Every time I move, I face the same problem: the books. They're heavy, they take up space, and yet I can't seem to part with them. Or can I?
In recent years, I've learned to see books for what they are: carriers of stories and knowledge that can be passed on. A book that I've read and will never read again can start a new life with someone else.
Why Books Are the Perfect Free Category
Books are ideal for giving away. They're light enough to transport without a car. Their condition is immediately apparent -- you can see whether the pages are yellowed or the cover is damaged. And they don't lose value through use, at least not in terms of content.
Unlike electronics, you don't have to worry about whether the thing works. A book is a book. As long as the pages are readable, it serves its purpose.
What I also appreciate: books are cultural objects. Giving them away feels different from passing on a toaster. It's a piece of knowledge, a story that you're sharing.
What's Especially in Demand
Not all books are equally sought after. Some go immediately, others gather dust.
Children's books are constantly in demand. Parents need an endless supply because kids race through books quickly and want new ones. Picture books, bedtime stories, young adult novels -- everything goes.
Classics and bestsellers always find takers. The bestseller you read a year ago interests someone else now. Classics are always in demand because schools assign them or people want to catch up on them.
Non-fiction on specific topics is popular with people who are currently interested in those subjects. Cookbooks, travel guides, self-help books -- they always fit someone.
More difficult are: outdated guides (nobody wants an Excel 2003 book anymore), very specialized academic literature, and paperbacks in poor condition.
The Challenge of Letting Go
Letting go of books is hard for some people. I know the feeling. It almost feels like you're betraying the ideas inside them.
But here's a thought that helped me: a book on the shelf is a dead book. It's not being read, it's not sharing its knowledge. Only when someone opens it does it come alive.
When you give away a book, you're giving it a second chance. Someone will read it, enjoy it, maybe learn something. That's better than collecting dust.
I've made it a habit to sort ruthlessly with every move. The rule: only keep books that I would read again or that are emotionally important to me. The rest can go.
Giving Away Books in Bulk
If you want to get rid of many books, there are different approaches.
The box: pack similar books together and offer them as a set. "20 crime novels," "box of children's books," "assorted novels." That's faster than individual listings and appeals to people who like to browse.
The pickup event: set a time when people can come by and choose what they want. Works well when you have a lot of books.
The public book box: put a box on the street with a sign saying "Free books, please help yourself." In most neighborhoods, this is accepted and the books disappear surprisingly quickly.
Where Books Circulate Most
Public bookcases exist in almost every Swiss city. These are small cabinets in public places where you can drop off and take books. Zurich has dozens of them, Bern too, and most cities have at least a few.
The advantage: you don't need to coordinate with anyone. Just put books in and leave. The disadvantage: you don't know if anyone enjoyed them.
University libraries sometimes have exchange shelves. For academic literature, this can be interesting -- the right people who are interested in specialized topics are there.
The Ecological Aspect
Producing a book requires resources. Paper, printing, transportation. If a book ends up in the trash after being read once, that's waste.
The good news: books can theoretically be read dozens of times before they're physically worn out. A novel that has five different owners has amortized its ecological costs five times better than one that gets thrown away after a single read.
This isn't a sermon -- just a fact. Passing on books is good for the environment.
A Personal Ritual
I've developed a small ritual: when I finish a book and know I won't keep it, I write my first name and the date on the first page. Nothing intrusive, just in pencil in the corner.
Sometimes I wonder if those books are still out there somewhere. Whether someone else is reading them and wondering who "David, March 2024" was.
It's not a mark of ownership -- it's a trace. A sign that this book already had a life before it came to you. I find the thought beautiful.
Conclusion
Giving away books is easy, satisfying, and sustainable. If you want to get rid of some, put them on PIKITUP or in a public bookcase. If you're looking for some, check there.
The chances are good that your next favorite book is waiting somewhere to be found.
Have a book story to tell? Write to me -- hello@pikitup.ch