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Why you keep buying books you don’t read
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Why you keep buying books you don’t read
If you have a pile of unread books at home, don't feel guilty.
Scientists say that buying unread books actually makes us happy.
This happens because of how our brains handle anticipation.
This habit is known by the Japanese word tsundoku,
which means stacking books to read later.
When we buy a book, our brain releases a chemical called dopamine.
Dopamine is not just about final pleasure,
but it helps us find opportunities by rewarding us in advance.
At the same time, the hippocampus helps us imagine a happy future of reading.
It uses past memories, like the smell of coffee, to build a cozy mental scene.
Psychologists say this positive anticipation is great for our wellbeing,
because it improves our mood and protects us from stress.
That is why a pile of unread books feels like a future reward,
while unanswered emails feel like a chore.
Quiz 🧠
Q1. Looking forward to something pleasant can improve a person's mood.
Show answer
✅ True
Expecting a positive event triggers rewarding brain chemicals, which naturally boosts mood and lowers stress.
Q2. What does 'anticipation' mean in 'she smiled in anticipation'?
Show answer
✅ looking forward to something
Anticipation means feeling excited or hopeful about something that will happen soon.
Q3. Why do people often feel happy right after buying a new book?
Show answer
✅ They imagine future reading
Buying a book makes the brain imagine a cozy, enjoyable reading moment in the future.
Dialogue 🎧
Michael: Charlotte, look at this massive pile of unread books on my desk. I feel so guilty.
Charlotte: Don't feel bad! In Japan, they actually have a beautiful word for that: tsundoku.
Michael: Tsundoku? That sounds like a disease or a weird guilty habit.
Charlotte: It just means stacking books to read later. And scientists say it makes us happy.
Michael: No way. How can buying books I do not read make me happy?
Charlotte: It is all about anticipation. Our brains release dopamine just by looking at them.
Michael: Wait, isn't dopamine only released when we actually finish the book?
Charlotte: Actually, no. Dopamine rewards us in advance to help us find future opportunities.
Michael: Oh, so my brain is rewarding me for future learning? That is amazing.
Charlotte: Exactly. And your hippocampus helps by creating a cozy mental scene of reading.
Michael: Let me guess. Does it involve the smell of coffee and a warm blanket?
Charlotte: Yes! It uses past memories to construct a happy future experience.
Michael: That is wild. My brain is basically daydreaming for my wellbeing.
Charlotte: It is! Psychologists say this positive anticipation protects us from daily stress.
Michael: Huh. So that is why this pile feels so different from my inbox.
Charlotte: Right. Unanswered emails feel like a chore, but unread books feel like a future reward.
Michael: That makes perfect sense. One is a promise, and the other is an obligation.
Charlotte: Yes. Buying them is like investing in a little pocket of future peace.
Michael: I am definitely going to the bookstore today. I need some more happy anticipation.
Charlotte: Go get some, Michael. Your hippocampus will thank you.