And a World of Literary Obsession - The True Story of a Thief

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Barlett is a fascinating true crime book about a man, John Gilkey, who "collects" rare books by stealing them. The twist in the story is that Gilkey steals the books not for profit, but for personal edifice. In hot pursuit of Gilkey is rare book dealer Ken Saunders. And rounding out this picture is the author Hoover Barlett who becomes Gilkey's trusted confidant.

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much is an interesting read on two levels. First, as an expose into the rare book world which Hoover Barlett does an excellent job of explaining. She attends famous book fairs and speaks with various dealer victims of Gilkey's. She also plumbs the psyches of the average book collector with whom Gilkey shares many attributes (love of the physical object and desire to collect one type of object).

Next, she probes the depth of Gilkey's psyche as to why he continues to steal rare books when he has been repeatedly caught and imprisoned. Gilkey declares, "I like the feeling of having a book worth five or ten grand in my hands. And there's the admiration you're gonna get from other people." The paradox, of course, is that Gilkey cannot display his hot books for admiration nor easily sell them if he chooses to. Gilkey never gains insight into the ultimate futility of his "collecting" nor the consequences of his actions on himself or others. Like a moth drawn to the flame Gilkey continues to steal and continues to get caught.

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much is a compelling, but ultimately somewhat sad story of an amoral thief.

Review Based on Borrowed Library Book.

Overview

Over a 10-year period, John Charles Gilkey stole hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of rare books. The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession is an account of the world of book collectors. It's the story of a man obsessed with acquiring a rare book library at any cost, and the story of a dealer obsessed with stopping collectible book theft. And it's a never-ending story that pulls you into the obsessions, as well.

Author

"Allison Hoover Bartlett's writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the San Francisco Chronicle Magazine, and other publications, and on [...]. Her original article on John Gilkey was included in The Best American Crime Reporting 2007."

My Review

I laughed when I saw the title of this book - I knew I'd be able to relate to obsessions! I've just calculated that I've got enough review books lined up to do two book reviews per day over the next 50 days... It's that OCD in me coming out. I love the idea of lining all my walls with books; sharing my personality and preferences by putting them on display. And finding a book package in the mail feels like Christmas to me. Fortunately mine is not a costly obsession, though I don't think it would take much to get me into the rare book treasure hunt.

And Gilkey's obsession was not supposed to be costly, either, since he acquired most of his books through theft. He had to pay through jail time, but that just seemed to be a part of the acquisition cost, rather than a penalty.

I was fascinated to gain insight into the thought-patterns of a book thief. Gilkey saw rare books as a way to gain social status. And he saw theft as being fully justified, as all those crooked dealers were just trying to rake over the consumers. I was also intrigued by his methods of credit card fraud and his downright audacity. And I loved his idea of creating a book theft detective series.

The author did a fantastic job in revealing Gilkey's character. I didn't relate quite so well to Ken Sanders, the detective. It's interesting to note how the author was absorbed into the story and became a part of it, rather than remaining an objective observer.

A somewhat light-hearted book of the true-crime genre, this is a rare book in its own right...

Thanks to Riverhead Books for the review copy of this book.

Throughout The Man Who Loved Books, author Allison Hoover Bartlett kept dipping her toe into the word of rare book collecting. Seemingly to try and relate to those whose all consuming passion it is, but in parts, it's as if she is trying to get addicted herself. A book lover and a reader, she tries on the mania, but it doesn't fit. For that, though, we have the subject of the book, John Charles Gilkey, book thief.

"If you have a bookcase, added Gilkey, the more you put on them, the more it builds up, the more it's worth, the better it looks With books, it looks beautiful, you can read it if you want, and it's part of the ambiance of a house, isn't it?"

(Is it a bad sign if I completely agree with the thoughts of a book thief?) But it's more than the looks of a book collection, Bartlett finds. With Gilkey, it's a childhood steeped in collecting (and a total lack of morals when it comes to stealing), and a desire to create an image of himself as successful and well-read create an image, not actually do the work to get become those things.

"That people would admire Gilkey because of his book collection seemed to be at the crux of his desire. It wasn't merely a love of books that compelled him, but also what owning them would say about him."

"Gilkey had a wish that he could not afford to grant himself, thus those who kept him from doing so, dealers, were to blame. What must it be like, I wondered, to view the world in such a way, to feel entitled to all one desired and to be able to justify to oneself any means of obtaining it?"

This book was interesting not only because of the insight I gained into the thoughts of a criminal, but because of the look into the legitimate book world that Bartlett gives. There are many who share Galleys passion, but not his lack of conscience.

"Having spent a few days among collectors and dealers at the New York Antiquarian Book Fair, I sensed that many of them were also building identities through their collections, acquiring books as talismans of taste, knowledge, and affluence."

There is humor in this as well. "For many book collectors, comic books are the gateway drug to the hard stuff. The need to find issue #5 of the Hulk morphs into a lust for hardbound copies of The Call of the Wild."

One of the best aspects of the book was when Bartlett visits and interviews the small book dealers who, very unfortunately, were victims of Gilkey. Their passion for books and the time, care and hours they put into their businesses comes blazing off the page. These, for me, are the heroes of the book. The author paints such a vivid picture of these people and of their shops that I felt like I could actually hear the bell chiming above the door as I entered.

I love books. The look, the smell, the feel of them. I collect those I read and those that have been part of my life since childhood. But for me, the value of my books is in the words, and in the memories I have of my feelings as I read them. I can't imagine owning a book that I wouldn't dare read for fear of decreasing its value. So it's fascinating for me to get a chance to learn about those who do just that.

Allison Hoover Bartlett's book, "The Man Who Loved Books Too Much" is a different crime expose'. It isn't a page-turner, but it is very well researched and written. I found it to be an enjoyable easy read that I recommend...And, I have no interest in collecting.

