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Tsundoku: The Hopeful Habit of Unread Books

3/13/2026

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Story summary
  • Tsundoku is the Japanese term for the habit of accumulating unread books, reflecting curiosity and hope rather than neglect, and it originated in Japan's Meiji era.
  • Unlike bibliomania, tsundoku emphasizes the intention to read.
  • This idea extends to modern culture, on BookTok, where users share their 'to-be-read' piles.
  • Even as book purchases rise, U.S. reading rates are declining, with 48.5% of adults reading a book in 2022.