Bibliomania (book hoarding)
En español: lee sobre esta manía en Fobias.org.
Shelves full of books can be one of life’s real pleasures, and buying one more is part of the joy of reading for many people. For some, though, the buying gets hard to stop. Piles grow on the floor, along the hall and under the bed, and the thought of giving even one away brings a wave of worry.
This page helps you tell a happy collection apart from book hoarding that has started to weigh on you or the people you live with.
What it is
Bibliomania means a strong urge to buy and keep books, well beyond what you can read or find room for. The word became popular in the early 1800s, after the Manchester doctor John Ferriar used it in a poem in 1809, and it was often used with a smile about passionate collectors. It is not a medical diagnosis, and owning more books than you will ever read is very common and rarely a problem.
The useful line is between collecting and hoarding. Collectors look for particular books, keep them organised and usually enjoy showing them. Hoarding disorder, which the NHS now describes as a condition in its own right, separate from OCD, means finding it very hard to let things go even when the clutter disrupts daily life. When books reach that point, bibliomania can be a form of hoarding.
If the hardest part for you is throwing or giving things away, the page on the fear of throwing things away (disposophobia) covers that side in more detail.
How it differs from a phobia
A phobia is a fear that makes you avoid something. Bibliomania works the other way: it is a pull towards books, the buying, the owning and the keeping. Fear can still play a part, because many people with book hoarding feel real anxiety at the idea of parting with a single title, but the main feeling is wanting more, not wanting to get away.
Read more about manias and phobias
Common signs
- Buying books faster than you could ever read them
- Buying a book you already own without realising
- Piles on floors, stairs or furniture meant for other things
- Strong distress at the idea of giving any book away
- Keeping damaged, duplicate or unwanted copies
- Rows at home about space
When it tends to show up
- Bookshops, book fairs and charity shops
- Online sales, often late at night
- Special or limited editions
- Recommendations on social media or from book clubs
- Times of stress, sadness or boredom
- Worry that a title will go out of print
- Moving house, when the full collection comes to light
- After inheriting a loved one’s books
Symptoms
In your body
- A rush of excitement when buying
- A knot in your stomach at the thought of letting a book go
- Restlessness if someone moves your books
- Tiredness from living in a cramped space
- Bumps and trips over piles
In your mind
- Feeling that every book is essential
- Guilt about unread books alongside the wish for more
- Trouble deciding what to keep
- Embarrassment about the state of your home
- Feeling that books are part of who you are or keep you safe
What you might do
- Hiding new purchases from family
- Putting off sorting or giving books away
- Avoiding having visitors
- Double stacking shelves or filling boxes
- Saving books you might need one day
What causes it
For most people, buying lots of books comes from a love of reading, learning or beautiful objects, and that is fine. When collecting becomes hard to control, other things are usually involved. Books can give a sense of safety, of identity or of a link to someone who has died. The NHS and Mayo Clinic describe risk factors for hoarding such as finding decisions hard, worrying a lot about making mistakes, grief and other big stressful changes, and having a close relative who hoards. Anxiety and depression often go alongside it. It is not a lack of willpower.
How it can affect your life
A well kept collection in a home with room for it can bring a lot of joy. The trouble starts when books take over hallways, tables and beds, and the home becomes hard to use, clean or enjoy. Mayo Clinic notes that hoarding raises the risk of falls, of things falling on you and of fire. Some people stop inviting friends round because of embarrassment, and arguments with a partner or family about space are common. Over time, feeling cut off and low can weigh as much as the clutter itself.
Treatment
In the UK, your GP is the usual first step. If hoarding is suspected, they may refer you to a mental health specialist. The main treatment for hoarding disorder is a talking therapy called cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), on your own or in a group, which helps you practise deciding what to keep and cope with the anxiety of letting go. A doctor may also discuss medication for anxiety alongside therapy.
If your books bring you joy and cause no problems, you do not need treatment at all. Change usually takes time, and small steps count.
Things that can help day to day
- Before buying, ask when you would read it and where it would go
- Use your library or ebook loans for books you only want to read once
- Set aside a fixed space for books and try to stay within it
- Start small, with duplicates or damaged copies
- Give books to libraries, schools, charity shops or friends who will read them
- Keep hallways, stairs and exits clear
When to get help
See your GP if parting with any book causes you a lot of distress, if books stop you using parts of your home, if there is a risk of falls or fire, or if it is hurting your relationships. If you are worried about someone else, gently encourage them to see their GP rather than clearing things for them. Hoarding UK supports people affected by hoarding and their families, and Mind has information and a helpline.
If you are also feeling very low, talk to your GP or call Samaritans free on 116 123.
See also: Hoarding (syllogomania) · Fear of throwing things away (disposophobia)
How I can help
When I work with someone who feels pulled to keep buying and keeping books, over Zoom, I use hypnotherapy and NLP alongside, not instead of, CBT for hoarding where that is needed. We look closely at the moments just before you buy, so you can notice the pull and pause. We work on calming the tension that rises when you think about letting a book go, and we rehearse, in your mind first, saying no to a purchase or choosing which books to pass on. Many clients find the urge loosens its grip and the decisions start to feel lighter.
Common questions
Is bibliomania a mental illness?
No. It is an old word, not a medical diagnosis, and buying lots of books is usually a healthy hobby. It becomes a concern when collecting is hard to control, causes distress or makes your home hard to live in, and then it may be part of hoarding disorder.
Is it bad to buy more books than you can read?
Not in itself. Lots of people enjoy having a pile of books waiting for them. It is worth paying attention if you are hiding purchases, arguing about them, running out of usable space or mainly buying to soothe difficult feelings.
What is the difference between collecting and hoarding books?
Collectors look for particular books, keep them organised and enjoy showing them. With hoarding, books pile up without order, letting any of them go causes strong distress, and the clutter affects daily life or relationships.
How can I let go of books without feeling awful?
Starting with a few easy ones, such as duplicates or damaged copies, often feels more manageable. Giving them to a library or someone who will read them can make the decision easier. If the distress is very strong, your GP can talk to you about therapy.
Further reading: NHS: Hoarding disorder · Mayo Clinic: Hoarding disorder, symptoms and causes · University of Iowa Special Collections: It isn’t hoarding if it’s books, or is it? · Hoarding UK
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