarsity thinking" . (Thinking you will not find it again to read it.) 4. Determine to make room for new. 5. Go digital. Use the format that works best for you, but at least give the digital format a try. 6. Give yourself permission to keep your favourites. 7. Set up reasonable boundaries for your collection. (Limit the space) 8. Remove unused or outdated reference books. 9. Think of forwarding a good book as an act of love. 10. If all else fails, chose to lend them out. (Write your name in them). Almost all are going to return.
Since I started my journey into minimalism 3 years ago, I had been looking for a video or article with truly valuable information about the subject of books and how to let go because for me it has always been my main source of attachment. The most complicated thing in the world to minimize. Therefore, I have to give infinite thanks Joshua because this video is pure gold. The best I've ever seen on the subject of books on minimalism. Thank you very much. Greetings from Spain.
This is me :) The only books I have now are the ones I enjoy re-reading. And all those books I donated are raising money for charity, and bringing joy to other people. Win-win.
my father is a professor at a uni and teaches law. when he was still a bit younger and capable of moving around, he loved buying and collecting books and it was sooo many so we had 3-4 almost ceiling high bookshelves for it. even that wasn't enough. books were all over the place, the floor, table etc. when his age progresses, he continue practicing a lethargic and sedentary lifestyle, rendering him incapable of cleaning and sorting the books by himself, forcing me and my mother to sort all of them (it was me mostly, cause my mother is also aging, she can't work physically too hard). these are some of the most stressful and tiring moments in my life. most of the books were taken by my uncle, and some recycled due to its irrelevancy and out of date materials. there are still some stockpiled in my parents' house, but now in boxes. what i'm trying to say is, if you dream of collecting books and having a library at home, make sure you are fully committed and devoted to take care of the books.
My advice is to look online and see how common the book is before you donate it. My only decluttering regret is donating a book that cannot be found online or bought anywhere, I took pictures of the book thinking it would be enough but technology fails :((
@R S123 unfortunately I don't have the ISBN. I might find that book again someday, but if not it's no big deal. I love the rest of my decluttering journey 👍
I agree. Most of the books I read are out of print ones that I pick up second hand, so I have to be really sure before I donate a book that I won't want to read it again. Recently, I decided I wanted to reread a book that I had got rid of - I bought my copy for 20p, but when I looked into replacing it, the cheapest I could find was £20!!!
Thank you, as always Joshua, for your calm voice as I declutter my home. I’m working on my home office and this episode was so, so helpful. I have books on my shelf that I have not read, will not read again and favourites that are falling apart. My bookshelf is literally sagging. The dust that I have cleaned off, the paperwork I have been keeping and forgotten about long ago , the things from my job that should be back at the office and not in my home … it’s a big job but I am looking forward to a clean space to work in next week. Thank you. 🙏
Right now, my books are overflowing my bookshelves. Instead of figuring out where to put another bookshelf, my first goal is to pare down my books so they fit comfortably on the shelves I have. I'm respecting the existing boundaries. It's a small step, but for a book lover, it feels significant!
I’ve just discovered I’ve been on a minimalist journey the last few years without knowing being a minimalist is a thing to identify myself. I just discovered this channel too. It started as necessity to sell many of my belongings. Then I realized life was easier with less stuff. A few hard areas for me to pare down, books and music. I love to read and listen to music. I had about 2,000 books. I have sold, donated to libraries, charity, or given my books to someone I have thought would enjoy. I would drop off selects stacks in my work lunchroom with a free sign, they were gone within minutes. Now I only own two bibles. That’s it. I don’t like reading on a ebook. I only buy a new book if I can determine beforehand who I will gift it too after reading. Music. I worked in music for a long time, so I had a massive collection of maybe 4500-5000 CD’s alone. I picked out favorites to keep, sold some on eBay, to used record stores, gave some to charity. I have about 100 left that are tucked neatly in a decorative storage box. Music was harder for me to part with emotionally. I know for the most part, there is a digital copy out there somewhere if I have to hear it again. It lives on inside of me still.
I responded to a request from a local Bible College seeking accreditation. They needed a library of books for student research. I donated over 200 Christian books and got the deduction on my taxes.
Those are great tips! I have another one to add: If you are still unsure whether to keep a certain book or not because you like it but you know you won't need it or read it as a whole again: Write down some of your favourite lines or do some photo copies or digitalize some pages. Of course you have to keep up with your files then so you won't fall into the digital clutter trap:D But it really helps me to do this especially for some self-help books. I only keep the tips I maybe want to refer to again but I decide to give the book to another person who might also need it:)
This was very helpful because I have been putting it off!!! I have just got rid of two bookcases and I am feeling a bit overwhelmed! I thought number 9 was really soothing!!!
My husband and I are in the process of decluttering and reorganizing our home. I've put off my book collection because of emotional attachment. This video has helped me so much. Thank you! "New and returning subscriber"
Very helpful!! I am very anxious to get started! I am saving this video I am certain I can definitely start to goo through and to condense my books with the tips from this video. There are just so many, but I need the space more than the sight I am seeing where they are crammed into this moment! And there is certainly no place else for them to go in this smaller home in which we have retired!! I know I do not want to place them on the new bookshelves that are being built upstairs even though I have no idea what will go on those new shelves now that I am taking an interest to these helpful ways of self improvement by learning to decluttering styles and minimalist ideas of living!!
#2 It's not that I believe the books on my shelf (or in crates, or in stacks on the floor, or on the coffee table, etc.) define me, but I acquired the bulk of my collection when my kids were younger (does anyone remember when Amazon only sold books?). I love 20th Century American fiction, especially the short story genre. Lack of reading time is my main excuse for my unwieldy book hoarde. As a freshly minted 60 year-old, I have a little more free time now, but still not enough! As Rachmaninov said, "there is enough music for a lifetime but a lifetime is not enough for music". I feel that way about books! 😂
Bookmooch is an Online place where you can list books and ship to others who have that book on their "Wanted" list. The Us Postal offers a cheaper book rate. You may also find a book or two you've been looking for.
Perfect timing , to watch this video. I'm busy with my books right now. It's a mighty challenge. I live alone. My books and I... Always here for me. But I certainly will be giving away some and lending some out as well. Five years ago I did a big declutter. Last year I gave all my study books away to my niece who's becoming a teacher. I felt so good because I know that she needs the books . She also saved a lot of money by not needing to buy them. So the process is on.
We did this 3 years ago and it was awesome. I have to say that one probably has more books than you think scattered around the house, so we literally put all the books we owned on the dining table, and even when we thought those were all the book, we kept finding more. One we did that we started the purging process and actually implemented several of the tips you gave today.
