A recent viral tweet has struck a chord with book lovers worldwide, revealing a shared secret many readers are too embarrassed to admit: shelves full of unfinished books.
The post, which sparked thousands of relatable responses, showed a photo of a bookshelf with several untouched or partially read titles. "This is my shame," the original poster wrote, prompting others to share their own stories of literary abandonment.
Why Do We Abandon Books?
Psychologists suggest several reasons for this common phenomenon:
- Over-ambition: Buying more books than we realistically have time to read
- Mood-dependent reading: Losing interest when not in the right headspace Guilty purchases: Buying books because we feel we should read them, not because we want to
The Surprising Benefits of Unfinished Books
While it might feel like failure, literary experts argue that abandoning books can actually be healthy:
"Life's too short to force yourself through books you're not enjoying," says renowned bibliophile Margaret Willows. "Your reading time is precious – spend it on books that truly speak to you."
Many respondents shared how they've made peace with their unfinished collections, with some even displaying them proudly as a testament to their literary exploration.