If, like me, you think of art theft as being exclusive to painted works you will be enlightened to the world of those who feel the written word is, perhaps, more interesting, valuable...And ripe for the taking! The sky is the limit as to the value of rare books and, unlike paintings, they are immenently more accessible for collecting and otherwise.

John Charles Gilkey is a book theif who for years goes about his craft under the radar. His methods are alarmly simple yet effective. Suffering from a personality defect he feels absolutely no remorse. He is just getting what society has deprived him of so he's really not so much a thief as he is a one-man "literary Robin Hood". Possessing, perhaps, above average intelligence he still has little, if any, work-ethic. That lack of hard work shows in both his everyday life and the fact that he uses the same tactics over and over in a relatively small geographic area. I kept thinking what damage he could have reeked if he was more workman-like in his scam - taking it to varied locales. His narcisism coupled with his OCD simply fails him though and, in the end, it's his undoing. He did, however, accumulate a collection whose value is likely never to be fully known. Furthermore, he may have continued unabated if he did not become another person's obsession to stop. That person, Ken Sanders, the one-time head of the rather loosely based Antiquarian Book Sellers Society made it his personal mission to bring Gilkey to justice.

I enjoyed this book, gaining insight into a world I knew nothing of. I found Gilkey, Sanders, and Bartlett interesting people within this community of book lovers. If you have a few free nights it is an entertaining book that I believe almost anyone, once started, will finish with relish.

I found myself doubtful at reading a non-fiction book. To tell the truth, I think they are too slow, and when I read I want to escape real life. I thought this was just going to be a book about someone who just collects their favorite books. When I first started reading it though, I found similarities in this man and my obsession with books. I thought to myself, OMG! That could so be me! I love the part where he describes how people love to show off their bookcases and calls them my library! I am constantly showing off my new books and I am always telling my husband that we need a library room. I would be in heaven! Frankly, it scares me now. Am I destined to be a book thief? No. Do I collect books? Yes. I am obsessed with collecting books. If I find a great author, I instantly want to own every book this author has published. I even have a shelf of books, which my family knows it as 'Touch-this-shelf-and I-chop-off-your-hands!' shelf, that includes my ARCs and signed copies. Would I ever steal them from someone? No. So, I am overjoyed to know that I am not that bad. This book opened my eyes to the many amazing books that we hold so dear and rare. To think people actually pay up in the hundreds of thousands for some books. I can see where someone would want to own them, but I don't think I could go so far as to steal them as this man has. This is a true story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession just like the subtitle states. You will get sucked in from the first chapter all the way to the last. Be warned though, you may not like the similarities in the book thief and yourself!

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession by Allison Hoover Bartlett is a wonderful introduction into a world not guessed at by the general public. As a public library director, I can testify to the lust that some readers have to possess the books they hold. Throughout the library world, losses to thieves can really only be guessed at, but they are significant. Many of the stolen library books end up being sold via the Internet. Though Bartlett introduces us to the world of rare books and the operations of John Charles Gilkey, books do not have to be rare to become the target of a thief. The book only has to appeal to someone who wants to possess it; to see it on their shelf; to know that they "own" it. Is there a therapeutic value in owning a book? Read the Book Thief by Markus Zusak (Young Adult Fiction).

Bartlett reveals to us that The Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America classifies five types of rare book thieves. They are: the kleptomaniac; the profit seeking thief; the angry thief; the casual thief; and the thief who steals for their own personal use. What is really amazing is Bartlett's discovery that some rare book deals freely admit that they themselves have been tempted to steal a book but all that make that admission also admit that they overcame the temptation. Pretty astounding! Equally surprising (and alarming) is the laid back attitude of police when a book theft is reported, and their disbelief of a book's reported value.

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much is an engrossing, well researched, and well written thriller that could easily have become a first rate fictional thriller. Can a movie on this topic be in the offing?

I highly recommend The Man Who Loved Books Too Much.

I just finished The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession. I loved it. It was a very quick read because of the compeling story. Ms. Bartlett takes on the story of an unapolgetic book thief. She gives us glimpses into the fascinating world of rare and collectable books. That part makes me want to run out and find a book shop to browse through. She also gives us a view into the twisted psychology of the thief and the efforts of those who work hard to thwart his efforts. Some of the one star reviews slam her for glorifying the thief, but they appear to have too much connection to the industry to appreciate a balanced story. I did not see Gilkey as a hero or even worthy of any kind of respect. I did gain some respect for Sanders who has helped protect(s) an industry I would love to know more about. Bartlett gives us glimpses of the history of book collecting and collectors. It appears that rabid collectors may not be too many steps away from being a thief and she explores this.

I recommend it for quick interesting read.

Allison Hoover Bartlett explores the interesting world of books, via lust, obsession, and tenacity. Strange, but true; rare book collecting and bibliomania drive the plot of her narrative. John Gilkey and Ken Sanders, thief and self-proclaimed "bibliodick" respectively, engage in a war of ethnics over books.

Ken Sanders is a rare book dealer with a store in Salt Lake City who becomes entwined with the ABAA (Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America) and eventually becomes its security chair. In this role he would continually encounter the illegal acquiring of books by John Gilkey. Sanders, a staunch liberal with a strict moral code of right and wrong, would catch Gilkey and suspect him of many robberies, but he would never gain satisfaction. Gilkey with his skewed perception of fair and ethical would continually antagonize the rare book community while trying to acquire his ideal life. The story is fascinating as it delves beyond bibliophile and into obsession, collecting, and the power of books.

The plot easily unfolds with interesting characters through its easy language. Hoover Bartlett is good writer with a clear objective. Her language is illuminating and informative; giving the reader imagery to revel in and interesting thoughts to ponder.

This book is for just about anyone interested in rare books, collecting, human interest stories, or books/writers in general. An interesting, easy to read book that just about anyone will enjoy. Recommended.

. . . of a rare book thief, the rare bookstore owner who tried to stop him (and was somewhat successful) and the journalist who tried to chronicle the tale -- without losing her objectivity.