I too had books in many places. I've gathered them all up and I'm slowly working on parting with them. Had a lot of DVDs, also. I took them to Half Price Books. Didn't get much money for them but my living area looks a lot better🙂
We just moved and I got rid of quite a few books. I asked myself a few questions. 1. Can I get this as an e-book? I prefer reading on my Kindle and rarely read hard copies. 2. Is it available at the library? If it's an e-book, that's even better. 3. Is it sentimental? I have antique books that belonged to my parents, grandparents, and great grandparents. I also have a shelf and a half of signed copies. It brings me joy to look at those books and remember my encounters with the authors. 4. How long has this book been on my shelf without me reading it? I thought I had given away half of my books, but after unpacking what I had left, it's more like a third. But at least they all fit on my shelves with room left over. Now I need to downsize my notebooks and journals. I was surprised to see I have 3 boxes of them. 🤔 I used to collect Bibles, but with so many translations available online, I don't need as many. I'm keeping some sentimental ones and some study Bibles. I donated a whole box to a food pantry and clothing ministry that gives Bibles to anyone who needs one. When they weren't accepting any other food or clothing donations, they accepted the Bibles.
I'm not a fan of relying on the internet 100%. I'll give you an example. A couple of months ago I wanted to re-read chapters of one of my favourite books on kindle app. About 100 pages of the book were just blank. This problem lasted for about 20 minutes (this time). Also, some books are out of print and not all libraries stock copies. In my local library (UK) books are being withdrawn after a certain amount of time and no longer available in either format. This advice is not always a good one.
Recently retired, (and both avid readers!)my husband and I are downsizing into a new home… I’ve estimated the inches of new bookshelf space available… divided it by 1.25” … and came up with the maximum number of books we will have room for! 🤔 Of course… if we want to tuck in a meaningful decor item or two amongst the books, we’ll have to cut back a bit more!! But at least it’s a start on boxing it all up! Looking forward to sharing our wealth of books and interests via all the little enclosed “book share boxes” that have sprung up around our community!
Sharing books with a new reader is a special feeling, whether they are a child or an adult who has started delving into it. It's returned a hundred fold when they come back to you and thank you for introducing them to a topic or series and they say something like "I never would have known..." If you love a book, share it with other people. You won't be sorry.
Joshua thank you! At home this is easy, but my husband and I are teachers and this is something we can continue to work on in our classroom to make sure our class is tidy and just right for kids. Appreciate this one!
Pleasant ideas here. Reading, learning and making use of the knowledge within the pages of books is a wonderful experience. Owning a few books, but accessing many through libraries is a practical idea. There is such a wide range of topics to cover in one's life time.
When it comes to "subject/topic" duplicates, choose your favorite and give away the other ones. This works great for gardening books, craft books, or any duplicates on a particular topic. I just went through my craft books last night. I have so much more space! If there were 1 or 2 projects I liked in a book, but I didn't need the rest, I'd take pictures of the part I needed and then donate the book.
I held on to my college textbooks for years, avoiding dealing with the whole issue. Honestly I didn't know what to do with them. Then I was moving to a new house and donated 3 huge boxes to a local library in Montreal. It felt SOO good. I am gathering another batch to donate. Great video!
I have a Barns & Nobel account with 2 wishlists. One is books I want to read, and the second is books that I have read. That way even if I don’t have a book anymore I can still remember that I read it and if I need to end up repurchasing it for whatever reason, I always know where to find it. Most of my books have all been donated to the high school I attended because that’s where I spent most of my time cultivating my love for reading and I like to think about the students who might discover their love for reading if they are forced to pick a book off a shelf and it happens to be a really wonderful story.
Our family & church members donated books to an elderly community library that lost most of thier books due to flooding in thier library. They were grateful. Be a blessing & be blessed.
I agree! 👍Books are information. But the wisdom is not only in books.😉 When the time is right you'll find it also in a talk with a close friend, or at work, or in your family, or during meditation, in the internet....find peace and trust that every information will come to you, when the time is right😏
There are some other great tips we have on books. We both LOVE books. We are readers and I am a teacher, so the idea of getting rid of all books or minimizing too much makes us so sad. So some things to think about-you have made all great points here already -and we are quite proud of ourselves because though books are a favorite and were one of our last trouble areas-we did it before this post! Progress! The libraries in your area are a tremendous resource! Your library card allows you to use any library in the country, anywhere you are, neighboring towns, on vacation-it is quite astonishing and their are some incredible libraries doing incredible things out there. Libraries are free and you bring back what you borrow-so no stuff. We often do this if we think we want to add a book to our collection that way we give a test drive firs. So that is one, secondly many if not most libraries take your donations because they have used bookshops set up within their walls, or have annual sales where they raise funds for the library, so it is a win win. Paperbacks usually go in our house after we have read and shared with each other, and we are very careful in curating what we bring in now. We also acknowldedge that reading a real book, not online, well sorry there is just nothing like a real book in your hands, so we acknowledge that and we are careful when we shop indpendent bookstores-which is the way to go-if we are minimizing because those small stores and libraries create community and make us slow down and take stock of life that we live not books that we own. They also offer incredible services at indie bookstores for community events. Another win without loading up your house with more. Be selective, share, use your library, donate your books you want to pass along ro your library's used bookshop, shop there also to minimize expense and burdening the earth with a large footprint, and shop careful and shop independent bookstores when you do. Minimizing should include be careful with how and where you buy so we are reducing our carbon footprint. And don't forget schools, they can always use book donations. There is also the free little library program and that is a great way to share books and receive books in your community. littlefreelibrary.org/ Joshua, we love your books, your videos, we share with other people. You have helped our household immensly. Next would you please do minimizing bedding, blankets, the things that make our house cozy, but we all probably have too much of? Thanks, Susan
Public libraries will often take "book donations". I gave my local library several books and they have since provided materials for others to read many times.
Sometimes the Friends of the Library sells the books that the library doesn't need or want in their collection. Makes money for events for the library, or needed items for the public library.
I got rid of a load of books I like to reread often because I knew my local library had copies. Then Covid came and the libraries all closed for over a year!!! I'm still aiming to keep my book collection within limits, but those limits have widened now, because I can't rely on libraries any more.
Excellent topic! This was a difficult area for us. We are avid readers and have tended to keep books that we love. As well, we are given many books as gifts. All in all, we have a lot of books. I am still in the process of de-cluttering our books, but can offer a possible starting point. For all the books that I wanted to keep, I checked the library. If the book was available in the library, I added it to a list. That way, I still had the option of reading the book. Many thanks for another great video!
Useful tips. In addition to those in the video, I find checking the availability of the book at a local library. If it is in stock, I find it easier to remove it from my collection. Also, quite a few books (particularly those of age or out of copyright) are available as downloadable .pdf.
Some books are out of print, not in any library one has access to, nowhere to be found online (or cost an egregious amount, e.g. 200x what you paid), AND not available in ebook format. If that's the case, and you like the book, keep it - that is one decision you very well may come to regret if you get rid of it. I majorly downsized my books, but I still have 3 bookcase shelves of them, and I have no intention of getting rid of any of them unless I discover that my attachment to them has dwindled.
These are the books I'm struggling with today. I have some that are out of print and, if available at all, on Amazon or eBay for hundreds! If I let them go, I won't find them again.
@@llkg9 If you like/love them, have the mental/physical energy to manage/maintain them, and know for sure you would regret getting rid of them, then I don't see any reason you shouldn't keep them - it's not necessarily about seeing how few you can get away with, it's about being intentional about what is important to you. I in no way consider myself an expert, but that's my two cents based on my own experience.
@@SnowySpiritRuby Thank you! I kept them because I knew I'd regret losing them. And now that I got rid of soooo much else this week, the room is bare enough that I can put up a special shelf to display these proudly.
