Whether you’re a writer, a reader, or just a voracious hoarder, books can be among the most challenging items to part with. Follow these steps to make the pain bearable.
- Gather all your books in one place.
- Designate a “keep” pile: signed copies, gifts from friends, favorites, etc.
(Side note: if you are one of those people who keep old textbooks for decades “in case I ever need to look something up,” then stop it. Google things like every other normal geek.) - Look at what’s left over from your “keep” pile. Anything worth selling? If so head down to your local buy-back bookshop. If you have quite a large number of books, it’s worth using cash4books.net or bluerectangle.com, but the time involved in going to the post-office makes this option less profitable if you just sell a couple.
- Donate the rest.
If your “keep” pile is still too big to pack:
Consider each book on its own merits. Ask yourself, “Will it cost me more to ship this to myself or to buy another copy?”
The US post office has international bulk-rate boxes, so you can send approximately 20-40 books in one large box for a little over $50. It’s unlikely you’ll exceed the weight limit unless you have unusually heavy books. The post office will even deliver the empty boxes to your address and pick them up for free.
It’s a lovely feeling getting to your destination and finding boxes of your favorite books waiting for you. In December 2009 I spent about $150 shipping books from the US to Australia, and I don’t regret a penny of it. It worked out to be about $400 worth of books I’ll never have to buy again.
If you can buy new copies at your destination for less than it would cost to ship the books, just record the ISBNs and plan on restocking your library at your leisure. Sometimes it’s the panicky feeling of “What if I never own this again?” that makes book-lovers so reluctant to part with anything. I have a long list of books I plan on owning again one day, but I don’t see myself needing them for the next couple of years.
Regarding books that you’re only keeping because someone has written a sentimental note inside, ask yourself:
Do I care about this person? If no, then discard the book. If yes, then:
Did they write something special that makes me smile every time I look at it? If no, then discard the book. If yes, then:
- Rip out the page with writing, discard the book, buy a new copy at your destination and glue the page inside. Or,
- Scan the note and discard the book forever if it’s not worth re-reading.
Desperate measures, yes, but sometimes called for in these days of unjust baggage allowance restrictions. Just remember, wherever your travels take you, if your favorite book is along, everything will be all right.
If you could only take one book with you in a year-long trip around the world, what would it be?
I want to help you find your calm center and experience travel with courage, curiosity and compassion.
I was looking for travel related articles and this was good
[Reply]