How Much is Too Much?
When it comes to acquiring things, where do we draw the line between a nourishing passion and an unhealthy obsession?
When I read about the Italian essayist, Umberto Eco’s penchant for books (he had 50,000 of them!), I knew there was a juicy conversation here for us to journey on.
The piece was posted on Instagram by Andy Adams, a fellow Substacker and curator at Flakphoto Digest (thank you, Andy). Here’s what Eco says:
“It is foolish to think that you have to read all the books you buy, as it is foolish to criticize those who buy more books than they will ever be able to read. It would be like saying that you should use all the cutlery or glasses or screwdrivers or drill bits you bought before buying new ones.
There are things in life 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 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 books are anything but a commodity.” 1
Eco makes a good point. And I would take it a step further. If books could be considered “medicine,” why not shoes? Or toy cars? If they elevate and make us feel better, you could argue that any thing has the capacity to transform us.
The space clearer in me can’t help but see the potential problem with this line of reasoning. Beloved or not, objects take up space. They need to go somewhere, and that somewhere is not limitless.
It begs the question: How much is too much?
How do we know when to stop adding more things to the pile and simply enjoy the things we already have?
And perhaps the bigger question to ask would be:
Where do we draw the line between a nourishing passion and an unhealthy obsession?
What do you think?
Let’s open up the conversation, shall we?
Ahhh 🏡
In case you missed these…
Umberto Eco (1932-2016), was an Italian medievalist, philosopher, semiotician, novelist, cultural critic, and political and social commentator. Passage shared by Andy Adams @FlakPhoto on Instagram.
As someone who had a bookcase with. Oils crammed in and stacked into of each other, I can honestly say that your work has helped me scale them down to my favorites. I’m and I keep doing it. And yes they were like friends to me but some of them I have grown out of and some I want to keep to reread But as I purged again last week for a move, I had to think long and hard with each title to see if I really wanted to keep it. I like the idea that we get to change and grow and I’m not trying to price to anyone that I like reading. Full disclosure though , I like but on my kindle now so that’s slowed down the hard copies and it is so much easier!
With me, it’s blue dishes. Cobalt blue, the genuine blue willow pattern, blue onion, Dutch windmill, and the list could go on and on. I have two large China closets full, with stacks of them in other cupboards and boxes. There’s sentimental attachment there since the collection started when my grandmother gave me a little Blue Willow tea set more than 50 years ago, probably 60 years by now. I love the color blue, but the last several years I’ve made myself resist the temptation to buy more. I do sometimes wonder if having way less would allow me to enjoy them more. And at my age, I’m thinking about my kids and grandkids and that they will have to divide them up or dispose of them when I’m gone. I hate to leave that chore to them!