Quite often in bookstores you can find such a picture: a woman or a man buys a whole pile of books of diverse content, not connected in any way with meaning. For example, their choice includes fantasy, detective stories, and even classical literature. As a rule, the house of such people is littered with various fiction. They consider some books to be the most valuable, others gather dust on shelves in the form of unnecessary copies. Such persons are considered bibliomaniacs.
What it is?
The word "bibliomania" comes from the Greek word biblion (book). It indicates a very serious and even extreme passion for collecting books. There are also such words: bibliophilia and bibliophilia. They literally translate as "Love of all books."
A man who loves books very much is called a bibliophile. Typically, such persons are engaged in collecting exceptional and important publications, which may include collections of a single author or illustrator.
Book lovers can dig for hours in diverse reading. Along with this hobby, they collect periodicals (comics, chromolithography), which were released in the past era.
Exquisite bibliomania hunt for very rare tomes. Everything is important to them. The first and lifetime editions of the author are the very treasure that the bibliophile runs after. If it is supplemented by a personal autograph, then such a publication cannot be overestimated.
These rarities are very expensive, but for collectors the price is not the most important condition. Short runs disappear quickly, and this fact makes them even more valuable.
Thanks to the bibliomaniacs who lived in the last century, private libraries first appeared (for example, the libraries of J. Wise, M. Corvin, I. Grozny). Peter I was the first emperor to be called a bibliophile.Books on shipbuilding were stored on shelves, like true treasures. Catherine II also distinguished herself by the signs of bibliomania, acquiring the Voltaire library.
It must be said that the passion for books to the point of insanity is a rather useful occupation for the future heritage and history of mankind. Bibliophiles are an important link in the accumulation and preservation of real and valuable folios.
In addition to bibliophilia, in the world there are also such obsessive states as bibliolatria (superstitious worship of a book with magic and sorcery) and bibliotaph (almost the same as bibliophilia, only this mania is more ugly). The librarian is greedy and forbids other people to use his books. It must be remembered that the passion for collecting books is useful only when the content is correctly perceived, and the possession of valuable items is good for the whole society.
How is it manifested?
Too strong craving for books (bibliomania) is expressed in a symptom of obsessive states. A pathological passion for gathering different fiction is the most interesting obsessive state. Such people multiply books indiscriminately, the main thing is that they are not always read. Here the principle applies: the most important thing is to take possession, and then carefully store. Often a biblioman gets many copies of only one book. He cannot even explain why he is doing this.
Experts believe that this behavior is associated with a neurotic defense mechanism associated with any negative situation. The biblioman is easy to recognize. If you notice that one of your friends collects unnecessary books that people throw away and drags them home, then you have a biblioman. Such a person will be left without bread, hungry, but will get the print edition he likes. He is also ready to sit for hours and sort through old printing copies, delving around the garbage container.
Having chosen the most preferred publications, he will bring them home and put them on a shelf where dust has not been removed for years.
Among the abandoned books may be real treasures. And that's bad. Perhaps a valuable folio needs restoration, but he may not wait for it. The paper will crumble and the ink will disappear.
However, the biblioman will be tormented in terrible torment if he does not get the copy he likes. He will lose sleep and may even get sick. The unwillingness to part with your books is a sign of an obsessive state and you need to get rid of it. There is nothing good in the fact that the whole room is clogged with old volumes mixed with mud. From such a spectacle, even in a healthy person, mild depression will begin.
How to fight?
As it turns out, bibliomania is not a threat. On the contrary, collecting books is only beneficial. But where is the border beyond which an obsessive state appears?
Well, if a person realizes that he is too keen on collecting. Perhaps he was so affected by the lack of books in his childhood, which passed during the times of the USSR. Then a valuable copy was very difficult to get. Therefore, people bought printed treasures with pleasure and were proud of a successful acquisition. Since then, many continue to behave this way.
Some believe that this gathering is a symbol of wealth. Others, on the contrary, try to do useful work quite professionally. Specialist bibliomaniacs are well aware of the origins of typography and can distinguish fake from an old folio. Some people buy rare editions abroad because of a good discount system.
And if a person is just too carried away by his favorite pastime, then he can stop at any moment and ask himself the question: “Why do I need so many books?”. After he answers it, the biblioman will understand that most units have lost their relevance, and he has lost interest in them. Then why buy more and more new editions? Perhaps you need to stop.
Remember one thing: if a habit (for example, collecting various literature) has not grown into mania and begins to lose its original meaning for you personally, then you need to stop.
Hand out less valuable copies to neighbors and acquaintances. Calculate your strength. Leave yourself the composition that you can read, and, of course, the one that will be of interest to you.
In the future, it is necessary to take a more responsible approach to expanding your personal library. You can not resist buying, leave your wallet at home - this is the best way. Perhaps after some time your desire will evaporate. Everything must be treated responsibly, even to the acquisition of books.
