This book is, as its subtitle suggests, “the true story of a thief, a detective, and a world of literary obsession.” In the early 2000s, John Gilkey used appropriated credit card numbers to steal over $100,000 worth of rare books before he was caught. Using Gilkey as a starting point, Bartlett explores bibliomania in its many forms, treating us to vignettes about those who have let their love of books overtake them, in an attempt to deconstruct the truth behind “people’s intimate and complex and sometimes dangerous relationship to books.” If you can imagine yourself sleeping in the kitchen because your library has consumed the rest of your house (or think that idea is terrifying but charming), you may enjoy this book. Just hopefully not too much. The book is available at Amazon ( see the link bellow ).