I hear you! I have cut my bookcases from 10 to 4, but I doubt I will cut any further, because most of what is left would be very hard to replace. Setting a limit has helped though. I used to automatically put a new book on my shelf after reading unless I didn't enjoy it - now I try to put it in my donation box unless I decide it deserves a place on my shelf - and then I have to decide which book goes instead of it!
I always keep a minimum of 15 books. After I finish a book, I decide whether I'd like to read it again or not. If it doesn't fall into the reread category, I wait a month before I resell them as pre-loved books or donate them to schools/charity. Gradually with time, all 15 books get replaced with new favorites. 😊
I am a certified Bookaholic. Books are my pride and joy. I read constantly. Recently, we have decided to move quite a distance and I have been decluttering our current home. I have found it quite easy to do and proud of what I have accomplished that is, until I came to my Library/office. I didn’t know how I could declutter my books as they are part of me. Yesterday,I made a small step and removed some books that I know I will never read again. My books are in pristine condition as I am very OCD with my books. I barely crack the book open when reading, never crack the spine or bend pages. I realised that I could donate these wonders for others to love and treasure and pass on. I also own an E-Reader with over a thousand books on it. So I know that there are some books I can declutter and give to Charity because if I want to read them again, I can on my E-Reader. There are of course some precious books that I cannot part with, but if I can declutter a half of my books, I will be happy. I also have a lot of History books (History Nerd too!) and other nonfiction reference books. The reference books as you said are probably outdated and the info can be found on the Internet if I want it again such as my Genealogical Reference books (another of my joys.). So goodbye to these books (I might keep a couple of well used references.). Now I have the motivation and the strength to do this! 😊
Great tips for books, I am glad I kept my favorite books since the library has been closed during covid-19. I can still get ebooks from the library too.
I got rid of a load of books I knew I could borrow from the library, and then the library closed because of Covid. It's been interesting to see which ones I have missed - I am planning to replace one 5-book series because I have been SO annoyed not to be able to reread it this past year, but the others, I haven't missed so much. (I've tried e-readers and they don't work for me. I get stressed instead of relaxed by reading on them, and my comprehension plummets too!)
I find it helpful to make a list of the books I am getting rid of. That way if I ever need or want it again, I can pick it up from Amazon or Ebay. Or get out of library.
Great advice. I have become visually impaired in my forties, and it has become exponentially more difficult and time-intensive to read paper text any longer. Even though I am a minimalist, and even though I can no longer easily read books, I still have my small collection of ethnobotany and chi gung books. These topics are meaningful enough to me to make the effort of reading them worth while. Also, they are niche enough I am not confident the content is available online via streaming services like Audible, or even the visually impaired library services available to me now.
Thank you for for this. My dream has always been to have a huge library. My dream house is a library with a nice bath and kitchen attached. Lol. I have made the decision to get rid of books that were just bad. I have several collections of series or authors I love. Those I will keep. But if I don't love them and won't reread them they are gonna go. Thank you for the respect you are showing readers. I also have been using the library alot.
More advice from others about decluttering books: The best time to read a book is when it first arrives; if it sat on the shelf for a year, have your interests changed? Did someone buy it for you but you aren't really into it, or you started to read and found it boring, or found the info in another book? Realistically will you read this book again? With non fiction, do you have the knowledge within you and can pass it along? with fiction, do you know the plot (e.g. mysteries) and so probably won't reread it? There are books of the hour and there are books for all time; many books "of the hour" have seen their day and can be let go(business titles, parenting, politics, many NYT bestsellers) If you have a book "for all time," a classic, something likely to remain in print, consider if you can rely on your local library or a digital version of these types of titles Finally, C.S. Lewis, when asked if he thought there would be libraries in Heaven said "Yes. But they will contain only those books which we shared with others. "
« Les livres sont beaucoup plus beaux dans la tête de quelqu’un d’autre que dans ta bibliothèque. » (Books are much more beautiful in somebody else’s mind than on your bookshelf. »
I love lending books! When the message of a book is very close to my heart, I will remmeber it anyways - so if it doesn't return I know that someone got value :)
Yeah, about the scarcity thinking...... we had a water damage a few years ago and I wanted to replace at least my favorite books......good luck finding them and at a reasonable price. 😏
i agree. replacing can sometimes be very costly for older and out of print copies. i am decluttering some books i havem't gotten to read that i got for $1 at a thrift store but online each of those older copies are $20 each. i'm surely not putting them into the decluttering pile. i read certain books at specific time of the year and those $1 will sit until their time of the year comes up.
Interesting to me that a different librarian left a comment that they don't keep books in their home precisely because she is a librarian and has seen how much joy others can receive when the books are allowed to circulate. Interesting juxtaposition.
I like that these tips came from all over the world - you didn’t mention joining a library - a tip from Australia 😝 - I watched this video even though I have very few books since I have the reading attention span of a gnat thanks to the internet 😆
I've downsized from about 15 bookcases' worth of books to about 6. My goal is to get them down to 4. My local used book dealer and librarian must be sick of seeing me! PRO TIP: If you have balance or mobility issues, keep a sturdy donatable cardboard box (preferably one with handles) in the car. Whenever you make a trip to you car, carry a bag or two of books out and place them in the box. Once the box full, take it straight to the donation/resale site. Usually someone there can help you unload it. I used this method to haul at least 20 bags' worth of books down from my third-story attic to my car. Only about 12 more to go!
I donated books a couple times. I was a book buyer with a book reader wanna be personally I guess. After I kept saying I was gonna read and didn't I figured if I wasn't going to use them it was a shame that no one could so I donated them to bless others. I keep reference books that I will refer to again and a few I'm still hoping to read but trying to convert to library thinking rather than buying.
Downsizing my book collection to 10; achieved, painful. In my community, the only desirable books at Goodwill, the used bookstore or even the local college, are novels. If you had told me that I would take books to recycle, I would have denied it. My e reader is now the place where I keep reading, and share what I have with friends and family. It’s always a treat when someone lease is reading the same book as me. 🙏
My guidelines for getting rids of books are as follows. 1. Will I reread it ? Recently I realized I will reread some of my fantasy books but that I never reread my murder mysteries so I’m slowly getting rid of that category. I plan to buy digital copies or get my murder mysteries from the library in the future. 2. Would I pay to move this book across the country or overseas ? (Across town doesn’t count because moving costs wouldn’t change as much.). This really helps decide if I want to keep it when I think about packing/unpacking and paying to move it. 3. Can I get a copy easily or cheaply if I wanted to replace it. Some of my books are not currently available so they are keepers for now. I had over 600 paperbacks and over the past 2 years have cut it down to approximately 200. Still trying to purge more and get my collection to 1 bookcase or less. Hope these suggestions are helpful.
Here is another question. Which books are collecting dust because it's easier and less time-consuming to look up the information on the Internet? I'm a birder and it's easier and less consuming to figure out which bird it is by searching the Internet rather than searching 5-10 books to find the same information.
I don't really like ebooks. I want to hold a book. I have been reading for 54 years. I have decluttered my books on occasion. I am happy where I am with my book collection. It doesn't even take up a 72-inch tall bookcase.