John Gilkey loves rare books. Really loves them. He loves to look at them, hold them, read them, and collect them. Unfortunately, he acquires his treasures by unconventional, not to say, illegal means.

He steals them.

He has been (Compulsively? Let the reader decide!)stealing rare books for quite some time, using false identities, stolen credit card receipts -- and the odd "five-fingered discount"! He has done jail and prison time, and habitually re-offends.

This book is an account of attempts by rare book dealers to catch Gilkey (who is likely guilty of far more than his conviction record might indicate) presented by a journalist who was granted multiple interviews with Gilkey (as well as many others).

The journalist asks herself an interesting question. Did she, in the course of her research and interviews, lose her own sense of objectivity in dealing with a very polite, very persuasive, rather cultured individual -- who happened to be a habitual thief?

It is a fair question. I leave it to readers to determine their own answers.

As a rabid book collector myself (although nowhere near the level as described in this book) I found this to be a fascinating read. I suspect other bibliophiles will agree.

Recommended!

Allison Bartlett didn't, by any means, take on the world's greatest thief in her book, nor does she claim to. Nothing here is comparable to the theft of the Mona Lisa. What she gives, instead, is a charming look at a relatively petty thief with a rather inexplicable love for books--something that many who love roaming the aisles of a library can identify with but don't carry it to the lengths of this ne'r-do-well. While wild chase scenes and drama are missing, however, one also learns much about the book trade itself, how books come to have their value, and some of the tricks you should be wary of when considering acquiring a book of any value, such as a first edition.

This was a very readable book that kept my interest and, along with a good yarn, taught me a few things worth passing on to others.

I understand the love of books. My home resembled a library or a bookstore. Until some of my friends had an intervention with me about my "obsessive hording" books. Strong armed me into taking them to Goodwill, selling them at yard sales, etc. Reading this book makes me want all my books back. I loved them. But not as much as John Gilkey.

Mr. Gilkey had such an intense obsessive passion for books he HAD to have them. He found if you can't afford to buy them...just take them. What makes a man go through so much and take huge risks in order to steal as many rare and collectable books as he can?

If you are a book lover like me, you will understand the literary world, the crimes, the collecters, the booksellers, and the others who would gladly get rid of the livingroom furniture to fit in a few more bookshelves, you will love this book.

BTW I still have SOME of my books, ones my friends were sure I purged, packed in boxes hidden behind a couple large canvases in a closet in my art studio. Shhhhhhh.

What drives people to steal?

John Charles Gilkey, a con artist who’s made off with a fortune of stolen rare books from around the United States, is motivated not by profit, but by a deeply intense love of books and reading. This a truly unique true crime story follows his exploits and the network of booksellers who worked to track him down.

I’m not primarily a nonfiction reader, but this is one of the very best books that I read all year. The writing is snappy, wry and perfect for book lovers.

This is an interesting book on book collecting and stealing rare books. The thief of the story doesn't really "love books too much." Instead, he has a bizarre sense of entitlement and considers books a way to show that he belongs in the upper class society that he envies. Bartlett has done a nice job in analyzing her thief, and while she gives some glimpses into rare book collecting, I wish she would have given more of a sense of contemporary collectors and what drives them. The other part of the book that troubled me was how much she inserts herself into the narrative. The book takes on an uneasy balance between memoir and reporting, between a book like "A Gentle Madness" and "The Professor and the Madman." Given the subject and her access to living sources, I think the book would have been stronger if she had stayed more in the mode of a reporter. Still, it's a quick and enjoyable read, and fans of this brand of non-fiction should enjoy it.

If you collect books for the possibility that someday they may be of value, then this is a book you should read. If you think you own a collection of value, then this book will make you question why such a possession is important to you. Delight fully in a fast read about many such lovers of books and possibly gain insight into your own passion for collecting and ownership.

I have always loved books, and the author reminded me why. Most of us book lovers start as young geeks, curled away on a windowseat in our elderly aunt's big house with its enticing attic treasures, rummaging through cardboard boxes or old cedar chests; spending hours reading Dr Seuss or the Bobbsey Twins in a quiet corner where no one can find us. And then there's the Weekly Reader book order form...saving all my allowance to buy those wonderful bundles only to devour them long before the next order form was passed around by the teacher. I guess we are all just a little bit obsessed with books. And, really, don't we yearn to own them all?

A pleasure to read.

Allison Hoover Bartlett took the risk (as did her publisher) of spending significant time and effort writing about a man whom many would rather easily dismiss as a mere "klepto." Instead, John Gilkey, apparently, defined himself to himself and to others through the books he purloined from rare book shops. A mere shoplifter would not have used the Modern Library "Top 100" as his guide to stealing. Gilkey, however, appears to have let his love of books if not literature invent a world where the "have nots" are perfectly justified in taking from the "haves," in this case book dealers who had dedicated their lives to buying and selling valuable books and building important collections at very little profit.
Bartlett's honesty in approaching her subject, both bibliomania in general and Gilkey in particular, is refreshing. She enters the foray not as an expert but as a student of book collecting and perhaps more importantly human nature. Ken Sanders, her pilot through the early part of her investigation, figures largely in the story as initially a one man crusade to corral and incarcerate book thieves. Using an unwished for promotion to head of security for the ABAA, Sanders launches a network of electronic communication that allowed members of the organization to alert each other to Gilkey's movements. By the end of the book, Sanders has relinquished his post and slowly disappears from the stage while Bartlett follows Gilkey from one prison term to another, questioning her own involvement and objectivity in the story.

If you have ever felt an unreasonable or unhealthy appetite for books, you might enjoy this book as a participant, if not in the stealing perhaps in the fervor. Those who are not avid book collectors or bibliophiles but who have felt driven to collect something may still understand the almost psychotic drive to own and possess one thing, and then another, and another, without ever being able to say "I am satisfied, no more."

