Buzz
After the debut of the Netflix series Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, a wave of criticism followed her suggestion to limit oneself to only 30 books. Naturally, memes defending book-hoarding began circulating at lightning speed, passionately advocating for bibliomania — the uncontrollable urge to collect and stockpile books.
Symptoms of bibliomania, a compulsive disorder, include holding onto books with no practical use or worth, as well as accumulating duplicate copies of the same title. A hallmark of this behavior is the obsessive and unrelenting desire to acquire books, even if the collector has no genuine intention to read them.
It’s vital not to confuse bibliomania with bibliophilia, the simple affection for books. There is a significant difference between a bookworm and a bibliomaniac. As Dr. Martin Sander put it: 'The bibliophile is the master of his books, the bibliomaniac their slave.' When this obsession spirals out of control, it can have destructive consequences.
What wild desires, what restless torments seize The hapless man. who feels the book-disease . . . –John Ferriar, 'Bibliomania'
10. The Notorious Book Bandit
Stephen Blumberg, the man infamous as the 'Book Bandit,' hailed from Iowa and managed to accumulate more than 23,600 books. Unfortunately, these books weren’t his to own. They belonged to 327 libraries and museums scattered across 45 U.S. states, two Canadian provinces, and the District of Columbia. A restless wanderer, Blumberg was always on the go, but he never sold any of his prized collection — he simply kept adding more to it.
Blumberg mastered the art of evasion. He would crawl through ventilation ducts in ceilings and skillfully navigate dumbwaiters. On one occasion, he narrowly escaped being crushed by a service elevator while trying to climb its shaft. At the last moment, he managed to squeeze into an inspection bay, narrowly dodging disaster.
In 1990, Blumberg was apprehended. A tip from a friend earned them a $56,000 reward from the Justice Department. The FBI needed a massive 12-meter (40 ft) tractor-trailer to haul Blumberg’s collection, which weighed 19 tons, for cataloging. The total worth of the books amounted to $5.3 million.
During his trial, forensic psychiatrist Dr. William S. Logan testified that Blumberg’s condition was a case of bibliomania, accompanied by schizophrenic delusions. Remarkably, after serving 4.5 years in prison, Blumberg was released and wasted no time in continuing to expand his vast book collection.
9. Not Recognized as a Disorder
Bibliomania, a well-known phenomenon, has been observed and discussed for nearly two centuries. However, the American Psychiatric Association does not acknowledge it as a psychological disorder in their Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Even Oxford University Press merely defines 'bibliomania' as a 'passionate enthusiasm.'
In psychological terms, bibliomania is often considered a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder. The compulsive act of hoarding books can have severe consequences, damaging one’s health and relationships when the overpowering desire to acquire and stockpile books takes precedence over all other needs.
Doctors often prescribe medications intended for general compulsive disorders, but these alone are rarely sufficient. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is the most effective treatment for curing bibliomania. This therapy focuses on helping the individual set and achieve practical goals through psychotherapy.
8. A Deadly Case of Book Madness
The word Biblion comes from the Greek term for 'book,' and 'mania' means madness, so 'bibliomania' translates to 'book madness.' The earliest recorded use of the term appears in a diary entry from 1734 by book collector Thomas Hearne. He wrote, 'I should have been tempted to have laid out a pretty deal of money without thinking myself at all touched with Bibliomania.' At that time, it was regarded as a mild form of insanity.
In 1750, bibliomania was referenced again in a letter from Lord Chesterfield to his son, which ominously warned, 'Beware of the Bibliomanie.'
In 1809, Thomas Dibdin published a book titled Bibliomania; or Book-Madness. Written with a satirical tone, Dibdin explored the peculiar 'neurosis' of bibliomania. This was the first time the condition was treated as a potential medical condition, with Dibdin referring to it as 'the Book disease.'
7. Tsundoku
Bibliomania isn't confined to Western culture. In Japan, it is known as tsundoku, referring to the act of accumulating piles of books that often remain unread. Unlike the negative view of bibliomania, tsundoku isn't considered a harmful behavior. Rather than being seen as an obsessive-compulsive disorder, the Japanese acknowledge that there is a sincere intention to read the books, even if it doesn't always come to fruition.
Andrew Gerstle, a professor of Japanese texts at the University of London, explains that the term tsundoku first emerged in 1879 as a humorous observation about a teacher who owned many books but never read them. Today, the term has expanded beyond books to describe various life habits unrelated to literature. It can be used to explain one's relationship with film, clothing, or even video games, which might become vast collections of unused material. Tsundoku is a handy term for any activity that begins with good intentions but ends in excessive accumulation.
6. Book Curses
Ashurbanipal was many things: a spymaster, a conqueror, a lion killer, and the ruler of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. He referred to himself as 'the king of the world,' and in many ways, he truly was, as his empire was the largest of its time. In his free time, however, Ashurbanipal also served as a librarian, making him the earliest known bibliomaniac.