I am donating much of what is left in my collection to the library in my retirement village. I might still want to read them in the future and they will be available to me but other people can enjoy them too.. I will only have the best of the best (my absolute favourites) with me in my tiny house.
I love that you are clear and to the point. Now my problem is that I have too many supplements and over the counter pills. Some are already expired but I don’t want to put them in the trash can. I wonder how can get rid of them safely? 🤔
My philosophy on minimizing books: Just get rid of all your books! If you need them again (which 99% of the time you won't) you can always rent out a digital or hard copy from the library. I think the only reason to own (not borrow) a hard copy of a book is if its a book you can't rent or buy digitally, AND you reference it often. Same goes for CDs, DVDs ect. people get too nostalgic over the physical thing. I only own 5 physical books, eventually I plan on owning zero.
I'm the same. I'm an avid reader and only own 6 books that are books about Freddie Mercury and Queen which I will never get rid of. But all the other books I read and then either donate them to the library or Salvation Army 😀
Many of the books I own are large format, and rather niche as in books about German Armour during WW2*, and whilst I think digital media lends itself to reading regular books, as in most fiction, it doesn't work so well for 'coffee table' books. *Yes I'm a nerd.
Sooo I’m driving home wondering where I’m going to put the box of books I purchased over a week ago because they’ve been in my car. I’m out of room on my 4 bookshelves stacked 2 deep. My phone flashes and catches my attention. I glance at the title, and all I can do is laugh. Guess God is trying to tell me I have a book addiction lol. I’ve been willing to give away and downsize most of my belongings, but have been reluctant to give my books away. I love books and find them at such great prices at yard sales and thrift stores, so sometimes I get multiple at a time, annnd thats the beginning of my problem.
When we moved to a one bedroom tiny apartment my husband and I compromised. He wouldn’t get rid of any of them (not even the cooking books he got as a gift from the bank 🙄) but he would keep them in the storage unit and NEVER BUY MORE. Instead, he goes to the library, which is a hobby for him as loves going to libraries, and takes anything he wants. Usually four books and comic books at a time. He enjoys them and gives them back. No more clutter at home. He even has loaned a book that he knows he owns but couldn’t find 🙄🙄🙄. (He is a bit of a hoarder) On my part, I bougth an ereader in 2011 and I haven’t bought a book ever since. I read a book a week, but on my e-reader. I keep around 2000 books in my computer and my favourites are always in my ereader so traveling is sooo easy. I keep my erader in my handbag, so I am never out of entertainment. And when I tried regular books again I noticed that I missed the size and lightweight, the integrated light and the comfort of choosing font and size, especially in bed. And the peace of mind of not fearing stains 😬 Give it a try!
Read it and sell/donate/give it away and then get more new books. That’s what I usually do. Although lately I’ve been using the library more often to save money. I’ve even made a “want to read” list on our library catalog app. Once I read a couple I’ll check out a couple more on my list.
My husband and I put an initial on the back of the book so we know that we have read it. (Husband reads much faster and more than I do and he sets aside only the books for me that he really enjoyed that he thinks I will enjoy too). The rest and the books we have both read then go to our local American Legion where we also pick up a few new ones to read and enjoy. Sadly our local library has been closed since the onset of the covid and we don’t know when, if ever, they will reopen. Otherwise, I’d donate most of the books we haven’t read and get them from the public library. Luckily, we both prefer paper books, but I do see the benefit of e-readers🤓📖
Hey guys! Just wanted to let you know that my new book, Things That Matter, is finally here. I put my heart into it, and I can’t wait to share it with you. You can pick up a copy at www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/676394/things-that-matter-by-joshua-becker/
There’s something very special about holding a physical book in your hands, turning paper pages.
People are often surprised that as a children's librarian, I don't have many books in my home. This is because as soon as I read something, I give it away. This is being a good librarian.
I am a former librarian and have loved books since I was a toddler. I come from a family of books lovers. My grandmother was a librarian and so is my cousin. They are one of the things I have loved most in the world. Many of the books I have are books I even bought when I was in high school. I have always been an excellent judge of books and good literature and what I got 40 years ago I still love today. For example, I bought the "I Ching" and all the books of John Steinbeck and Ray Bradbury while a teenager. Just looking at all the books I am surrounded by makes me happy. I do donate a lot that I know I'll never look at again once I'm done with them or that I realize aren't really any good. But I still have hundreds. I recently retired and look forward to finally reading them, although I realize I won't even be able to read half of them in what is left of my life. But when I am sad or things aren't going well in my life I pick up a book to read that I have already selected and it makes me happy. Just seeing all the worlds I can enter when I want to is exhilerating. I hope that someday, when I'm gone, my books will all be donated to the library for their excellent book sales frequented by people who love books as much as I do. I am such a reader that I take a book with me wherever I go so that I am never bored while waiting.
Lori, you sound a lot like me. We have a similar taste in authors and I always have a book with me wherever I go. I love short stories. I have many anthologies and collections from different authors. These days I'm enjoying The Psalms of King David for the peace they give me. I came to this video because I still possess too many books, even after donating many boxes already. I need to get my house organized!😳
@@cathywithac3793 thank you for this recommendation of "The Psalms of King David". I have recently been studying the scriptures with the help of a great church go to and am especially interested in this now. Is this in the Bible, or a seperate book?
My father and his brothers saved up hard earned money in their teens and twenties to buy a collection of Russian literature. They really loved reading those books and sharing their toughts on it with one another. When my father died in 2007 the books went to my uncle. When he died in 2013 my aunt brought the books to me. Due to the emotional value it was very hard for me to get rid of the beautiful but large collection. I succeeded in doing this by asking myself whether I would read the books myself in the near future. Due to my life phase and activity level the answer was no. Maybe I would after my retirement but that's very far away and at the moment I like to read other books or do other things. It was a hard thing to do however and some people questioned me about it. But the books were bought by two theology students in their twenties and they were really happy with them so this made it more easy and I know my father would have liked this.
You did the right thing! Books should be used...not hoarded. I can't tell you how many people buy these classics sets for their family thinking they will be passed down forever. Then they get infested with mold and/or begin deteriorating. Then someone passes away and I get a call (as a librarian), and I have to sadly tell the people we can't use them (National Geographics...same thing). And almost all of these stories can easily be accessed through your library, interloan, and even public domain. I would recommend to write down the titles and perhaps download a few to an eReader and actually read them. This would make your father and uncles far more happy--that you carry on the tradition of reading these stories and discussing them.
The fact that others were able to read them and learn from them is so special. You have provided them historical insight.
I’ve heard many stories of people not willing to let go of books of much less significance than these books! What a special gift that will bring enjoyment to potentially hundreds of people.
👍👍
I know your father is so excited about your gift of generosity to individuals. This is really wonderful.
Guidelines:
1. Decide to do it. (Stop putting it off, and make the decision to own fewer books.)
2. Realise books do not define you.
3. Remove "scarsity thinking" . (Thinking you will not find it again to read it.)
4. Determine to make room for new.
5. Go digital. Use the format that works best for you, but at least give the digital format a try.
6. Give yourself permission to keep your favourites.
7. Set up reasonable boundaries for your collection. (Limit the space)
8. Remove unused or outdated reference books.
9. Think of forwarding a good book as an act of love.
10. If all else fails, chose to lend them out. (Write your name in them). Almost all are going to return.
Thank you!