In this age of drug wars and blood lust, a book about a book thief might sound anticlimactic. My best advice is, buy the book, enjoy the story, and thank Allison for seeing it through.

John Gilkey... Is there any name that provokes more revulsion amongst those who sell rare books? I don't think so. What a fascinating character to explore in a book-length treatment. I'd read little bits and pieces about him before, being an enthusiast for books about books, but never had I imagined the depth of his utter lack of remorse and sense of entitlement.

The author herself doesn't collect books. She reads them, and loves them, but owning rare books isn't an interest of hers. That's a plus, allowing her to write this book without prejudice. She's able to write objectively, though with a clear idea of how wrong her subject's actions were. She writes:

"What makes someone cross the line from admirer to thief, and how fine is that line? I wanted to find out."

And find out she did, through the thorough investigation required in order to write this book. Not only did her interviews with Gilkey and his victims give her a lot of background on bibliomanes; she also interjects much information about the rare book world in the process - how it operates, how difficult it can be to find specific volumes, how prized these books truly are by legitimate collectors. And, it would seem, by borderline insane people.

I don't know if Gilkey is technically a sociopath, but there's definitely something wrong with a man who sees himself as entitled to steal rare books. His intention? Partly to make money by selling them, and partly to inspire the image he's a man of exquisite taste. His ideal is to have a home library with showy, expensive books:

"I like the feeling of having a book worth five or ten grand in my hands. And there's that sense of admiration you're gonna get from other people."

And later:

"It's a visual thing, the way they look, all lined up on the shelf."

It's his feeling of deserving to own books he can't afford that baffles me most. I can't imagine looking at, say, a Ferrari thinking "I deserve that!" I admire it, yes, but there's nothing that makes a person deserve an expensive, material object. Gilkey, on the other hand, feels angry and resentful he doesn't own rare and expensive books, and that others do. Never mind the bookseller is a legitimate businessperson who's gone to a great deal of trouble and expense compiling a collection. Never mind the rare book world is one in which dealers seldom make money. The fact Gilkey can't afford to own every rare book he covets drives him mad. Literally. And, for the dealers who've been swindled:

"Those books that we "may never see again for the rest of our lives" are more than just beautiful objects, and their physicality makes their contents seem more meaningful, somehow."

This breaks my book-loving heart.

As an almost librarian, semi book collector, book reviewer, former bookseller and former owner/operator of a book search service, it sends chills down my spine reading about the many ways in which Gilkey - rather ingeniously, I must add - swindled so many respected booksellers out of so many books. One thing you must say about him, he was/is sharp. That's the scary part. And he's still out there, having served what time the justice system could keep him.

He makes a fascinating, though disgusting, subject. Learning how he went about stealing - because he was so open with Bartlett in the course of their interviews - is irresistable in the same way as looking at an accident. It compells you, against your better instincts.

Despite the fact the author isn't smitten by book collecting by the end of this book, she definitely comes to sympathize with the love of obtaining books:

"I did not succumb to full-blown bibliomania, as I thought I might. I did, however, come to understand more fully the satisfaction of the pursuit. Hunting down treasures for a collection brings its own rewards, but, ultimately even more satisfying, building it as a way of creating a narrative."

And yes, the hunt is addictive. As one who's been a hunter and collector - though not of books anywhere near this rare - I know the thrill of finding a gem. But mostly, my books are utilitarian objects. I have a few somewhat rare items, and a nice collection of signed and inscribed books, but nothing a man like Gilkey would yearn to get his hands on. My books are mostly for reading, for writing in and highlighting, for enthusing about when I love them, and for donating to my library when I've had my fill. As for the impulse to own fine books? Sure, I'd love that. So would many bibliophiles, but we content ourselves with looking at them when we can, marvelling at their beauty. My idea of heaven would be the sort of library Gilkey would covet. But in the meantime, we true book lovers are happy just knowing there's a wealth of wonderful books out there, and hope someone's taking care of those which are rare. For us, that's as far as it goes. And that's enough.

This is a fascinating study of rare book theft from ancient times to the present, by a writer whose work has appeared in The New Yorker and other notable publications. It also is a grand detective mystery. Author Bartlett, cocerned how a rare book without traceable provenance has come into her possession, sets about to return it the the library she fears it may have been stolen from. Along the way, she comes up with a fascinating cast of charcaters; Ken Sanders, a rare book dealer who for many a year served as "security chair" for the primary rare book dealers association and is the detective hero of the book; and his personal nemesis, John Gilkey, an out-of-control OCD book thief who keeps Sanders and Bartlett on the run during many, often successful attempts to put Gilkey behind bars. We are introduced to the history of books and the reasons for their rarity; the frauds and forgeries, the "bibliomania" first described in Gustav Flaubert's first story; the love and feel of old books, Bartlett's conviction that E-books will not replace them all, and her careful distancing of herself lest she not become too involved or criminally culpable in this grand detective story, the true hero of which is Ken Sanders. If you've ever opened up a book printed 100 years before Gutenberg, and felt it's cotton-rag pages and smelled the perfume of seven centuries wafting through its pages, or maybe just have a first edition of Joseph Heller, Steinbeck, or Kerouac, don't miss this book. It made me shed a tear for all the valuable books I have given away in the course of my life, but made me realize that books, unlike diamonds, are not forever. Some of it was eerily reminisecent of Johnny Depp's character in the film "The Ninth Gate" (Depp is a real-life book collector too). One thing that becomes apparent in the course of this book is that all collections are not static and are destined for the ages. Very highly recommended.

Stealing books is more common than stealing art work. John is an obsessed reader who loves books so much that he steals them for his own personal pleasure. He does not sell the book to the highest bidder. Instead he adds them to his collection and files them away in his heart. Soon his obsession overcomes him in a possessive nature. He must have them all!

Ken is book dealer who also has a talent for putting together clues. He sets his sights on John and his precious book collection. Who will come out on top?

