Disclosure: Some of the links in this post may contain affiliate links, so if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a commission.
I took Intro to Sociology and Intro to Psychology in college and couldn’t get enough of either class. I love observing people and figuring out what makes them tick.
I think that’s one reason I enjoy true crime shows, too – I want to understand what makes people behave the way they do.
So, in keeping with my interest in how people tick, I thought I’d share my own book-buying and reading habits with you. What makes me interested in a book? How do I decide whether to buy it? What happens after I read it?
Here’s my personal life cycle of a book – from discovering it to deciding whether it earns a permanent spot on my bookshelf.
And I’d love to hear about your process, too!
Discovery: How I Find New Books
I discover new books in all kinds of ways. A few of my favorite sources are:
- Recommendations from friends and family
- Podcast episodes where an author is interviewed about their new book
- Discovering a new-to-me author and then binging all their books
- Book lover groups on Facebook
- Amazon recommendations (“Since you searched for this title, you may enjoy this similar story”)
Anytime a book sounds interesting to me, I immediately add it to my Amazon Book Wishlist.
This does not mean I buy it on Amazon. It’s simply where I keep track of all the books I want to read.
Another perk of keeping my list there is that I can see what the book costs new. That gives me a price to compare when I’m shopping for used books.
🔗 Check out this post for more on how I discover new books.
Hunt: Finding Books to Buy
I prefer to buy my books used, which means I usually have to hunt for my books rather than simply clicking “Add to Cart.”
One of my favorite places to look is Goodwill. It’s a treasure hunt every time I go.
At my local Goodwill, hardcover books are $3, paperback books are $2, and children’s books are $1. You can’t beat those prices, especially when I can often find books in “like-new” condition.
If I can’t find a book after searching at Goodwill, I turn to used books online.
My favorite places to shop for used books online are:
- ThriftBooks – free shipping on orders $15+
- Better World Books – free shipping on orders $15+
- Abe Books – allows you to filter by free shipping
🔗 For more ideas on how to buy books for cheap, check out this post.
TBR: Waiting Their Turn
Once I have a book, it gets a spot on the physical TBR pile that lives by my nightstand.
Sometimes books sit there for a while. Other times, they get read almost immediately.
I’m a big fan of a physical TBR pile because I like being able to see the books waiting for me. Of course, the downside is that the pile has a tendency to grow faster than I can read it.
Read: Choosing My Next Book
I am a mood reader.
When it’s time to pick up a new book, I sit in front of my TBR pile and pull out several that look interesting. I try to rotate genres so I don’t get burnt out on one type of book, but ultimately, it comes down to what I’m in the mood to read at that moment.
That’s one of the things I enjoy about having a physical TBR: I have plenty of options waiting for me.
🔗 If you need help choosing a book from your TBR, check out some fun ideas here.
After Reading: Track + Keep, or Pass It On
Several things happen after I read a book.
First, I Track It
The very first thing I do is enter the book in Goodreads along with the finished date and a star rating.
I keep track of all my completed books in Goodreads. It helps me remember what I’ve already read, and, just as importantly, keeps me from accidentally buying duplicates.
I started tracking my books around 2021, so my list isn’t complete, but it’s better than nothing.
🔗For more on how I track my books, check out this post about my process or this one for more ways to keep track of your books.
Then I Decide: Keep or Pass It On
If I love the book, it earns a spot on our bookshelf.
If I don’t love the book and don’t see myself re-reading it, I move it along.
Depending on the book, I might:
- Sell it on Facebook Marketplace
- Sell it to a local used bookstore
- Donate it
- Give it to someone else
There’s no reason for a book I don’t want to keep to take up valuable bookshelf space when someone else might enjoy it.
🔗For more ideas for what to do with books you don’t want to keep, check out this post.
And Then the Cycle Starts Again
And that’s basically my life cycle of a book.
I discover a book, add it to my list, hunt for a good deal, bring it home, add it to my TBR, eventually read it, track it, then decide whether it deserves a permanent spot on our bookshelf.
And then, of course, I start looking for my next book.
Final Thoughts
What about you?
Do you have a meticulous process for discovering, buying, tracking, and keeping books? Or are you more spontaneous about the whole process?
And what’s your favorite part of the book-buying and reading process?
Tell me in the comments!
💡 Come hang out with me for daily bookish chats on Facebook or Instagram!
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