Thank you!
@@beckyhom3478 @ddd1dorin you're wellcome!
i do not have that many books. I also donated some a year ago. but No.8, I should definitely do so....
Thanks! I was about to go through the video again slowly to get this list. you made my life better!🥰
No. 6. Give yourself permission to keep your favourites. That speaks for itself. In fact that speaks volumes.
Since I started my journey into minimalism 3 years ago, I had been looking for a video or article with truly valuable information about the subject of books and how to let go because for me it has always been my main source of attachment. The most complicated thing in the world to minimize.
Therefore, I have to give infinite thanks Joshua because this video is pure gold. The best I've ever seen on the subject of books on minimalism. Thank you very much.
Greetings from Spain.
That's so kind of you to say. Thank you for watching.
Get a library card? Don't see many minimalists on here talking about libraries and I'd have thought you would be big fans!
I love my books... I think they’ve brought me much joy. I don’t think I’ll ever minimize them.
Cool thing about decluttering your books is what is left is the best of the best. So you are super proud of that collection.
This is me :)
The only books I have now are the ones I enjoy re-reading. And all those books I donated are raising money for charity, and bringing joy to other people. Win-win.
Love that analogy!
My entire Perry Mason collection!😸😸
Yes!! This is what I'm doing right now! What is left out of the thousands of books I have let go is definitely the best of the best!
#9 has helped me with all kinds of things, not just books.
my father is a professor at a uni and teaches law. when he was still a bit younger and capable of moving around, he loved buying and collecting books and it was sooo many so we had 3-4 almost ceiling high bookshelves for it. even that wasn't enough. books were all over the place, the floor, table etc.
when his age progresses, he continue practicing a lethargic and sedentary lifestyle, rendering him incapable of cleaning and sorting the books by himself, forcing me and my mother to sort all of them (it was me mostly, cause my mother is also aging, she can't work physically too hard). these are some of the most stressful and tiring moments in my life.
most of the books were taken by my uncle, and some recycled due to its irrelevancy and out of date materials. there are still some stockpiled in my parents' house, but now in boxes.
what i'm trying to say is, if you dream of collecting books and having a library at home, make sure you are fully committed and devoted to take care of the books.
My advice is to look online and see how common the book is before you donate it. My only decluttering regret is donating a book that cannot be found online or bought anywhere, I took pictures of the book thinking it would be enough but technology fails :((
@R S123 unfortunately I don't have the ISBN. I might find that book again someday, but if not it's no big deal. I love the rest of my decluttering journey 👍
Great tip. I gave a book away about 30 yrs ago and have never found it since.i know the feeling.
I agree. Most of the books I read are out of print ones that I pick up second hand, so I have to be really sure before I donate a book that I won't want to read it again. Recently, I decided I wanted to reread a book that I had got rid of - I bought my copy for 20p, but when I looked into replacing it, the cheapest I could find was £20!!!
I love my books! This is veey helpful for me bc now I have some guidelines to follow. Thank you!
Thank you, as always Joshua, for your calm voice as I declutter my home. I’m working on my home office and this episode was so, so helpful. I have books on my shelf that I have not read, will not read again and favourites that are falling apart. My bookshelf is literally sagging. The dust that I have cleaned off, the paperwork I have been keeping and forgotten about long ago , the things from my job that should be back at the office and not in my home … it’s a big job but I am looking forward to a clean space to work in next week. Thank you. 🙏
It sounds like you're really making some great progress on your home office! Keep up the great work!
Right now, my books are overflowing my bookshelves. Instead of figuring out where to put another bookshelf, my first goal is to pare down my books so they fit comfortably on the shelves I have. I'm respecting the existing boundaries. It's a small step, but for a book lover, it feels significant!
Thank you. The thought of decluttering my books puts an incredible strain on my heart.
☘️🌝🌲
I’ve just discovered I’ve been on a minimalist journey the last few years without knowing being a minimalist is a thing to identify myself. I just discovered this channel too. It started as necessity to sell many of my belongings. Then I realized life was easier with less stuff. A few hard areas for me to pare down, books and music. I love to read and listen to music. I had about 2,000 books. I have sold, donated to libraries, charity, or given my books to someone I have thought would enjoy. I would drop off selects stacks in my work lunchroom with a free sign, they were gone within minutes. Now I only own two bibles. That’s it. I don’t like reading on a ebook. I only buy a new book if I can determine beforehand who I will gift it too after reading. Music. I worked in music for a long time, so I had a massive collection of maybe 4500-5000 CD’s alone. I picked out favorites to keep, sold some on eBay, to used record stores, gave some to charity. I have about 100 left that are tucked neatly in a decorative storage box. Music was harder for me to part with emotionally. I know for the most part, there is a digital copy out there somewhere if I have to hear it again. It lives on inside of me still.
I responded to a request from a local Bible College seeking accreditation. They needed a library of books for student research. I donated over 200 Christian books and got the deduction on my taxes.
Ooooohh! That’s interesting! Very good to know! Thanks for sharing.
Cool!
Those are great tips! I have another one to add: If you are still unsure whether to keep a certain book or not because you like it but you know you won't need it or read it as a whole again: Write down some of your favourite lines or do some photo copies or digitalize some pages. Of course you have to keep up with your files then so you won't fall into the digital clutter trap:D But it really helps me to do this especially for some self-help books. I only keep the tips I maybe want to refer to again but I decide to give the book to another person who might also need it:)
This was very helpful because I have been putting it off!!! I have just got rid of two bookcases and I am feeling a bit overwhelmed! I thought number 9 was really soothing!!!
Keep books that you really use and those that 'spark joy' 😊
Most of the books I borrow from the public library.
My husband and I are in the process of decluttering and reorganizing our home. I've put off my book collection because of emotional attachment. This video has helped me so much. Thank you! "New and returning subscriber"
Great. Glad you found it helpful.
Very helpful!! I am very anxious to get started! I am saving this video I am certain I can definitely start to goo through and to condense my books with the tips from this video. There are just so many, but I need the space more than the sight I am seeing where they are crammed into this moment! And there is certainly no place else for them to go in this smaller home in which we have retired!! I know I do not want to place them on the new bookshelves that are being built upstairs even though I have no idea what will go on those new shelves now that I am taking an interest to these helpful ways of self improvement by learning to decluttering styles and minimalist ideas of living!!
#2
It's not that I believe the books on my shelf (or in crates, or in stacks on the floor, or on the coffee table, etc.) define me, but I acquired the bulk of my collection when my kids were younger (does anyone remember when Amazon only sold books?). I love 20th Century American fiction, especially the short story genre. Lack of reading time is my main excuse for my unwieldy book hoarde. As a freshly minted 60 year-old, I have a little more free time now, but still not enough! As Rachmaninov said, "there is enough music for a lifetime but a lifetime is not enough for music". I feel that way about books! 😂
Bookmooch is an Online place where you can list books and ship to others who have that book on their "Wanted" list. The Us Postal offers a cheaper book rate. You may also find a book or two you've been looking for.
Perfect timing , to watch this video.
