After more than 50 years of marriage, my wife still doesn’t understand one thing about me—my books. She regularly suggests I get rid of some of them, especially since I rarely reread a novel once I’ve finished it. My answer is always the same: “But what if I want to?” The truth is, my favorite book is usually the one I’m reading right now. That doesn’t mean I’m ready to part with the hundreds of books waiting patiently for their turn.
It wasn’t until a few years ago that I discovered there were actually names for the two sides of my reading personality. Social media is full of discussions about Bookworms and Book Dragons, and I realized I’m a little of both.
The Bookworm
- The Reader: A traditional term for someone who reads all the time.
- The Habit: They “devour” pages, focus on the story inside, and finish books quickly.
- The Aftermath: They often lend, donate, or sell books when they are done to get new ones. [1, 2, 3]
The Book Dragon
- The Collector: A newer, popular online term for a fierce lover of physical books.
- The Habit: They hoard books like a dragon hoards gold treasure, often buying special editions or beautiful covers.
- The Aftermath: They keep their stash safe in a home library, even if they have a big “to-be-read” pile of books they haven’t opened yet.
From 1987 through 2025 I read 1,434 books—an average of almost 38 books a year. That’s enough to earn my Bookworm credentials.
On the other hand, if you walk into my basement, you’ll discover boxes filled with books I’ve never read. Upstairs, the bookshelves in my living room are overflowing as well. Thanks to years of Goodwill trips, library sales, and used bookstores, I’ve accumulated enough unread books to keep me busy for years. That’s the Book Dragon in me.
In fact, thanks to our almost-weekly Goodwill trips, the Book Dragon has been winning more battles than the Bookworm lately!
Moreover, this isn’t random hoarding.Most of the books I’ve collected are by authors I already love or series I’ve always wanted to read. James Lee Burke, C. J. Box, Robert B. Parker, Lee Child, Sue Grafton, Lawrence Block—they’re all waiting patiently for their turn. I’ll save the stories behind those collections for future posts.
So here’s how the two personalities fit into my websites. On A Sixties–Seventies Man you’ll probably meet the Book Dragon most often—the collector who enjoys hunting for forgotten treasures and building a library one Goodwill trip at a time. Over on Roots, Branches & Leaves, you’ll find the Bookworm, writing about the books I’ve actually read, reviewing them, and sharing the reading journey along the way.