@Edent I read for the content in side. I don't love books, I love knowledge. I don't have a lot of books to show off, I have books to read again. I got mad when my sister in law rearranged my bookshelf by color, thus separating the volumes of a set (sure it looked better, but finding the book wanted became more difficult) If I don't dream of reading a book again I get rid of it (though I'll freely admit most of my books I'll never read again, I still hope to) If civilization collapses the books I want are "how to be self sufficient on a little land", "how to grow hybrid seeds", "how to build a shelter with just an axe", "how to create simple tools", and a lot more on those lines. My "Modern C++", "the chocolate teapot" books will not be the ones I really want, but those are the types of books I keep on my bookshelf. So I guess if civilization collapses I'll be joining all the other survivors at my local library - a good idea anyway as survivors meeting at the library and working together to build a new civilization is the future I want to be a part of, not the lone guy shooting everyone else to protect the little I have in my house.