Could buying books be an addiction?

Question

I buy books after payday each month and I have a stack of books that I haven't yet opened the cover of. Could I be addicted to books? Is there help? Do I have to go to meetings?

Answer 1

LOL! Oh, my gosh, if it is then I have it too. I got to a point where I was spending about $800 a month on books and music. Mostly books. I buy several at a time, so when I finish one...I have another immediately available.

I love everything about them. The search to find the best ones to read. The feel of them in my hands. The smell of the bookstore. Reading them from cover to cover. Finding a perfect spot on my bookcase when finished.

I even write the date I started and completed the book on the inside back cover! I figure that it shows a chronological history of where I was and what my interests were throughout my life. How sick is that?

I don't even care if it's sick...I love my books! I have however, stopped purchasing them until 2007. The last book I purchased (and read) was "Not Buying It". After reading it, I decided to give her concept a try until the end of 2006 and have not purchased anything deemed a "luxury" since.

Sure I could go to the library and get books...but they want me to return them.

THAT, my dear friend, is just plain wrong!

Answer 2

No, you have to go to the used book store! Face it, the stack of books you haven't read yet is enough to live on for awhile. But how much of it is stuff you changed your mind, you don't even think you would like? Scan through them for that stack, and keepers you really do want to read. Take the ones you've changed your mind about to the used book store and sell them. If you really haven't touched them, you'll probably get premium prices for them.

Then learn to buy in a used book store. You may still buy things faster than you can read them, but it won't cost you so much. And if you get familiar with a good book store, they will start saving things for you that you especially want.

Once you are not so stimulated by the flash of the hyped new books, and find some real gems among the older books, you will find the real joy of reading. Because however fast you buy them, the real joy is in reading them. Buy used books, and sell used books, and you will find a new world of friends who so love to read that you can find them at the bookstore whenever you can't find them at home of an evening.

That's an addiction to reading, not just to buying books.

Answer 3

There is a chance it could be an addiction if it interferes with your life, if it's all you think about, if you are spending too much money on it.
But it could just be a phase. that's what it most likely is. when you get too much clutter from it, you will probably cut it out! (and then find something else to buy?)
I'm a spender myself, but I vary a lot in what I buy, I buy things for no reason at all, and then I have no qualms about throwing things away.
Maybe it's not an addiction, but a hoarding problem, or the start of one.
I'm not expert though. What makes me not a hoarder is that I get rid of most of my things fairly quickly, I just can't stop wanting or buying new things. So I might be addicted to "things" but am definitely not a hoarder.
I can not tell whether you are addicted or a hoarder or neither. But the hoarding is definitely something to think about.

Or it could be that you are very interested in the books at the time you buy them, and have every intention of reading them, but you simply have not gotten around to it. If that is the case, you could try taking one book out of the library at a time. If you really enjoy the book, you can make plans to buy it.

Answer 4

I have the same problem. I get so excited about books and then get intimidated by my pile when it grows beyond my reading ability. I think that the best thing to do is to wait to order them one at a time once you finish with them. I managed my addiction by keeping a wish list/shopping cart on Amazon. By allowing the list to get long but only purchasing one at a time, it is almost like having them all or thinking that one is going to come soon. I buy one book after I finish (or am close to finishing) another one. That way I don't end up with a stack of looming intimidation.

Answer 5

It could be a type of addiction. You are drawn to books, but I'm thinking it's a shopping thing. Instant gradification, happiness at buying something (I go through that myself) and then you don't use it. I don't know if it's books that you're addicted to becuase you're not reading them. Check out the link below, and look further into schopaholics anonymous to find meetings near you. Good luck :)

Answer 6

Hahaha...I don't doubt that there's an addiction for everything under the sun...a while back i had my girlfriend take all video games (I know, i'm pitiful) out of my room so i could study for finals (I'm an English major in college) and by day three i was lashing out at people, shivering, and finding increased difficulty to focus on any one thing. It was a nasty week, haha.

I'd suggest an intervention. Or maybe develop a relationship to your local library so you are forced to return them? Good luck!

Answer 7

It seems to be possible to get addicted to anything.

I suspect that the initial hook in all addictions is relief of pain - physical or mental.

Your employer might be willing and able to help by sending some of the money to an account where it is difficult to get the money out in a hurry.

Answer 8

it is probable purely an dependancy, you ought to the two seek for help from a professional or attempt changing it to a healthful dependancy. while ever you sense desirous to purchase a e book or maybe look at books to purchase do something else like choose for a run or play a video sport including snake. you additionally can attempt chatting with a chum which will help get your recommendations off of books. wish this permits!

Answer 9

anything that consumes your thoughts is an addiction..some women buy shoes..others jewelry....men can't get enough hunting supplies or fishing lures...my friends grandmother had dozens and dozens of jars of peanut butter..she had to go every day and get another one.....you have to be aware of it and quit
Sell the ones you have read....

Answer 10

is there a gap in your life?something you would like but cant have?you may stop worrying about your future when you get married.he probably doesn't yet have one.