How to deal with a HUGE unread book collection?

A follow up to my last Q&A. I was asked to talk about dealing with a huge impulse-bought TBR and I really appreciated having the opportunity to talk about what I've been doing for dealing with my own huge physical TBR.

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[elcofre]

Once I got until almost just 10 books purchased and without reading. I think I'm also a kind of emotional buyer so I usually bought books when visiting libraries. So when I came to see my shelf of unread books I used to feel sad for not reading any of them, but at the same time I felt kind of reluctant about reading any of them for I saw I would have to spend so much time to do it. Fortunately the quarantine allowed me to stop buying and to read all my unfinished books once and for all. Now that libraries are open again in my city I started buying small amounts of books I really want to read and I'm finishing them before I buy new ones in order to not have those previous annoying feelings I used to. Thank you for your tips.

[mynameismarines]

I loved this so much and timely for me. I was watching a video this morning that was a giant haul and that great for that person, but it got me thinking about my own collection and how I want to get serious about tackling my owner unread books. And then this video! Great tips ❤️

[bookreview]

Space has never been an issue for me, but especially with digital things I kept forgetting I owned them. Making them visible in a list was what helped me a lot, then it all came down to not buying books (mostly by avoiding bookstores (which is easy in Hannover, so probably cheating) DNFing and using the wish list option instead of the buy button to click on. Can only agree with you, finding out how you came to the TBR and making some habit adjustments helps feeling in control instead of overwhelmed by the TBR pile.

[angeloviorel]

When I look at the books that I didn't read it makes me sad :(

[surchrry]

Yup, and all the dusting and rearranging that comes with owning a lot of books can sometimes be a pain and a nightmare to deal with too. It’s high-maintenance, no doubt! What’s really helped me the most is unhauling frequently and making pros and cons lists for any potential purchases. I really agree with what you said about intentional purchasing. For me, the only times I’ve purchased books this year was when I’ve reached personal and academic goals. Sort of like a reward, I’ll buy one book for passing a very difficult class or for dealing with a daunting task I’ve put off for too long! It’s interesting...It’s way too easy to give in and get reckless with spending, especially if you have the means to!

Btw, your videos always make my day! <3
Thank you so much for these tips and good luck getting your tbr down! (:

[bookishsabrina]

This video is a great discussion and has a lot of really good tips! There is technically a downside to borrowing ebooks or audiobooks from the library and not reading them, as it impacts the library's collection. They don't know whether you read it or not, but it still counts as a use of the library's license. Libraries in the US can pay upwards of $60 for one e-copy of a book, and either have it for a limited time or for a certain number of borrows. I recommend not borrowing things you're pretty sure you're not going to get around to, and canceling holds before they become borrowed so it doesn't waste a use of the library's copy. Don't know if it is the same in Canada, but I feel like people often don't understand how electronic copy contracts work in public libraries. They can't just buy a copy of an ebook and keep it forever, unfortunately. Borrowing things and not reading them is okay sometimes, but doing it all of the time can really cost the library. I'm guilty of doing this sometimes, but I'm actively trying to be better about it.

[BetweenLinesAndLife]

Yes, specific wishlists helped me so much not to impulse buy all too much anymore! I also have a set budget I can spend on books every month or I have to get rid of some of the ones on my TBR
I tried book buying bans, but man, did they backfire... xD

[yj]

Wow, this video was full of so many tips I hadn’t really thought about before. I love the amazon wishlist idea, I’m definitely guilty of impulse shopping as well. Hoping to change some of my habits and get through my backlist a lot faster. I am 20, but have been collecting books for like the past 6 years, many which I still want to read despite how young I was when I bought some books. Thank you for this newfound bout of inspiration!

[AWitchAndACat]

I read strictly digital and audiobooks. But I still have the same issue of feeling a bit overwhelmed by my to be read pile. Great tips here, thank you. And thank you for your channel

[turningpages]

I agree with specific wishlists, this is so helpful! I have probably 10-15 wishlists dedicated to books on Amazon. I have them sorted by genre and have some for specific authors or series. I also have a list for new releases for the current year as well as a list for books that are being released in paperback, my preferred format. I also go through those lists regularly and cull out books I’m no longer interested in. This has helped immensely in cutting down my impulse book buying!

[AmandaQuotidianBooks]

Excellent tips! I hope you continue to be successful in tackling your physical TBR :)

[dionyssisgreece]

I have just finished reading Christine by Stephen king it was a great book and now I am looking forward to read misery

[lydiaspages]

Thank you so much for answering my question! You are 100% accurate about thinking about why we're buying. I am definitely an emotional impulse buyer of books! I think I've bought about 10 books since starting quarantine. Hopefully I will get through them quickly! I'm absolutely going to try some of your tricks about removing payment info. It is far too easy to buy a batch of books online!

[ysbecca]

I like to buy books from flea markets and these little shops were they sell used books and DVDs and such. I buy stuff that I've read before and liked or just something that sounds interesting. They tend to pile up unread in my bookshelf more often than not but hey, more for me for the next rainy day. I especially love it if the books I find have some hand written things in them like Merry Christmas Barry or Happy Birthday Larry or something like that. Sometimes there's just a name and a year. I don't know if people generally like these things but I do, even in my own books. Makes it harder to get rid of them, though.

[AlexandraTejero]

I see Tschick on your TBR. Looking forward to your review and seeing whether you share my opinion or not! =)

[elenathegreat]

thank you so much for this video and the tips! also i wasn't aware of the wishlist notes portion on amazon.

[DAGuy]

I just looked and I have purchased 65 books from book outlet since quarantine began. a very timely video for me haha

[jacquelinemcmenamin]

The #backlistclearout readathon run by Katie from books and things ran by in April was most helpful to me. It motivated me to read 15 books off my long term TBR.

[literature_geek]

Damn, I know my credit card number by heart. xD
But then... It is more sales on foreign books (English in this case being a foreign language) at our main chain bookstore, that I blame. And all our used book stores. Sigh. I started this year at 28 books on the TBR and will end it on 24. The same number I already reached at the end of january. I seem to be unable to get it much lower than 20. I have books on the list since before 2016, so next year I will declutter them from the list, if I don't read them. After half a decade, they probably should go.
You have tschick on your TBR from 2020!! I read the book this year, it was a quick and strange read. :D Is it a translated copy? Because it looks exactly the same as my German one.

[singlemominthecity]

Great tips! Just deleted all my credit card info from all my online book shopping sites! My tbr is over 100 books so it has to stop!