Among the Gently Mad

Among the Gently Mad explores the world of rare book collecting and the personalities who inhabit it. Through interviews and research, Nicholas A. Basbanes documents the practices, strategies, and mindset of serious book collectors. The book provides guidance for both novice and experienced collectors on topics like authentication, preservation, and navigation of the rare book market. Basbanes draws from his decades of experience as a collector and journalist to outline fundamental principles and insider knowledge. First-hand accounts and historical examples illustrate the passion that drives collectors to pursue their quarry. The text covers major sales, discoveries, and the evolution of book collecting from past centuries to the digital age. This meditation on collecting reveals universal truths about human nature and our relationship with physical objects that carry knowledge through time. The book serves as both a practical manual and a study of the collecting impulse that shapes culture and preservation of the written word.

Book collectors praise Basbanes' insider knowledge of rare book collecting and appreciate his personal anecdotes about navigating auctions, dealers, and bibliophile culture. Multiple readers note the book serves as a practical guide for beginning collectors while remaining engaging for experienced ones. Readers liked: - Clear explanations of book collecting terminology and practices - Tips for identifying first editions and assessing value - Stories about notable collectors and remarkable finds Common criticisms: - Writing style can meander and become unfocused - Some sections read like lists of facts rather than narrative - Content feels dated (published 2002) Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (472 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (49 ratings) One collector wrote on LibraryThing: "Perfect primer for those interested in rare books, but veterans may find it too basic." Several Amazon reviewers noted it pairs well with Basbanes' other book "A Gentle Madness" for a fuller understanding of book collecting culture.

The Library at Night by Alberto Manguel A bibliophile's meditation on libraries throughout history reveals the personal and cultural significance of book collecting and preservation.

A Gentle Madness by Nicholas A. Basbanes This exploration of book collecting chronicles centuries of bibliophilia through profiles of collectors, thieves, and literary obsessives.

Used and Rare by Lawrence Goldstone The story tracks a couple's transformation from casual readers to serious book collectors through their experiences in the rare book trade.

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett This investigation follows rare book thief John Gilkey and the bibliodetective determined to stop him, illuminating the psychology of book collecting.

Sixpence House by Paul Collins A book scout's chronicle of life in Hay-on-Wye, the used book capital of the world, provides insight into the culture of bookselling and collecting.

📚 Nicholas A. Basbanes spent over a decade as a literary editor for the Worcester Sunday Telegram and has written nine books about books, book collecting, and bibliophilia. 💫 The term "gentle madness" was first coined by bibliophile Holbrook Jackson to describe the passionate obsession that drives book collectors. 📖 Some of the world's most valuable books mentioned in the work were acquired for mere pennies before their worth was recognized - including a first edition of Edgar Allan Poe's "Tamerlane" purchased for 12 cents in 1988 that later sold for $198,000. 🏛️ The Library of Congress, featured prominently in the book, acquires approximately 10,000 new items every working day. 📜 The oldest known book collector discussed in the work is Richard de Bury (1287-1345), who wrote Philobiblon - the first book about book collecting - and amassed the largest private library in medieval Europe.