Kristina, it’s hard to know what might “feel” valuable later, and I did keep several books because they still came with so many memories attached. In general, if a book was inscribed or if someone I knew had written it, I kept it. But other intangibles also factored in, at least for now.

I’m glad you were able to replace the book that mattered!

I have done book purges several times, and the only time I’ve regretted giving away a book was a Ben Bradlee memoir, given to me by my uncle because I was a budding journalist. I later ran across the same edition in a used bookstore, and bought it for myself again. Not the same copy (but what if it was??? Not impossible!) but delighting myself by finding it again erased any regret I felt in the first place.

(The gift hadn’t been inscribed. If it had been, I’d have kept it.)

Let’s hope so, Bob!