Chances are high that your bookshelf is in disarray right now. We all have faced this challenge at least once in our lives. You keep your undergrad textbooks in there and couple of books you grabbed somewhere from Target. Now is the time to fix it.
Having a library of thousands of books does not make you look smart. In truth, a library of fifty carefully chosen books looks much better than a bunch of random ones you have stashed somewhere.
First of all, fill your library with classics that really matter. Your library has to have well-read edition of The Odyssey. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius has to be there. It is the basis of your library.
Next comes interesting non-fiction books of modern era. You can include such books as Sapiens and Thinking, Fast and Slow. These books help you have interesting conversation at faculty social events.
Do not neglect the books of fiction. After spending all this time grading your students’ essays, you deserve to relax. Books like Gone Girl or Beloved are nice choices.
Think about the design of your bookshelf. Hardcovers of Dune or The Lord of the Rings look pretty cool. You can see your interest in huge storylines here and they last through more moves than some paperback books.
Do not arrange books according to genres. Arrange them according to mood. Put all your philosophy books next to your psychology books. It will show your skills of making connection between different ideas.
Have a list of books you need to buy. Use some app like Goodreads or simply make Note on your smartphone. It will save you from buying random books at Barnes & Noble. Follow your list.
Remember that your library is living and changes depending on your current experience and needs. Book that was amazing to read at twenty may look silly at thirty. No shame in that.
Your library has to reflect your personal interests. If you are obsessed with data science, grab The Signal and the Noise. And if you love art history, you should get The Story of Art. Make it personal.
Creation of a serious library requires time. You do not need to buy five bad books if you can invest this money in one great one. Future you will be thankful for that.
Start with just a single bookshelf. Fill it with books that motivate you.
Thanks for reading this post! – MyPlugin