I'm busy with my books right now. It's a mighty challenge. I live alone.
My books and I...
Always here for me.
But I certainly will be giving away some and lending some out as well.
Five years ago I did a big declutter.
Last year I gave all my study books away to my niece who's becoming a teacher. I felt so good because I know that she needs the books . She also saved a lot of money by not needing to buy them.
So the process is on.
We did this 3 years ago and it was awesome. I have to say that one probably has more books than you think scattered around the house, so we literally put all the books we owned on the dining table, and even when we thought those were all the book, we kept finding more. One we did that we started the purging process and actually implemented several of the tips you gave today.
I too had books in many places. I've gathered them all up and I'm slowly working on parting with them. Had a lot of DVDs, also. I took them to Half Price Books. Didn't get much money for them but my living area looks a lot better🙂
Thank you!!!!!! I needed this guidance. So grateful!!!
We just moved and I got rid of quite a few books. I asked myself a few questions.
1. Can I get this as an e-book? I prefer reading on my Kindle and rarely read hard copies.
2. Is it available at the library? If it's an e-book, that's even better.
3. Is it sentimental? I have antique books that belonged to my parents, grandparents, and great grandparents. I also have a shelf and a half of signed copies. It brings me joy to look at those books and remember my encounters with the authors.
4. How long has this book been on my shelf without me reading it?
I thought I had given away half of my books, but after unpacking what I had left, it's more like a third. But at least they all fit on my shelves with room left over. Now I need to downsize my notebooks and journals. I was surprised to see I have 3 boxes of them. 🤔
I used to collect Bibles, but with so many translations available online, I don't need as many. I'm keeping some sentimental ones and some study Bibles. I donated a whole box to a food pantry and clothing ministry that gives Bibles to anyone who needs one. When they weren't accepting any other food or clothing donations, they accepted the Bibles.
You sound like me I also have a collection of notebooks and bibles which I have managed to cut down. I could still do more though!
I'm not a fan of relying on the internet 100%. I'll give you an example. A couple of months ago I wanted to re-read chapters of one of my favourite books on kindle app. About 100 pages of the book were just blank. This problem lasted for about 20 minutes (this time). Also, some books are out of print and not all libraries stock copies. In my local library (UK) books are being withdrawn after a certain amount of time and no longer available in either format. This advice is not always a good one.
I recently did my books declutting and, oh boy!!! I ended by removing the bookcase. I now have only a few and I got the floating shelves only 👍🏼
Recently retired, (and both avid readers!)my husband and I are downsizing into a new home… I’ve estimated the inches of new bookshelf space available… divided it by 1.25” … and came up with the maximum number of books we will have room for!
🤔 Of course… if we want to tuck in a meaningful decor item or two amongst the books, we’ll have to cut back a bit more!! But at least it’s a start on boxing it all up! Looking forward to sharing our wealth of books and interests via all the little enclosed “book share boxes” that have sprung up around our community!
Sharing books with a new reader is a special feeling, whether they are a child or an adult who has started delving into it. It's returned a hundred fold when they come back to you and thank you for introducing them to a topic or series and they say something like "I never would have known..." If you love a book, share it with other people. You won't be sorry.
Joshua thank you! At home this is easy, but my husband and I are teachers and this is something we can continue to work on in our classroom to make sure our class is tidy and just right for kids. Appreciate this one!
Pleasant ideas here. Reading, learning and making use of the knowledge within the pages of books is a wonderful experience. Owning a few books, but accessing many through libraries is a practical idea. There is such a wide range of topics to cover in one's life time.
Thanks, Josh I so love my books always have but I will on the morrow get rid of those I probably will never read. I enjoy your videos so much.
Keep ones you totally love
When it comes to "subject/topic" duplicates, choose your favorite and give away the other ones. This works great for gardening books, craft books, or any duplicates on a particular topic. I just went through my craft books last night. I have so much more space! If there were 1 or 2 projects I liked in a book, but I didn't need the rest, I'd take pictures of the part I needed and then donate the book.
I held on to my college textbooks for years, avoiding dealing with the whole issue. Honestly I didn't know what to do with them. Then I was moving to a new house and donated 3 huge boxes to a local library in Montreal. It felt SOO good. I am gathering another batch to donate. Great video!
I have a Barns & Nobel account with 2 wishlists. One is books I want to read, and the second is books that I have read. That way even if I don’t have a book anymore I can still remember that I read it and if I need to end up repurchasing it for whatever reason, I always know where to find it. Most of my books have all been donated to the high school I attended because that’s where I spent most of my time cultivating my love for reading and I like to think about the students who might discover their love for reading if they are forced to pick a book off a shelf and it happens to be a really wonderful story.
Our family & church members donated books to an elderly community library that lost most of thier books due to flooding in thier library. They were grateful. Be a blessing & be blessed.
Thank you for a great video. I was on the fence with a few items in my collection, but tips one, two, and eight were spot on. Lynn
Thanks a lot for these suggestions!
I think they also work very well for CD-collections of music lovers like me...
I agree! 👍Books are information. But the wisdom is not only in books.😉 When the time is right you'll find it also in a talk with a close friend, or at work, or in your family, or during meditation, in the internet....find peace and trust that every information will come to you, when the time is right😏
There are some other great tips we have on books. We both LOVE books. We are readers and I am a teacher, so the idea of getting rid of all books or minimizing too much makes us so sad. So some things to think about-you have made all great points here already -and we are quite proud of ourselves because though books are a favorite and were one of our last trouble areas-we did it before this post! Progress! The libraries in your area are a tremendous resource! Your library card allows you to use any library in the country, anywhere you are, neighboring towns, on vacation-it is quite astonishing and their are some incredible libraries doing incredible things out there. Libraries are free and you bring back what you borrow-so no stuff. We often do this if we think we want to add a book to our collection that way we give a test drive firs. So that is one, secondly many if not most libraries take your donations because they have used bookshops set up within their walls, or have annual sales where they raise funds for the library, so it is a win win. Paperbacks usually go in our house after we have read and shared with each other, and we are very careful in curating what we bring in now. We also acknowldedge that reading a real book, not online, well sorry there is just nothing like a real book in your hands, so we acknowledge that and we are careful when we shop indpendent bookstores-which is the way to go-if we are minimizing because those small stores and libraries create community and make us slow down and take stock of life that we live not books that we own. They also offer incredible services at indie bookstores for community events. Another win without loading up your house with more. Be selective, share, use your library, donate your books you want to pass along ro your library's used bookshop, shop there also to minimize expense and burdening the earth with a large footprint, and shop careful and shop independent bookstores when you do. Minimizing should include be careful with how and where you buy so we are reducing our carbon footprint. And don't forget schools, they can always use book donations. There is also the free little library program and that is a great way to share books and receive books in your community. littlefreelibrary.org/ Joshua, we love your books, your videos, we share with other people. You have helped our household immensly. Next would you please do minimizing bedding, blankets, the things that make our house cozy, but we all probably have too much of? Thanks, Susan
Very helpful. Can you please do a video on how to get rid of CDs, DVDs and VHS tapes. Love your channel. Thank you
Do you still watch VHS tapes?
use the PUBLIC library! let THEM store the books you like to read!! hehe!!
