I recently got a new espresso machine for my reading room, which motivated me to tidy up and organize my bookshelves. In the chaos of pulling all my books off the shelves and reorganizing them (an activity any good book nerd would embrace), I realized something: I had little piles of books all over the office.
Every time I took a book off the shelf, it never returned. I think part of me likes having stacks of books everywhere. It’s the messy image of a wizard in his den with piles of books, although I’m far from a wizard. As I started reorganizing my books, I felt much better.
Getting back to a state of cleanliness is refreshing, and I’ve discovered a fun little trick: the “messy bookshelf.” I’ve designated a shelf in my office to hold all the books that must be reshelved. It’s the one shelf that’s not organized, alphabetized, or meaningful. Think of it as the junk drawer for my books that needs to be cleaned out once it’s full. The benefit is that the rest of my space stays clean and organized, and my system for managing my bookshelves stays in top shape.
Until tomorrow, read slowly – take notes – apply the ideas.
-Eddy
