Do you have a habit of buying more books than you can read? Of just shelving books or stacking them on the floor for company? Me too! Now we have a word for it. Let me introduce you to Tsundoku, a Japanese word that means to stack and leave for later.

Tsundoku is not about being profligate or about neglect; it’s about enjoying the sheer company of books and the potential wisdom they offer. It’s an idea popularized by the Nassim Nicholas Taleb (author of the popular bestseller, The Black Swan). Taleb calls Tsundoku a vital intellectual tool, arguing that unread books are in fact more valuable than read ones because they represent an untapped store of knowledge. It is a reminder of our ignorance and the importance of intellectual humility.

So, if you are buying books faster than you can read, you are in good company. Just don’t let they stay unread.