Why People Save Books

Many people who like to read also save the books they have read. If you walk into any home, you are likely to see anywhere from a single bookshelf to a whole library full of all kinds of books. I know a family whose library has shelves reeaching up to their ceiling; they keep a ladder for many years and though they rarly actually open the books again, they keep them on the shelves, dusted and lined up neatly. Why do people save their books? There may be several reasons, but three stand out.
One reason people save their books is to use them as reference materials. People whose job training inclueded studying a lot of textbook material may save some of those books for future reference. A doctor, for instance, may keep his Gray's Anatomy and his pharmacology boooks; an English teacher will hold on to The norton Anthology of British Literature and other anthologies and novels for reference; a lawyer usually keeps her case books. But it isn't only the professionals who save their book. People who like to cook keep recipe books. Those interested in electroinc equipment hold on to their books about stereos, computers, videotape machines, and the like. Many families keep encyclopedias and almanacs handy for their childern to use for school. Having your own reference book available is so much more convenient than running to the library every time you want to check a fact.
Another reason some people save books is to make a good impression. Some think that a library full of the literrary classics, dictionaries, and books about art, science, and history make them look well read and therefore sophisticated. Of course, this impression may be inaccurate. Some have never bothered to read the majority of those books at all! In face, a few people even have libraries with fake books. Also, some people like to reveal to visitors their wide range of tasteds and interests. They can subtly reveal their interests in Peruvian art, Indian music, philosophy, or animals without saying a word.
While some people may keeep books for practical reference and for conveying an impression, I suspect that there is a deeper reason. People who enjoy reading have discovered the magic of books. Ecahc book, whether it's The Treasury of Houseplants or Murder on the Orient Express, has transported the reader to another place. Therefore, each book really represents an experience from which the reader may have grown or learned somehting. When I sit in my study, I am surrounded by my whole adult life. The Standard First Aid and Personal Safety manmual, in addition to providing information, reminds me of the first-aid course I took and how more assured I felt as a result. Bulfinch's Mythology brings the oral history of Western civilization to my fingertips, reminding me of my link with other times and people. Of course, all of the novels have become part of the mosaic of my life. In short, saving books amkes me feel secure as I hold on to what they have given me.
In fact, if you think about it, security is at the bottom of all these reasons. It's a secure feeling to know you ave information at hand when you need it. There is a kind of security, even though it may be false, in knowing you make a good impression. Finally, books that you've read and kept envelop you with a warm and cozy cloak of your life.