In the seventh century BC, kings rarely had the ability to read and write, but Ashurbanipal was a devoted scholar when not engaged in battle. He is credited with creating the first systematically organized library in history. His goal was to collect every book (or rather, clay tablet) he could find and add it to his vast collection. His obsession with books was so intense that they became his most cherished war trophies.
Ashurbanipal managed to amass hundreds of thousands of these clay tablets, but he took great care to protect them. He even crafted book curses to deter potential thieves, such as the following:
Whosoever shall carry off this tablet, or shall inscribe his name on it, side by side with mine own, may Ashur and Belit overthrow him in wrath and anger, and may they destroy his name and posterity in the land –King Ashurbanipal
For nearly two millennia after his empire's downfall, Ashurbanipal's library lay hidden under the rubble of his palace. In 1849, it was uncovered, revealing the oldest known literary work in the world, the Epic of Gilgamesh.
5. Different Types of Collectors
Bibliomania manifests in various forms of collectors. Dr. Russell Belk, in his article for the Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, identifies the taxonomic collector, who seeks to own every variation of a published work, and the aesthetic collector, who gathers books purely for their enjoyment. There are also fetishistic collectors, as described by Dr. Belk, who acquire books in a way that imbues them with a sacred significance.
Ruth Formanek, in the same journal, outlines five key motivations behind collecting. The first motivation is self-expansion through the acquisition of knowledge. The second is social connection, with the hope of finding others with whom to share the material. Some collectors aim to preserve history, feeling part of a continuous tradition. Others are motivated by profit, but for the bibliomaniac, the driving force appears to be pure addiction. Ultimately, all the reasons for collecting are tied to a deep passion for the items sought.
4. A Safety Hazard
The physical allure of books, like a finely crafted leather-bound edition, can be irresistible, but there are genuine dangers that come with bibliomania. As books accumulate, they begin to spread throughout the house, invading spaces like the kitchen, bedroom, and even the bathroom. This clutter disrupts daily routines and creates a maze of precariously stacked books that increase the risk of tripping. Worse still, unused books attract pests like rats and cockroaches, and these unsanitary conditions foster the growth of ants and termites.
The towering piles of unread books pose a hazard, but often, the bibliomaniac may even block exits within the home. This transforms the collection into a fire hazard, as books are highly flammable. In extreme cases, bibliomania may manifest in a compulsion to burn books, a strange behavioral symptom of the disorder. Another troubling behavior that can arise is bibliophagy, the uncontrollable urge to eat books, which, unsurprisingly, carries its own set of safety risks.
3. 'The Unusual Librarian'
In 1869, Dr. Alois Pichler was appointed to the prestigious role of 'extraordinary librarian' at the Imperial Public Library in St. Petersburg, Russia. However, Pichler's passion for books extended far beyond mere preservation.
At first, Pichler's initial days on the job were uneventful, but after a few months, a bizarre book thief seemed to be operating within the library. A significant number of books mysteriously vanished from the collection, and the guards began to suspect Pichler. He was frequently seen dropping books at the exit, only to rush back to return them. Additionally, he always wore a large overcoat that never seemed to come off.
After two years, 4,500 books had gone missing. It became the most infamous case of library theft ever recorded. There was no discernible pattern to the stolen books, either. They covered everything from perfume to religion. Eventually, Pichler was formally charged and taken to trial.
Pichler’s defense attorney argued that he should not be held accountable for his theft, claiming that his actions were beyond his control. The lawyer described it as a ‘strange mental condition, a mania not in a legal or medical sense, but in the ordinary sense of an overpowering, uncontrollable, and violent passion.’ It is well known that bibliomania often manifests as bibliokleptomania, the uncontrollable urge to steal books for one’s personal collection.
Unfortunately, the argument that Pichler suffered from bibliomania did not help reduce his punishment. He was banished to Siberia.
2. Originating from Trauma
Bibliomania is frequently linked to book collecting addictions that begin at a young age, often as a way to cope with significant hardships. Some mental health professionals suggest that bibliomania may serve as a defense mechanism to deal with severe trauma or recurring abuse.
This trauma leads those affected to develop a deep distrust of their own emotions. To hide their painful past, they surround themselves with books, unwilling to confront their own suffering. Addiction often becomes a way to numb that pain. If left unchecked, this obsession can evolve from childhood into a more severe issue in adulthood.
1. The Baron of Bibliomania
Sir Thomas Phillipps, a baronet of the 19th century, was known as a bibliomaniac by the world. However, he called his obsession something even more intense: vello-mania, a condition that involved not only accumulating books but also vast collections of documents. Phillipps was relentless in his obsession.
In his tower, Phillipps installed a series of printers to produce more permanent versions of his documents. His home was overrun with towering piles of words, many of which never left their boxes. He ignored unpaid bills, and even serious damage like a leaking roof, because he poured all his wealth into expanding his collection. A century after his death, his enormous trove of books and documents was sold off bit by bit to the highest bidder. His collection, called 'the largest compilation of manuscript material in the nineteenth century,' consisted of 40,000 books and 60,000 manuscripts.
