How many books have you read in your entire life?
OK. This is a little scary. I am a voracious reader. Have been since I learned to read. So I opened Xcel and did some calculations. I learned to read at the age of four, pulling the books out of my mother’s had when she read to me so I could do it myself. I am now 60 years old. I calculated that I had read a minimum of a book and a half a week for most of my life, and during many years, I read at least three books per week, between school texts and reading for pleasure. So, at 1.5 books X 52 weeks X 55 years, that equals 4,290 books. Adding an additional 1.5 books per week for 45 years is another 3,510 books. So, a conservative estimate of 7,800 books over my lifetime. Then you have to take into account that I frequently reread books I enjoy. Not all of them, but a significant percentage. So subtract perhaps 1,500 for re-reads. Still leaves a grand total of 6,300. Not counting periodicals. Do I remember them all? Of course not. But they have contributed to my enjoyment of life, informed me when I needed to be informed, entertained me when I wanted to be entertained, and helped me make connections with other readers.