Public libraries will often take "book donations". I gave my local library several books and they have since provided materials for others to read many times.
Sometimes the Friends of the Library sells the books that the library doesn't need or want in their collection. Makes money for events for the library, or needed items for the public library.
Our (rural) public library is USELESS.
@@lorraineturton4485 No, they won't. They don't want your old books. They sell off old books of their own.
I got rid of a load of books I like to reread often because I knew my local library had copies. Then Covid came and the libraries all closed for over a year!!! I'm still aiming to keep my book collection within limits, but those limits have widened now, because I can't rely on libraries any more.
Thank You. I recently did step one. I must say that decluttering books is hard, but I am ready to do it.
Excellent topic! This was a difficult area for us. We are avid readers and have tended to keep books that we love. As well, we are given many books as gifts. All in all, we have a lot of books. I am still in the process of de-cluttering our books, but can offer a possible starting point. For all the books that I wanted to keep, I checked the library. If the book was available in the library, I added it to a list. That way, I still had the option of reading the book. Many thanks for another great video!
Useful tips. In addition to those in the video, I find checking the availability of the book at a local library. If it is in stock, I find it easier to remove it from my collection. Also, quite a few books (particularly those of age or out of copyright) are available as downloadable .pdf.
Good information -thanks!
Some books are out of print, not in any library one has access to, nowhere to be found online (or cost an egregious amount, e.g. 200x what you paid), AND not available in ebook format. If that's the case, and you like the book, keep it - that is one decision you very well may come to regret if you get rid of it. I majorly downsized my books, but I still have 3 bookcase shelves of them, and I have no intention of getting rid of any of them unless I discover that my attachment to them has dwindled.
These are the books I'm struggling with today. I have some that are out of print and, if available at all, on Amazon or eBay for hundreds! If I let them go, I won't find them again.
@@llkg9 If you like/love them, have the mental/physical energy to manage/maintain them, and know for sure you would regret getting rid of them, then I don't see any reason you shouldn't keep them - it's not necessarily about seeing how few you can get away with, it's about being intentional about what is important to you. I in no way consider myself an expert, but that's my two cents based on my own experience.
@@SnowySpiritRuby Thank you! I kept them because I knew I'd regret losing them. And now that I got rid of soooo much else this week, the room is bare enough that I can put up a special shelf to display these proudly.
I hear you! I have cut my bookcases from 10 to 4, but I doubt I will cut any further, because most of what is left would be very hard to replace. Setting a limit has helped though. I used to automatically put a new book on my shelf after reading unless I didn't enjoy it - now I try to put it in my donation box unless I decide it deserves a place on my shelf - and then I have to decide which book goes instead of it!
I always keep a minimum of 15 books. After I finish a book, I decide whether I'd like to read it again or not. If it doesn't fall into the reread category, I wait a month before I resell them as pre-loved books or donate them to schools/charity. Gradually with time, all 15 books get replaced with new favorites. 😊
I am a certified Bookaholic. Books are my pride and joy. I read constantly. Recently, we have decided to move quite a distance and I have been decluttering our current home. I have found it quite easy to do and proud of what I have accomplished that is, until I came to my Library/office. I didn’t know how I could declutter my books as they are part of me. Yesterday,I made a small step and removed some books that I know I will never read again. My books are in pristine condition as I am very OCD with my books. I barely crack the book open when reading, never crack the spine or bend pages. I realised that I could donate these wonders for others to love and treasure and pass on. I also own an E-Reader with over a thousand books on it. So I know that there are some books I can declutter and give to Charity because if I want to read them again, I can on my E-Reader. There are of course some precious books that I cannot part with, but if I can declutter a half of my books, I will be happy. I also have a lot of History books (History Nerd too!) and other nonfiction reference books. The reference books as you said are probably outdated and the info can be found on the Internet if I want it again such as my Genealogical Reference books (another of my joys.). So goodbye to these books (I might keep a couple of well used references.). Now I have the motivation and the strength to do this! 😊
Great tips for books, I am glad I kept my favorite books since the library has been closed during covid-19. I can still get ebooks from the library too.
Great tip!
I got rid of a load of books I knew I could borrow from the library, and then the library closed because of Covid. It's been interesting to see which ones I have missed - I am planning to replace one 5-book series because I have been SO annoyed not to be able to reread it this past year, but the others, I haven't missed so much. (I've tried e-readers and they don't work for me. I get stressed instead of relaxed by reading on them, and my comprehension plummets too!)
I find it helpful to make a list of the books I am getting rid of. That way if I ever need or want it again, I can pick it up from Amazon or Ebay. Or get out of library.
Joshua
I declutted 135 books and can not recall the name of one of them.😉
Great advice. I have become visually impaired in my forties, and it has become exponentially more difficult and time-intensive to read paper text any longer. Even though I am a minimalist, and even though I can no longer easily read books, I still have my small collection of ethnobotany and chi gung books. These topics are meaningful enough to me to make the effort of reading them worth while. Also, they are niche enough I am not confident the content is available online via streaming services like Audible, or even the visually impaired library services available to me now.
Maybe record yourself reading them out loud? So the next time you dont strain your eyes
Finally! Books... oh my. 🥰🥰🥰
2 is the best. and I think that applies to many fields
Thank you for those helpful tips!
Thank you for for this. My dream has always been to have a huge library. My dream house is a library with a nice bath and kitchen attached. Lol. I have made the decision to get rid of books that were just bad. I have several collections of series or authors I love. Those I will keep. But if I don't love them and won't reread them they are gonna go. Thank you for the respect you are showing readers. I also have been using the library alot.
I'm trying!
More advice from others about decluttering books:
The best time to read a book is when it first arrives; if it sat on the shelf for a year, have your interests changed? Did someone buy it for you but you aren't really into it, or you started to read and found it boring, or found the info in another book?
Realistically will you read this book again? With non fiction, do you have the knowledge within you and can pass it along? with fiction, do you know the plot (e.g. mysteries) and so probably won't reread it?
There are books of the hour and there are books for all time; many books "of the hour" have seen their day and can be let go(business titles, parenting, politics, many NYT bestsellers)
If you have a book "for all time," a classic, something likely to remain in print, consider if you can rely on your local library or a digital version of these types of titles
Finally, C.S. Lewis, when asked if he thought there would be libraries in Heaven said "Yes. But they will contain only those books which we shared with others. "
wow your points of view are very special, i really love them, thank you so much!
Thank you for the encouraging words. I appreciate them very much.
@@JoshuaBecker i really and honestly love your videos, would you mind if I convert them into mp3? so I can listen to them while cleaning my house?
I love all your videos. Very inspiring!
I've been decluttering books, i kept my favorites and the ones i haven't read yet
Just about done selling off my record collection and excited to move onto my books next
« Les livres sont beaucoup plus beaux dans la tête de quelqu’un d’autre que dans ta bibliothèque. »
(Books are much more beautiful in somebody else’s mind than on your bookshelf. »
I love lending books! When the message of a book is very close to my heart, I will remmeber it anyways - so if it doesn't return I know that someone got value :)
Yeah, about the scarcity thinking...... we had a water damage a few years ago and I wanted to replace at least my favorite books......good luck finding them and at a reasonable price. 😏
i agree. replacing can sometimes be very costly for older and out of print copies. i am decluttering some books i havem't gotten to read that i got for $1 at a thrift store but online each of those older copies are $20 each. i'm surely not putting them into the decluttering pile. i read certain books at specific time of the year and those $1 will sit until their time of the year comes up.
