200 Books Per Household

[Jennykenny]

How many books do you have?
I was fascinated to read recently that the average number of books per household is 200.
I think I have about 150, but got rid of at least another 150 when we moved down from London to a smaller house.
If that figure is true there must be huge numbers of people who don't own a single book. Can this be true?

[Islay]

I have 8 book cases full of books both reference and novels, I have 3 further boxes in the attic. I also have a kindle!

[Mamyalynne]

A lot of people answered this question last week

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Arts-and-Literature/Question1504140.html

[Mamyalynne]

I'd say I have 2-300.

[nescio]

a quick guesstimate - well over 1000. Mainly physics/maths textbooks.
Yes, I know it's pretty unusual...

[MallyJ]

In the interests of finding some space to actually live I have given away around 40 boxes of books...I have not tackled the tea chests in the attic yet but still have several book cases full of books and am reading new books but unless they are particularly ones I want to keep am giving them to a chap with a market stall that sells second hand books....certainly I still have 1000 or more. I have never not owned loads of books!

[Jennykenny]

Sorry, missed that response.

[tamborine]

Too many & thinking of a clearout, if I can find contained info on the web.

[Cloverjo]

Just over a thousand in my house. They're OH and son's as well. I do know people who don't own a single book, and some who are proud to have never read a book. I love to look at what books people have in their houses.

[DTCwordfan]

probably around 1000 to 1500 between here and US storage.

[jourdain2]

There was a thread on this recently. I gave away about 1,000 books when moving in and from France over a few years. I have about 600 books left (number is increasing!) but on top of that I have several hundred on a Kindle and another reading device. Then there are the ones I borrow from the Library..............

[jourdain2]

^^^ Appropos. I have spent the last academic term acting as a reading mentor in a local academy (voluntary, but I got a nice bunch of flowers). My 7 pupils all did very well and the 'star' put on 2.5 years R.A. in 3 months. I bought them all books as an end of term present and encouragement to read through the holidays. 5 were 'gobsmacked' (to put it inelegantly) as no other books were present in their homes! ...............and they wonder why literacy is so low!

[DTCwordfan]

that's appalling jourdain but well done....if you have inspired, that is all you can do.....

[pastafreak]

I can't imagine not having books...and I've been in houses where none are visible. Maybe they're hidden away? I need to see them. I've got plenty I've not read yet...but it's almost comforting to know they are there...waiting for me.

[Jackdaw33]

I have two but I haven't finished colouring in the second one yet.

[BAKERS DOZEN]

Well over 2000. Mr BD bought me a Kindle a few years ago for christmas. It has never been out of the box. Think it is obsolete now. He just did not understand that you cannot beat holding a book.

[Cloverjo]

When the Kindle first came out, I didn't think it would match up to a real book. While it's not the same, you can still lose yourself in it. I have one of the ancient ones with the clunky 5-direction button. I still enjoy reading on it.

[Ken4155]

The person who WON'T read has no advantage over the person who CAN'T. And, whilst agreeing with BAKERS DOZEN about actually holding a printed version (i have about 180 - 200), i also have and use a Kindle on a regular basis.

[Jennykenny]

I believe that Victoria Beckham said that she had never read a book, despite having written some(!!).

[Peter Pedant]

yeah I live in a place like Jourdain's

3-4 per household = and plenty with none. common to find the men are non readers big time

[chrissa1]

I live 5 minutes away from here so I don't need to keep books. I go in every month or so and come away with a shopping bag full, then go back and exchange them.

http://www.barterbooks.co.uk/