The Journal
On reading, owning and keeping.
Shelf of Mind: a series
A call for shelves
Five questions, one photograph of your shelves, and the books that stayed.
The editors · 11 October 2026
Words for it
Tsundoku, or the pile
The Japanese have a word for the books you buy and do not read yet. It is older than you think.
The editors · 11 October 2026
Essay
Unread is not unfinished
On the antilibrary, and why the books you have not read may be the most important ones you own.
The editors · 11 October 2026