The importance of the antilibrary

Umberto Eco – who owned 50,000 books! – had this to say about library at home:

“There are things in life that we need to always have plenty of supplies, even if we will only use a small portion.

“If, for example, we consider books as medicine, we understand that it is good to have many at home rather than a few: when you want to feel better, then you go to the ‘medicine closet’ and choose a book. Not a random one, but the right book for that moment. That’s why you should always have a nutrition choice!

“Those who buy only one book, read only that one and then get rid of it. They simply apply the consumer mentality to books, that is, they consider them a consumer product, a good. Those who love books know that a book is anything but a commodity.”

The idea that a library should be filled with books you haven't read, known as an "antilibrary", promotes intellectual humility, curiosity, and a recognition of vast unknown knowledge, a concept popularised by Nassim Taleb and exemplified by Umberto Eco, whose unread books served as a research tool and reminder of potential learning, rather than just an ego boost from what's been conquered.

It transforms shelves from a record of past achievements into a "map of ignorance," inspiring future exploration and growth. 

Key ideas behind the antilibrary:

• Humility & Curiosity: unread books highlight the immense amount you still don't know, preventing intellectual arrogance and encouraging continuous learning;
• Research Tool: for thinkers like Umberto Eco, the collection of unread books functioned as a vital resource for future reference, not just a display of finished work;
• Future Potential: these books represent possibilities, serving as a "medicine cabinet" of potential cures or solutions for future needs;
• Symbol of Growth: the larger your antilibrary becomes, the more you know, because each book read often leads to discovering several more you want to read.

Why it matters:

• It reframes the purpose of a book collection from a static display of accomplished reading to a dynamic space for future discovery;
• It counters the consumer mentality of reading by treating books as ongoing resources, not just one-time-use products.

So, in 2026, go forth and by more books!