This is a must read for any book lover. It has a little bit of everything - mystery, suspense and it's wickedly funny. It almost makes me want to stop blogging and hunt down some rare books of my own. Luckily I have a wild imagination, so hunting down rare books actually means cracking this book open and reading it again.

Bartlett, apart from telling the fascinating story of Gilkey's criminal obsession and eventual capture, implies that within all book lovers, even all collectors, lurks the capacity for thievery. Bartlett recounts in the first chapter that her foray into the world of book theft began with a rare book she borrowed from a friend, which she hung onto for six years before returning. Was this a form of book thievery, she questions. Surprisingly, more than one book collector has admitted, upon finding himself alone with a truly rare book in his possession, the temporary impulse to just simply pocket it.

"Whenever I have asked Gilkey to describe the allure books have for him, he struggles, but ultimately settles on the aesthetic. 'It's a visual thing, the way they look, all lined up on the shelf.' He once suggested an almost sexual attraction to books. 'I don't know. Maybe it's because I'm a man, but I like to look.'
...

"Collectors talking about the books they have just acquired, or ones they haven't been able to get their hands on, or those snatched away by another collector, sound a lot like lotharios reminiscing about lovers."

"Book lust" however seems to be quite apart from "book love." Gilkey for instance steals in order to amass a collection to impress other people. During their first interview, Bartlett coaxes out of Gilkey a very revealing memory:

"'I used to watch those British Victorian movies, you know, like Sherlock Holmes. I loved those movies where a gentleman has an old library, wears a smoking jacket.'

"Exploring his motives seemed to please Gilkey, but there was nothing revelatory about it: he seemed comfortable in this knowledge of himself, that his fantasy of living an old-fashioned, cultured English life as depicted on the big screen is what compelled him to steal books.

"'Watching those movies,' he said, 'that was when I first thought about getting books.'"

As an adult thief, the books Gilkey chooses to steal are dictated by the list of 100 best books in the Modern Library. Although he is clearly knowledgeable and educated about books, Gilkey seems seized by a mania for collecting physical objects, rather than by the intangible delights books offer.

"Something told me that for Gilkey, no matter how much money he had, it would never be enough for all the books he craved. Sigmund Freud described collecting antiquities as "second only in intensity to nicotine addiction." He explained that the drive and pleasure in any kind of collecting comes from the sense of conquest."

While I love owning and being surrounded by books, I am immensely more satisfied with the act of reading, discovering what is written on the page, rather than the effects my ownership of them produces in others. Except for my most beloved and re-read books, I don't mind giving away those I've already read. And yet, do I not have another thing in common with Gilkey, the book thief, in that along with nice furniture and nicely framed art, I would think my house plain if it did not have shelves of hardcover spines to against the walls?

This book reveals a fascinating world about which many true book lovers probably know very little - the rare book trade can be a dirty business! Most surprising of all are the parallels I've discovered between my love for books and Gilkey's motivations. Bartlett weaves the stories of John Gilkey, bibliodick Ken Sanders (I would love to meet this guy- he is a hoot!), and other riveting stories of rare book theft in a way that reads like a crime novel.

Bartlett enters the story as well, as during the course of her years-long research, Gilkey somehow persuades her to accompany him to the scene of one of his crimes, a rare book store, and she and the book thief come face to face with one of his angry victims. To find out what happens - you just have to read this great book!

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much is an interesting little audiobook (only 5 CDs) that takes the reader into the world of bibliophiles, con men, and bibliomaniacs. Allison Hoover Bartlett, a journalist, has given us a very approachable read on John Gilkey, a con man who stole hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of rare and valuable books over the years. The author captures his sense of entitlement and his total lack of guilt over theft.

This book was narrated by Judith Brackley, who has an even, melodious voice. She brought the elements of incredulity, wonder, disgust, and sadness to this tale.

I don't normally read Non-Fiction books mostly because the writing style is so much different than a fiction book and is often times a slower read. This one was no different for me. With that said however I actually really liked this book even if It took me longer to get through.

I found all the rare book information fascinating and I'm not sure I'll ever look at a book the same again. I also learned a lot of interesting stuff, stuff I would have never given a second thought too before reading this book.

I found Gilkey to be an interesting sort of fellow, even though he is the thief in question. I, like Allison, found myself wondering what made him tick. What compelled him to perform all these acts of thievery just to obtain this book or that book. In the end I don't think I can really understand why he does what he does because I'm not him. Part of me feels sad for the obsession that must drive him to do these thing but at the same time I also hate him for his selfishness in thinking he deserves to have these books at whatever cost.

In the end I think Allison did a wonderful job on this book. I would recommend this to anyone who has a love for books, it really was an informative read.

An interesting peek into the book collecting world and how one man was able to successfully con book dealers all over the country out of their prized books. This book explains the ins and outs of book collecting and is full of anecdotes about other thieves as well as the main thief, John Gilkey. The ending is somewhat open-ended, but an intelligent reader can figure out how the story goes on...

The book begins with the author getting a "borrowed" copy of a German <<Krautterbuch>> published in 1630. The book was, in effect, stolen from a university library yet she keeps it and seems to have a struggle with that for the entire length of her book. Ostensibly the book is about a pathological book thief but it has a bit too much of the amateurish psychological intrusions. The author also seems to think that every ABAA member is an honest saint and every non-member is not to be trusted.

All this aside, it's an OK read if one is interested in book collecting, but it could be much shorter. The writing is not so good that one savors the read and I was glad when I finished it.

Good, quick read exposing the underside of the rare book world. A few glaring errors made me wonder if they were intentionally included to increase the eventual value of a first edition...? (See p. 102, where the phrase, "most of them do not cross the line between coveting and stealing" appears twice in three sentences. See also pp. 253-254, where the word "Renaissance" inexplicably appears twice in a row.) If you read Ann Rule's book, "The Stranger Beside Me," and were bothered by the extent to which the author inserted herself into the gripping story of Ted Bundy, you will find the same irritation with this book. (Personally, I don't like to be aware of the author of a book, but prefer the illusion that the book contains a world belonging only to me, the reader.) That said, there is much to learn and much to enjoy here. It is definitely worth reading.

