Have you ever burned books?

obiebookworm · Post by **obiebookworm** » 03 Dec 2013, 10:06

Yes I have! Of course, this was many years before recycling. Though I believe in freedom to read, there's a different in my mind between what happens in a library and my personal collection. In the book burning case, I remember having a few books that I felt were not worth passing on to someone else because they had the high potential of hurting someone else, like it did me.

Bottom line, if there is a book in my possession (most likely one given to me) that has the potential of creating harm to another, it gets trashed.

jjones · Post by **jjones** » 04 Dec 2013, 00:57

I have never even thought of burning a book. I guess I just haven't came across a harmful book.

gali · Post by **gali** » 04 Dec 2013, 01:13

Never! I recycled some books (they were in a bad condition) or gave them away. Burning books gives me bad associations (Nazis burned books). Why burn books when you can recycle??

obiebookworm · Post by **obiebookworm** » 04 Dec 2013, 08:13

To gali: True! And if I had a situation today, I would definitely recycle. Not everyone in the world recycles for one reason or other.

TrishaAnn92 · Post by **TrishaAnn92** » 04 Dec 2013, 08:24

Burning books have never crossed my mind other than when reading about others burning books. I just tuck the book in a box with books I have read or don't plan on reading and save it for my future library where all they will be good for is taking up space, of course with the intents of reading potentially in the future.

gali · Post by **gali** » 04 Dec 2013, 09:06

obiebookworm wrote:To gali: True! And if I had a situation today, I would definitely recycle. Not everyone in the world recycles for one reason or other.

We recycle.

dhomespot · Post by **dhomespot** » 05 Dec 2013, 03:52

I have had someone burn my books and bookcase while I was at work. I just bought a new bookcase and set to work refilling it.

Craigable · Post by **Craigable** » 05 Dec 2013, 05:17

I occasionally use books for our wood stove if they not in good enough condition to pass on to anyone.

obiebookworm · Post by **obiebookworm** » 05 Dec 2013, 10:07

To Craigable: Oh, now that's clever!

Bighuey · Post by **Bighuey** » 05 Dec 2013, 20:58

Ive burnt them if they are completely shot and unreadable. I burnt two boxes full one time that mice had gotten into. They hold the heat in pretty good in a wood-burning stove.

Loveabull · Post by **Loveabull** » 05 Dec 2013, 21:10

Once in awhile I'll come upon a book that I consider to have absolutely no redeeming value...usually something racist or sexist swill...although I can read sexist and find humor in it sometimes..."I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell" is very funny if you don't take it seriously. But sometimes there will be a book that I don't want to donate and I'll just throw it in the trash and out of circulation.

I think I'd feel weird burning a book though

Mom2Grey · Post by **Mom2Grey** » 05 Dec 2013, 21:34

No, I would never burn a book! What a waste of precious resources!

I take discards from the local library and use layers of pages as mulch in my flower beds. Once the area is completely covered I wet the paper very thoroughly with my trusty garden hose and top it off with pretty bark mulch. As the stuff decomposes I add another layer of paper, and top it up again. Keeps the weeds right out and helps to improve the nasty clay soil.

Burning books indeed!

Expat · Post by **Expat** » 05 Dec 2013, 22:26

Have I ever burnt a book? Yes once, I burnt a book I had been given, an extremely expensive book, which was so evil, that so long as it was in my home, I could feel its pall hanging over the house.
But, to just to dispose of any book, it would be like cremating someone I knew. Books represent hours of devotion and reflection by dedicated people baring their souls to the world, they are the receptacle of the deepest thoughts, therefore precious.