When bookshelves and books appear in photo or video backgrounds, do you zero in on them?
Oh, sure, you’re listening to the person being interviewed, or at least you make note of them, but are your eyes sirened in another direction?
A friend asked the question the other day and three of us immediately admitted we scanned the book titles.
Judgment may have been involved, but mostly it’s curiosity.
What can you learn about a person based on the books they like to read?
Or, perhaps better yet, the books represented on their bookshelves?
Books and Bookshelves at home
What appears in a Zoom background?
I like to sit beside my desk with a painting on one side and bookshelves on the other. My personally written books are on the top shelf. (Perfectly situated for admiration).
That particular seat meets all the video “best practices.”
Natural light shines on my face, the background represents my interests, and everything I need is in reach.
Perfect for interviews. (I sit at my desk for Zoom meetings).
The Twitter site Bookcase Credibility also notices bookshelves and frequently releases a commentary on what a shelf says about the usually famous person.
The elevated language and assessment often make me laugh.
But it’s an interesting exercise.
What do your bookshelves say about you?
Assessing the bookshelves
I turned the phone on myself and went sleuthing in my own house this morning.
(Other than the photo above, the only things I changed were photos to protect the innocent).
Let’s start in the kitchen.
I’d say this person likes tried and true recipes, is optimistic about recipes found in the newspaper or magazines but never tries them.
The curator of this bookshelf probably prefers old music to cooking–but perhaps combines the two?
Let’s hope the cookbook weightiness is not reflective of the cook. 🙂
Here are other shots:
We also have shelves of books for children–I’ve counted four so far–and another shelf in the guest room housing favorite books and comfort novels, along with a number of Rick Steves travel guides!
My office, of course, is cluttered with research books and papers. The two bookshelves are stuffed and within reach of this desk.
Ebook Frustrations
The problem with Ebooks is you can’t be a voyeur–and see what people are reading.
As a writer, I’m always curious about what captures people’s attention–particularly in a noisy airport.
Prior to Ebook popularity, I’d go out of my way to see the title of books engrossing readers. I can’t do that anymore with strangers. LOL
Funny story from long ago. In the 1960s, my father was flying to the east coast while reading a 2-inch thick black volume with the title emblazed in gold: CUBA.
Engrossed in the country’s history, he didn’t pay attention to the people around him until the flight attendant tapped his shoulder.
“Excuse me, sir. Some of your neighbors are nervous. You’re not planning to hijack this plane are you?” She indicated the book.
He laughed. “No.”
They made it safely to the east coast.
I’m always interested in learning about a new book and why people love it. (See my Goodreads list for my current choices.)
I’m thankful I can read on my phone or electronic device.
My ebook “bookshelf” is stuffed with classics, pdfs from friends, Google Books I‘ve downloaded for research, and favorites I’ve loved.
I’m so thankful our library makes use of Hoopla, and Overdrive during this shelter in place period.
I’ve read more books on my reading device in the last four months than in the previous four years!
I’ve also purchased far more than in the past.
Sharing book opportunities
For many years, I held onto books, particularly Christian books.
With all our moves, I never knew if I would be able to find loved books again.
But, seven years ago, I realized we probably are going to stay in our current location. So, I donated many of my Christian books to our church library.
I took more than 400 to our local public library–most of which ended up in a book sale.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser newspaper once ran a story about bookshelves and where people store their books.
I was particularly fascinated by shelves built into stairwells–a splendid use of space that otherwise might have been lost.
But my favorite line, and the one reflecting where I shelve most of my books, was “the library, where they belong.”
Bookshelves are for storing, working, and displaying.
Books are for sharing. That’s what I like to do with mine.
Tweetables
On books, bookshelves, and voyeurs. Click to Tweet
What do you do with your books? Click to Tweet
The Ebook voyeurism challenge. Click to Tweet
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