This was nice. I also like to lend out my video games, movies and sometimes movie players like Laserdisc to friends and fam
I'm a librarian. You'll have to pry my books from my cold, dead hands. LOL
Interesting to me that a different librarian left a comment that they don't keep books in their home precisely because she is a librarian and has seen how much joy others can receive when the books are allowed to circulate. Interesting juxtaposition.
Very helpful tips!
I like that these tips came from all over the world - you didn’t mention joining a library - a tip from Australia 😝 - I watched this video even though I have very few books since I have the reading attention span of a gnat thanks to the internet 😆
I've downsized from about 15 bookcases' worth of books to about 6. My goal is to get them down to 4. My local used book dealer and librarian must be sick of seeing me!
PRO TIP: If you have balance or mobility issues, keep a sturdy donatable cardboard box (preferably one with handles) in the car. Whenever you make a trip to you car, carry a bag or two of books out and place them in the box. Once the box full, take it straight to the donation/resale site. Usually someone there can help you unload it. I used this method to haul at least 20 bags' worth of books down from my third-story attic to my car. Only about 12 more to go!
I donated books a couple times. I was a book buyer with a book reader wanna be personally I guess. After I kept saying I was gonna read and didn't I figured if I wasn't going to use them it was a shame that no one could so I donated them to bless others. I keep reference books that I will refer to again and a few I'm still hoping to read but trying to convert to library thinking rather than buying.
Kim is back. Great !!!:-)
I love books!📚📚📚 It's very hard to declutter books they are my best friends
so I try to don't buy
Notification squad already watched once through.
Downsizing my book collection to 10; achieved, painful. In my community, the only desirable books at Goodwill, the used bookstore or even the local college, are novels. If you had told me that I would take books to recycle, I would have denied it. My e reader is now the place where I keep reading, and share what I have with friends and family. It’s always a treat when someone lease is reading the same book as me. 🙏
also utilising public libraries & street libraries
My guidelines for getting rids of books are as follows. 1. Will I reread it ? Recently I realized I will reread some of my fantasy books but that I never reread my murder mysteries so I’m slowly getting rid of that category. I plan to buy digital copies or get my murder mysteries from the library in the future. 2. Would I pay to move this book across the country or overseas ? (Across town doesn’t count because moving costs wouldn’t change as much.). This really helps decide if I want to keep it when I think about packing/unpacking and paying to move it. 3. Can I get a copy easily or cheaply if I wanted to replace it. Some of my books are not currently available so they are keepers for now. I had over 600 paperbacks and over the past 2 years have cut it down to approximately 200. Still trying to purge more and get my collection to 1 bookcase or less. Hope these suggestions are helpful.
Here is another question. Which books are collecting dust because it's easier and less time-consuming to look up the information on the Internet? I'm a birder and it's easier and less consuming to figure out which bird it is by searching the Internet rather than searching 5-10 books to find the same information.
I am a book lover and this was much needed video, thanks a lot
Glad it was helpful!
I don't really like ebooks. I want to hold a book. I have been reading for 54 years. I have decluttered my books on occasion. I am happy where I am with my book collection. It doesn't even take up a 72-inch tall bookcase.
I am donating much of what is left in my collection to the library in my retirement village. I might still want to read them in the future and they will be available to me but other people can enjoy them too.. I will only have the best of the best (my absolute favourites) with me in my tiny house.
Thank you for this video. I am just "testing the waters" of minimalism and I have far too many books.
Very helpful tips! I also have 3 bookcases !!!
I love that you are clear and to the point. Now my problem is that I have too many supplements and over the counter pills. Some are already expired but I don’t want to put them in the trash can. I wonder how can get rid of them safely? 🤔
Should probably just Google your question. You'll find an answer.
Thanks a lot it was really helpful Best human ever
Yes!!!
My philosophy on minimizing books: Just get rid of all your books! If you need them again (which 99% of the time you won't) you can always rent out a digital or hard copy from the library. I think the only reason to own (not borrow) a hard copy of a book is if its a book you can't rent or buy digitally, AND you reference it often. Same goes for CDs, DVDs ect. people get too nostalgic over the physical thing. I only own 5 physical books, eventually I plan on owning zero.
I'm the same. I'm an avid reader and only own 6 books that are books about Freddie Mercury and Queen which I will never get rid of. But all the other books I read and then either donate them to the library or Salvation Army 😀
Many of the books I own are large format, and rather niche as in books about German Armour during WW2*, and whilst I think digital media lends itself to reading regular books, as in most fiction, it doesn't work so well for 'coffee table' books.
*Yes I'm a nerd.
Sooo I’m driving home wondering where I’m going to put the box of books I purchased over a week ago because they’ve been in my car. I’m out of room on my 4 bookshelves stacked 2 deep. My phone flashes and catches my attention. I glance at the title, and all I can do is laugh. Guess God is trying to tell me I have a book addiction lol. I’ve been willing to give away and downsize most of my belongings, but have been reluctant to give my books away. I love books and find them at such great prices at yard sales and thrift stores, so sometimes I get multiple at a time, annnd thats the beginning of my problem.
When we moved to a one bedroom tiny apartment my husband and I compromised. He wouldn’t get rid of any of them (not even the cooking books he got as a gift from the bank 🙄) but he would keep them in the storage unit and NEVER BUY MORE. Instead, he goes to the library, which is a hobby for him as loves going to libraries, and takes anything he wants. Usually four books and comic books at a time. He enjoys them and gives them back. No more clutter at home. He even has loaned a book that he knows he owns but couldn’t find 🙄🙄🙄. (He is a bit of a hoarder) On my part, I bougth an ereader in 2011 and I haven’t bought a book ever since. I read a book a week, but on my e-reader. I keep around 2000 books in my computer and my favourites are always in my ereader so traveling is sooo easy. I keep my erader in my handbag, so I am never out of entertainment. And when I tried regular books again I noticed that I missed the size and lightweight, the integrated light and the comfort of choosing font and size, especially in bed. And the peace of mind of not fearing stains 😬 Give it a try!
You haven't filled the floor yet.......
Read it and sell/donate/give it away and then get more new books. That’s what I usually do. Although lately I’ve been using the library more often to save money. I’ve even made a “want to read” list on our library catalog app. Once I read a couple I’ll check out a couple more on my list.
My husband and I put an initial on the back of the book so we know that we have read it. (Husband reads much faster and more than I do and he sets aside only the books for me that he really enjoyed that he thinks I will enjoy too). The rest and the books we have both read then go to our local American Legion where we also pick up a few new ones to read and enjoy. Sadly our local library has been closed since the onset of the covid and we don’t know when, if ever, they will reopen. Otherwise, I’d donate most of the books we haven’t read and get them from the public library. Luckily, we both prefer paper books, but I do see the benefit of e-readers🤓📖
I just think of all the trees that have been cut down to make paper
I just got rid of 4 bookshelves