Item — HN Reader

I think his point is that if the unread books are right in front of you for months at a time, they are a constant reminder that you mean to get around to reading them, but never do.

Which is something I definitely agree with. I used to have books lying around my room. Not only were they visual clutter, but I would get in the habit of picking one up, flipping through the pages, and then getting distracted with another book. Ever since I started keeping all my books in my bookshelf though, I've been much better at focusing on just one and finishing it before moving on to the next.

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That is the entire point of having the books in a stack where you can see them!

I love reading, but I intentionally take up books for leisure reading that I know will be a challenge. Some longer or more difficult works are definitely projects, projects that I need to consciously put work into.

Having the book sitting out there, visible, a physical reminder, is probably my most powerful motivational tool for getting these books read. For me this is the main reason I still buy and read physical books.

I guess it also helps that, for me, reading is something I get excited about. It is how I unwind. Having a book in my library that I haven't read yet does not make me feel guilty. Maybe the book makes me excited with anticipation, maybe I feel apathetic towards it. But I don't feel anxious, because the world will keep spinning just fine if I fail to read a book.

edit: I should amend to say that this is also a matter of taste. Having books all over the place will definitely make you switch reading material sometime, and will probably keep you from finishing some books. I'm of the school of thought that says, fine. I'll fail to finish some books. Not the end of the world. Sometimes a book just takes a couple of tries before it gets its teeth into you.

I'm not saying that one shouldn't have a lot of books. I've got a bookshelf behind me that is TWO WALLS wide and 8 feet tall. I'm talking about the pile of books on our desk that we lie to ourselves about. I called them Guilt Piles.

For many people that pile of books that they aren't going to read this week represents promises they've made to themselves that they didn't keep. I was just saying, be honest and take a few books off your desk. Those books are on my shelves and I'll read them when I'm ready for them.

All I can say is that I live in a state of radical disarray, and I often have books just sitting around. I wouldn't ever call them guilt piles, because leaving something unfinished causes me no real guilt, especially if I'm happy with whatever I'm doing at the moment.

In my work life, I feel I need to fight that instinct. But not in my reading life. That's part of what makes it a refuge for me.

> I'm of the school of thought that says, fine. I'll fail to finish some books.

I think you're right, it's definitely partly a matter of taste or mindset. I must have a similar mindset to you, and maybe other people have a different attitude. I'm not worried or anxious about being unable to finish a book this week, or this month or even this year. Maybe it's also about setting reasonable expectations, and as the OP writes, not guilt-tripping yourself when you don't keep a brutal and impossible to maintain pace. Most of what is worth reading isn't easy to get through in 7 days.

I think it's a personality thing. I started Njal's Saga years ago (my frame of reference is that I heard of it on Slashdot) and I'm about 3/4 of the way through. I haven't picked it up in years (I think it's under the bed) but someday I will, whenever I get around to it. It just doesn't matter when/if I finish it.

Contrast that with an old roommate of mine who thought of this stuff a lot more like Scott does. He would feel really, really guilty about starting a book and not finishing it in a reasonable time or at all. He felt he "owed" it to the author to finish it if started.

I just can't think that way. It took me three tries to get past page 100 of Dune but once I did, I absolutely loved the book. Same goes for Stars in my pocket like grains of sand: I took over five years to finish that book and it was really good.

Feel "guilty?" No, guilt is reserved for when you hurt someone.