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ken_bookhermit's review
3.0
A delightful read on the gentle-mad passion of book-collecting. I call it an “enabler” book due to the beginning chapter where the author quotes John Hill Burton who says that book-collecting as hubris “remains the one above all others ‘that leans to virtue’s side’”. It did fuel my dedication to collecting books but not in Basbanes’ terms. I don’t want first editions. I want to collect books on my own terms. That said, my New Year’s Resolution being that I disallow myself to purchase books unrelated to school puts a damper in this bibliophilic spirit of mine.
gnomescottage's review
4.0
There's something comforting about reading books about books--especially books about books that prominently feature other book lovers. Among the Gently Mad contains many stories about individuals who are very passionate about books. Of course, they would have to be since most are a breed of book lover termed here as a book hunter.
Among the Gently Mad is about there book hunters or collectors or bibliophiles. Basbanes takes the reader to auction houses, libraries, and through other's homes showing us rare books and various book hunters' large collections. We learn about the wide variety of books, ephemera, and collectibles sought out by hunters and are advised on how best to pick our own niche of collecting. Basbanes teaches the basics about what it takes to be one of the "gently mad" but abstains from going into specifics. I surmised from the book that book collecting is a very individualized sport and everyone goes about it their own way. Basbanes does give the reader some advice about budgeting, some books to read to learn more, and some starting points, but nothing overly helpful to the truly serious.
I didn't read this book to learn how to be a collector though. If you are reading this in hope of getting solid advice, you'll have to look elsewhere. This, however, is a good book to read if you're interested in books and book lovers. I enjoyed reading about others who see the beauty in old books and lost things. Still, it might give you the bug for collecting or selling so be warned.
There were a couple of issues with this book you might want to be aware of. Basbanes has a habit of mentioning his other books several times in each chapter. This is my first book of his and so I found the references a bit tiring after awhile. If you're a fan, this probably won't bother you, but if you, like me, have never read another of his books, you might want to start with one of his earlier books first and come back to Among the Gently Mad. Also, I found his references to selling books on the internet quaint. This book was written in 2002 so you might be able to imagine he's a bit more in awe of selling on the internet than someone would be nowadays. The technology and websites he mentioned weren't completely archaic, however, so it's not as if this book is totally out of date, but it is just a little funny to read all the same.
Among the Gently Mad is a pleasant read for book lovers, and I would highly recommend it.
Among the Gently Mad is about there book hunters or collectors or bibliophiles. Basbanes takes the reader to auction houses, libraries, and through other's homes showing us rare books and various book hunters' large collections. We learn about the wide variety of books, ephemera, and collectibles sought out by hunters and are advised on how best to pick our own niche of collecting. Basbanes teaches the basics about what it takes to be one of the "gently mad" but abstains from going into specifics. I surmised from the book that book collecting is a very individualized sport and everyone goes about it their own way. Basbanes does give the reader some advice about budgeting, some books to read to learn more, and some starting points, but nothing overly helpful to the truly serious.
I didn't read this book to learn how to be a collector though. If you are reading this in hope of getting solid advice, you'll have to look elsewhere. This, however, is a good book to read if you're interested in books and book lovers. I enjoyed reading about others who see the beauty in old books and lost things. Still, it might give you the bug for collecting or selling so be warned.
There were a couple of issues with this book you might want to be aware of. Basbanes has a habit of mentioning his other books several times in each chapter. This is my first book of his and so I found the references a bit tiring after awhile. If you're a fan, this probably won't bother you, but if you, like me, have never read another of his books, you might want to start with one of his earlier books first and come back to Among the Gently Mad. Also, I found his references to selling books on the internet quaint. This book was written in 2002 so you might be able to imagine he's a bit more in awe of selling on the internet than someone would be nowadays. The technology and websites he mentioned weren't completely archaic, however, so it's not as if this book is totally out of date, but it is just a little funny to read all the same.
Among the Gently Mad is a pleasant read for book lovers, and I would highly recommend it.
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