one of the things that has "saved" me from going broke over books is a little used book store two blocks from my house. i read, bring back, get used book credit, buy more, read bring back, get more, etc. i have amazon one click. i have more reading material than one person should see in a lifetime. i just retired, so one of the joys is getting rid of all the medical/anesthesia/nursing books i no longer use daily. and now, the quilting and cookbooks can take center stage. i'm a confirmed bookaholic--and as long as i can walk through the house, i won't have "too many" books. (and i found a rare quilting book, years ago, that i gave to a friend who was an avid quilter--it was at a library sale for a quarter. she was so excited to get it, and valued it so highly, that she wrote it into her will for a daughter who was also a quilter. library sales are our friend!) i'm with you all who read instructional books like novels. there's nothing better than a good cookbook or quilting book on a cold evening.