I keep a spreadsheet of all the books I read. The oldest entry is January 2, 2010: Hyperion, Dan Simmons. The most recent is October 1, 2011: The Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis. (Highly recommended, by the way, even if – like me – you’re not a Christian.)
I keep this spreadsheet because 1) I’m the kind of person who requires very little convincing to start a spreadsheet, 2) I think it will be interesting to go back later when I’m older and see what I was into as a young’un, and 3) reading a book gives me a real sense of accomplishment, and it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy to have a record of that.
(Ever noticed how much difference a few degrees make in phraseology? “Warm and fuzzy” sounds nice. “Hot and fuzzy” sounds vaguely illegal. Be careful out there.)
Anyway.
I guess finishing a book makes me feel kind of like leveling up in an RPG. Or if not increasing by a whole level, at least earning some experience points. I feel like I’ve improved myself, somehow, as a person.
(Brian Buckley) < (Brian Buckley + The Crying of Lot 49)
There is some element of actual truth to this. Books do enrich the mind (or, if they don’t, boy have I made some bad life choices). Yet that alone doesn’t entirely account for the sense of accomplishment I get.
If I’m honest, I think part of it is selfish. I like to be that guy – the guy who, when somebody asks “Have you ever read Don Quixote?” can thoughtfully sip his martini and say, “Why yes, in fact, yes I have.” The guy who’s cool and worldly, where cool and worldly is defined as even geekier than normal. I like having lit cred.
(Note: I do not drink martinis.)
So the spreadsheet isn’t quite as noble-minded as I’d like to make it sound. But then, I suppose there are worse sins in this world than literary selfishness. I suppose if I can look back on my life and the worst thing I find is that I’m a little too jazzed about my book list, I’m probably doing all right.
I mean, at least I’m not getting hot and fuzzy.
Do you keep a list of what you’ve read?
Brian D. Buckley 
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I just typed out a response, and then reaised that my comment was longer than your post. So not cool. So I’ve blogged my answer instead, and linked back here. My thoughts are here.
Cool! *goes to check it out*
“I guess finishing a book makes me feel kind of like leveling up in an RPG. Or if not increasing by a whole level, at least earning some experience points. I feel like I’ve improved myself, somehow, as a person.” — Ditto.
Yes, I keep a list. I used GoodReads.com. LOVE it.
I keep hearing about GoodReads. I should check that out one of these days…
I don’t keep a list of the books I read – but my husband keeps one for me 🙂
Well, that sounds awfully nice of him. 🙂
Do you use charts to track your progress, completion rates, rate of completion over time, etc? +1 geek cred
Nope…if I don’t finish a book, it doesn’t go on the list. You?
I have a far less formal system – a combination of where i put it on my shelves and amazon.com bookmarks 😉
I am an old fogey who still uses LJ for something besides bad poetry and writing about cats and/or knitting. (Okay, the cats show up sometimes.) I make a private post dated Dec 31st of the next year and every time I finish a book, I add the title to that entry. Then, at the end of the year, I make it public.
It’s a nice way to see what I was reading in a given year. I’ve only been doing it a year or two though. Wish I’d done it back when I first started on LJ – or sooner, with pen & paper! Oh well.
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I haven’t since I was a teen but I wish I read enough to have a decent list. This way I’d realise on how many I’m capable of reading a year!
Some people read like a book a week…I don’t know how they do it!