Tsundoku
Tsundoku is the Japanese word for the habit of acquiring books and letting them pile up unread — the growing, hopeful stack on the nightstand you fully intend to get to, someday.
Full definition of Tsundoku →:: COMPARE ::
TsundokuvsBibliomania
The short answer
Tsundoku is light, common and non-pathological — the ordinary gap between buying and reading. Bibliomania is a compulsive collecting disorder, an obsession with acquiring books as objects. One is a fond habit; the other is an affliction.
Side by side
| Aspect | Tsundoku | Bibliomania |
|---|---|---|
| Tone | Affectionate | Pathological |
| The books | Meant to be read | Collected/hoarded |
| Harm | None | Compulsive |
| You are | An optimist | In its grip |
What each one means
Bibliomania
The contrast above sets out how Bibliomania differs from Tsundoku on the points that actually matter.