Good, quick read exposing the underside of the rare book world. A few glaring errors made me wonder if they were intentionally included to increase the eventual value of a first edition...? (See p. 102, where the phrase, "most of them do not cross the line between coveting and stealing" appears twice in three sentences. See also pp. 253-254, where the word "Renaissance" inexplicably appears twice in a row.) If you read Ann Rule's book, "The Stranger Beside Me," and were bothered by the extent to which the author inserted herself into the gripping story of Ted Bundy, you will find the same irritation with this book. (Personally, I don't like to be aware of the author of a book, but prefer the illusion that the book contains a world belonging only to me, the reader.) That said, there is much to learn and much to enjoy here. It is definitely worth reading.

This book was probably a decent magazine article, and the opening -- a prison interview with a prolific book thief -- is catchy. But the author spends far too much time talking about what she doesn't understand about the main character than she does talking about she has figured out.

The man at the center of the plot does not love books, he loves items that signal erudition and wealth. He is interesting neither as a thief, an archetype or as an eccentric. He offers very little knowledge of the subject -- either books or the finer points of the art of thievery.

The book is short on endings, too. Not only do we not learn what happens to the main character, but we don't learn about what becomes of the stolen book in the author's possession.

This book will sell well to people who love books, and that's fine. I just hope there is more reporting, analysis and conclusions in the author's next book-length work. As it stands, this book is under-reported, unsatisfying, unenlightening and isn't worth reading, let alone stealing.

Although the marketing department did an excellent job of making this seem like a wonderful story, begging to be told, for bibliophiles, collectors and true crime lovers alike, alas, it is anything but. Where to begin?

The most glaring flaw in the book is Allison Hoover Bartlett's immense ego, causing her to intrusively go on and on in inane personal vignettes that do absolutely nothing to add to the story of Gilkey (the book theif) and Sanders ("self-appointed" bibliodick, even though he is, in fact, appointed security chair by the ABAA--so where the "self-appointed" comes in, I"m not sure.). Adding to this, she's not a reader. At all, despite her claims to be "obsesssed" with reading about book collecting as a result of researching the book. Her "obsession," however, is clearly as superficial as she is. Nor is she a rare book collector (many of whom don't read, true, but do appreciate the comfort of being surrounded by books at least).

Consequently, she bores the reader with her attempts to "understand" collectors by purchasing $40.00 copies of first editions, her personal books and what they mean to her (who cares? It's not about you, Allison), and makes herself seem like possibly the stupidest woman on Earth by constantly mentioning her struggle to "understand" Gilkey's motivation (not that she goes to a criminologist, psychologist, or anyone, really, who could help her with this). Topping it all off, she claims to be fascinated by Gilkey but at the same time worries about her friends seeing them together (though she has no problem exploiting him for this book).

Which brings us to Gilkey: not a mastermind at all, just a petty criminal who ran an unoriginal credit card racket when that was still possible with a warmped, skewed sense of entitlement. Bartlett keeps claiming he's interesting, but does very little to show why.

Sanders is probably the most interesting person in the book, although even he comes across as an aged hippie who likes to run a rare book shop and (justifiably) takes pride in efforts to stop theft in the industry.

Bartlett's morals are reprehensible, and when Sanders is justifiably angry at her for taking Gilkey to a bookstore he's robbed from before, the idiot woman is actually surprised at his anger! The fact that Gilkey is depriving small business owners of tens of thousands of dollars of inventory--that often can't be insured--doesn't seem to cross the author's mind but once. She's clearly a spoiled, naive woman who has no journalistic integrity. She claims she "thought" she could be objective but couldn't help getting drawn in to the story--but she could have, time and time again, and deliberately chose not to. When she finds out that a crime Gilkey confesses to her has run out its statute of limitations, all she has to say is, "I was in the clear."

All that being said, it's not completely terribly written; the parts where Bartlett manages to get over herself for a few paragraphs are cohesive--if dry--enough. All tha same, I'm not sure this is the master crime Bartlett thought it was. It probably should've stayed a magazine article.

This book tells the story of John Gilkey, who has stolen hundreds of rare books. The author herself becomes an interesting character as she finds it impossible to remain an external observer and becomes drawn into Gilkey's story herself. Her frequent moral dilemmas add another layer of meaning to this book. I wished there had been a bit more excitement, but that's probably a result of reading several books about art theft/forgery just before reading this book. Because those frequently involved dramatic undercover stories and high-stakes recoveries, I think my desire for more excitement is probably a result of that, rather than a fair criticism of this book on its own. Regardless, I enjoyed the book a great deal, just not enough to give it five stars.

Despite its title, "The Man Who Loved Books Too Much" is not a book about some especially avid reader who becomes so obsessed with reading that he allows it to take over the rest of his life. One only has to read the book's subtitle, "The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession," to learn that "the man" in question had a much different problem.

That John Gilkey is an obsessed book collector is beyond question. Gilkey's gnawing desire to own rare books, however, does not make him unique - or even uncommon. People collect a variety of objects for a variety of reasons and many of them do become obsessed with the chase and the displaying of their "trophies." What makes Gilkey unusual enough to have a book written about him is that he entirely satisfies his urge to own rare books by stealing them. Price is no object for a man who never intends to pay for the books he adds to his personal library.

"In The Man Who Loved Books Too Much," Allison Hoover Bartlett combines Gilkey's story with that of the man who became obsessed with stopping his thefts, rare book dealer Ken Sanders. Against all odds, she was able to befriend both men to such a degree that she was able to gain insight into what motivated each of them - one to steal books and the other to spend countless hours trying to stop him.

