Daniel Santos

Tsundoku

Tsundoku (kanji: 積ん読; hiragana: つんどく) is a Japanese term that refers to the act of acquiring books but letting them pile up unread. While the term originated in Japan, the concept of tsundoku is not limited to Japanese culture.

My particular interest for the word tsundoku came about due to its common association with book lovers or avid readers (like myself), who have a tendency to collect books without finding the time or motivation to read them all (again, like myself). Some people find comfort or satisfaction in having a collection of unread books, even if they haven’t gotten around to reading them yet. It’s seen as a reflection of one’s interest in books and a desire to have them readily available for future reading.


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