# Tsundoku - Wikipedia ## 🧠 Key Takeaways - **Tsundoku** is a Japanese term describing the habit of acquiring books and allowing them to pile up unread. - The term originated during the Meiji era and combines the concepts of 'to pile things up' and 'reading books'. - There's a movement to adopt 'tsundoku' into the English language for its unique description of a common habit. - Tsundoku is conceptually linked to 'antilibrary', a term coined by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, referring to the value of unread books. - The phenomenon is often discussed in the context of book collecting and bibliophilia. ## 🔍 Summary The article explores the Japanese term 'tsundoku', which describes the act of purchasing books and not reading them, allowing them to accumulate. Originating in the Meiji era, the term reflects a common behavior among book lovers and collectors. 'Tsundoku' has been suggested for inclusion in English dictionaries due to its unique cultural insight and relevance. It is conceptually related to the idea of an 'antilibrary', highlighting the potential value and knowledge of unread books. ## ❓ Thought-Provoking Questions 1. How does the concept of 'tsundoku' reflect broader cultural attitudes toward reading and knowledge acquisition in Japan? 2. In what ways might adopting the term 'tsundoku' into English enrich the language's ability to describe modern reading habits? 3. How can the concept of an 'antilibrary' be practically applied to enhance personal growth and knowledge management? ## 🔗 Related Concepts - **Bibliophilia**: Tsundoku is a form of bibliophilia, where the love for books results in accumulating unread volumes. - **Meiji Era**: The term originated during this period, reflecting cultural shifts and attitudes toward reading in Japan. - **Antilibrary**: Nassim Nicholas Taleb's concept of an antilibrary relates to tsundoku, emphasizing the value of books yet to be read. - **Book Collecting**: Tsundoku is often a consequence of book collecting, where the acquisition of books surpasses the capacity to read them. - **Japanese Culture**: The term provides insight into Japanese cultural values and practices related to education and knowledge. --- ## Original Content [ Wiki Loves Earth ](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wiki_Loves_Earth_2025/Deutschland)  A pile of books and papers, compiled yet unread ***Tsundoku*** (積ん読) is the phenomenon of [acquiring reading materials](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_collecting "Book collecting") but letting them pile up in one's home without reading them.[^1] [^2] [^3] [^4] The term is also used to refer to unread books on a [bookshelf](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bookcase "Bookcase") meant for reading later. The term originated in the [Meiji era](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiji_period "Meiji period") (1868–1912) as Japanese slang.[^4] It combines elements of the terms *tsunde-oku* (積んでおく, "to pile things up ready for later and leave"), and *dokusho* (読書, "reading books"). There are suggestions to use the word in the English language and include it in dictionaries like the *[Collins Dictionary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collins_English_Dictionary "Collins English Dictionary")*.[^4] The American author and bibliophile [A. Edward Newton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._Edward_Newton "A. Edward Newton") commented on a similar state in 1921.[^5] In his 2007 book *[The Black Swan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Swan:_The_Impact_of_the_Highly_Improbable "The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable")*, [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nassim_Nicholas_Taleb "Nassim Nicholas Taleb") coined the term " [antilibrary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antilibrary "Antilibrary") ", which has been compared with *tsundoku*.[^6] ## See also - [Bibliophilia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibliophilia "Bibliophilia") - [Bibliomania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibliomania "Bibliomania") - The dictionary definition of [*積ん読*](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E7%A9%8D%E3%82%93%E8%AA%AD "wiktionary:積ん読") at Wiktionary ## References [^1]: Brooks, Katherine (19 March 2017). ["There's A Japanese Word For People Who Buy More Books Than They Can Actually Read"](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/theres-a-japanese-word-for-people-who-buy-more-books-than-they-can-actually-read_us_58f79b7ae4b029063d364226). *The Huffington Post*. Retrieved 16 October 2017. [^2]: Tobar, Hector (24 July 2014). ["Are you a book hoarder? There's a word for that"](http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-book-hoarding-tsundoku-20140724-story.html). *Los Angeles Times*. Retrieved 16 October 2017. [^3]: Gerken, Tom (29 July 2018). ["Tsundoku: The art of buying books and never reading them"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-44981013). *BBC News*. Retrieved 30 July 2018. [^4]: Crow, Jonathan (24 July 2014). ["'Tsundoku', the Japanese Word for the New Books That Pile Up on Our Shelves, Should Enter the English Language"](https://www.openculture.com/2014/07/tsundoku-should-enter-the-english-language.html). *Open Culture*. Retrieved 28 March 2021. [^5]: Dodson, Steve (7 February 2008). ["A Quote on Bibliomania"](http://languagehat.com/a-quote-on-bibliomania/). *Language Hat*. Retrieved 24 July 2016. [^6]: Popova, Maria (24 March 2015). ["Umberto Eco's Antilibrary: Why Unread Books Are More Valuable to Our Lives than Read Ones"](https://www.brainpickings.org/2015/03/24/umberto-eco-antilibrary/). *The Marginalian*. Retrieved 26 January 2022. --- ## Metadata - Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsundoku - Author(s): - Published: - Clipped: 2025-05-12T22:40:20+02:00