Bartlett spent a great deal of time getting to know John Gilkey. She visited him in jail when he was serving time for stealing expensive items from rare book dealers; she interviewed him extensively while he was a free man; and she visited his mother's home where she was allowed to see some of the books being kept for him there. However, as Ken Sanders, the man most responsible for putting Gilkey behind bars for extended periods of time reminded Bartlett, Gilkey is a born liar and what he says can never be trusted. Bartlett, though, despite Gilkey's lies and distortions, develops a sound theory as to why he is so driven to steal rare books despite the increasing regularity with which he is caught and sent to jail.

Book dealer/detective Ken Sanders seems to have been more of a challenge for Bartlett than Gilkey turned out to be. Sanders seemed reluctant to discuss in any detail what motivated him to dedicate so much of his life to Gilkey's capture and arrest. He preferred, instead, to let his actions speak for themselves. Sanders did open the door to the world of rare book dealers for Bartlett by placing her in contact with many of Gilkey's victims, and she combines the insights she gained from those interviews with her own research to recount the history of book lust and book theft from the earliest days to the present.

This is the perfect true crime book for book lovers, a morality play to remind even the most obsessed of us of the dangers of those obsessions.

Rated at: 4.5

Talk about an unrepentant thief. John Gilkey was banned, watched and questioned but still would not stop his obsessive habit of... acquisitions.Totally untrustworthy, Gilkey wouldn't stop, even when warned by police. He simply saw himself above the law, accessing credit cards, and plotting how to grab more... and more.

Allison Bartlett's work is terse writing, and a true detective work. Nice detailing makes it a can't-put-it-down read. Book thieves are a hardy bunch; I've encountered them on a very personal level, so I had an immediate hate for Gilkey that only got me madder as I followed his guileless demeanor. You'll want to join in the pursuit of this weasel, and you'll be obsessed enough to keep reading. Bravo Bartlett! You totally grabbed this reader and didn't let go.

Just finished this, and WOW!!

I titled my review "Stealing Prizes!!" That could be a subtitle for this wonderful work, although it was the actual book title that drew me to the book. I am a man who, some would say, loves books too much. Though I don't steal them, I do collect them (1st Edition signed hardcovers). I call them "my prizes."

This book arrived in my mailbox and from the moment I opened it, I could not stop reading it. I lost a good night's sleep thanks to the talents of author Allison Hoover Bartlett. I LITERALLY could not put this down. This is a detective story with a twist. We follow the trail of John Charles Gilkey who "loves books too much"-- if you get my drift. How he "collected" his treasures and how he was caught is just fascinating.

More than that, Bartlett examines the world of book collecting. This compendium of book history provides an additional dimension to what is a great true crime drama.

If you are a book lover, like me, prepare to be hypnotized, fascinated and ultimately grateful as you explore The Man Who Loved Books Too Much. Five stars, with no hesitation.

Allison Bartlett's tale of book thief John Gilkey and amateur detective Ken Sanders is quite engrossing, especially to a bibliophile reader. Bartlett sprinkles anecdotes not only of Gilkey's escapades, but of collectors who lived in other countries. She also dangles the question of where Gilkey's ill-gotten books are stored and even the psychological reason for his behavior. The mystery of Gilkey, himself, kept me turning pages late into the night.

For most of those reasons, I recommend the book, at least to collectors and book lovers.

I had problems, however, with Ms. Bartlett's conclusions (e.g., if Gilkey's motivation to collect rare books was to show them publicly, why did he keep them hidden?) and the major loose end (where were most of Gilkey's books stored?). I had a good understanding of Gilkey's persona and M.O., but no real affinity for the person who should have been the hero of the story, Ken Sanders. Despite the pages devoted to descriptions and dialogue with Sanders, I never felt that I truly got to know the fellow.

In the hands of another author (or a movie director), the characters and the suspense might have had more life, while the story could have been presented more concisely.

Finally, in my opinion, Ms. Bartlett's footnotes were mostly unnecessary.

A relatively short, pedestrian tale about a guy who liked to own rare books, so he commits credit card fraud to buy the books.

I ended up reading this book because someone recommended it to me since I liked "The Book Thief", but the two books are vastly different.

The subtitle aptly describes the premise, `The True Story of a Thief, a Detective and a World of Literary Obsession.' The main narrative is interesting and the book also functions as a memoir, as the author adds personal details related to books and collecting. She also includes several historical stories, mainly about book thieves and the obsession of collecting. I enjoyed her writing style, which is informative and conversational.

While I enjoyed this book, it didn't really stir emotion the way great books do. The story focuses mostly on the idiotic thief, who has delusions of grandeur, and the author's deep exploration of his motivation wasn't that meaningful or interesting to me. He's just a common thief who likes books. One of the bookstore owners thought the discussion of the thief's activities glorified him and I couldn't agree more. Looked at another way, the author is using this lunatic and is exploiting him for a good story and our benefit. As a result, the experience of reading this book is somewhat unsavory.

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much , by Allison Hoover Bartlett is a fun, refreshing and quick read. From the prologue to the afterword, Bartlett successfully keeps the reader intrigued with her story.

Bartlett, a journalist, apparently comes across a four hundred year old book. As with most avid readers and collectors, her curiosity leads her journalistic instincts to investigate this book, and with the help of a librarian finds out that it is a rare German book about plants, The Kreuterbuch. Further investigative research leads her to numerous references to rare books and book theft. The trail continues as she comes across the name of Ken Sanders, a detective set on capturing John Gilkey, one of the most well known successful book thieves. This book is the goose chase of Sanders and his many attempts to catch Gilkey, and how Bartlett befriends both persons, seeking to find the story of what it is exactly that drives a person to put it all on the line for an object as seemingly simple as a book.

What I found interesting in Bartlett's quest was her learning experience of covering this story as a journalist. The story itself caused her to reflect on her past reading experiences and brought out some very important truths. For instance, she speaks of her daughter retrieving a book after dropping it in a creek and how she could not bear to part with it writing "This book's body is inextricably linked to her experience reading it". Furthermore, she states that "A book is much more than a delivery vehicle for its contents...". Bartlett refers to books as "historical artifacts" and "repositories for memories". I would have to agree with her. People develop an emotional attachment or bond with the memories linked to the physicality of the book. It becomes sentimental, something of value (even if it is not a rare expensive collectible). It is what makes a person want to collect books, write stories, and is the drive and inspiration of book lovers. Her philosophical reflections throughout the book lend character to the author's honesty and credibility. At one point she mentally debates whether the technology of today will lose that which is captured in having the physical book in one's hands.

Other interesting factors that contribute to the brilliance of this book is Bartlett's reference to Freud and the psychological profile of a collector, and how the bookshelf becomes a reflection of who the person is as a person. It defines them. Bartlett continues to seek after her story, attempting to understand the difference in how both Sanders and Gilkey live their lives, but yet how their lives become intermingled and both showing characteristics of the same madness. One set on stealing books, the other set on capturing the thief, both risking it all in the process.

Bartlett achieves everything a true storyteller hopes to achieve. There is love, suspense, truth, passion, and inquisitiveness. This book is truly an enjoyable read.

I thought this sounded like an awesome book. It discusses the world of Bibliomania in general and specifically two men are deep into the industry (one who steals rare books and the man whose mission it was to find him). I love books and love learning about them and was excited to learn more about this industry. Overall I was not impressed with this book. The author jumps around between stories, different points of view, and her personal experiences kind of willy nilly. She also doesn't ever really give or get any intriguing insight into why people do these things; besides the conclusions that anyone could make with a couple minutes of thought.

I listened to this on audio book, which I would not recommend, the lady who read the story kind of mumbled and didn't differentiate between characters at all.

From what I gathered Bartlett started researching this topic as a newspaper article and it grew into a book. You can definitely tell. This would have been find as a newspaper feature but as a book it left a lot to be desired. Bartlett mainly focuses on John Gilkey, a reknown rare book thief, and Ken Sanders, a Bibliodick set on catching book thieves.

The most positive part of this book is the look into the world of rare book dealing. Some of this information is very interesting. Unfortunately for me that was the most positive part of this book.

Bartlett switches between Gilkey's stories and Sanders' stories without much organization or reason. Then she intersperses sections on how she feels she fits into the world of bibliomania and what her thoughts on the whole issue are. She spends quite a bit of time sympathizing with Gilkey and not nearly enough time discussing the impacts of his book theft. Towards the end of the book there is one lady whose story she tells briefly, that gives you a bit of an idea of what kind of impact stealing a $5000 book has on a rare book store, but that's it.

I failed to find Gilkey as intriguing as the author did. Gilkey was a plain old stupid criminal, the only thing that sets him apart are his calm attitude and his complete lack of morality. Although I guess a lot of criminals lack morality. Gilkey wasn't even clever and most of the time seemed to be just plain old lucky. I was hoping for a tale of clever deception and what I got was a tale of a criminal with some luck who was up against an inefficient system of law that has bigger things to worry about than stolen books.

Sanders was a more interesting person and he really seemed to make some changes in the overall system that helped catch book thieves.

The conclusions that Bartlett draws are less than awe-inspiring. Basically people collect things because they want people to admire them. I was disappointed that the whole build up in this book leaves us with that basic message. I know this is a non-fiction book but the closure of it was also pretty...well...lame. At the end of the book not much had changed from the beginning. As the reader we know a smidge more about rare book collecting and some might learn more about collecting as a type of disability. Personally I didn't learn anything I didn't already know about people who are crazy about collecting things.

Overall, this short book seemed like a much longer read than books twice its length. There is some interesting information; but it is bogged down by constant switches in who is telling what story, a lack of empathy for the people being stolen from, and only minimal insight into why people do the things they do. Basically I thought it was boring and a waste of time. I almost stopped listening to it on more than one occasion but kept telling myself "really it's not that long, you should be able to get through this...". I will not be picking up any of Bartlett's future works.

Although I read the entire book, I thought many times about dropping it. It starts out well enough with a forgotten library book that gets deposited with Bartlett (which surprisingly enough she never makes any effort to return). But once the story proper gets going, it becomes much less interesting and somewhat tedious. I think I'll donate this one to our library.

A delightful page-turner that chronicles a book thief and a rare book seller/amateur detective. Bartlett brings the reader into the world of rare books, opens up the world of John Gilkey, the book thief, and shares her love of books with the reader. My wife happened to see this book on the library shelf and thought of me because of the title. I began reading it and finished it within a few days. I highly recommend this book. Great job by Allison Hoover Bartlett.

The author has done a service to book dealers and libraries in helping identify the type of personality that might steal books and how they would accomplish the theft. She also showed, once again, how easily someone's identity can be stolen and used.

This book is compelling in that it is highly readable and it is actually an informative story that is well paced and an absolute attention grabber.

The author has managed to capture why I feel the way I do about books. I'm not a collector of rare books per se, but after reading this, I could certainly start down that road.

Her personal way of relaying tidbits about rare books and their collectors also translates well into her passion for finding out about Gilkey.

It is highly readable and truly falls into the category of "can't put it down". If you love books and aren't quite sure why, get this one. A worthy read.

While the title seemed intriguing, I found the book to be uninspired.

In my opinion, the thief, who is the inspiration for the book, lacked complexity and quirks that I would have expected in story about rare book theft. He was uninteresting to me nearly from the outset, and brought no drama to the story. He's just a guy who doesn't have that 'moral' gene.

The detective (bibliodick) Ken Sanders was an interesting character, and I'd definitely have written the book with Ken as the centerpiece, just following his life in counterculture, his lifelong love of books and finally his career as a rare book dealer.

I'm sorry to say it, but I wouldn't recommend this book.

Collectors are my business. My clients aren't book collectors, but the objects aren't important, it's the common thread of collecting and the level of interest/passion involved. In my work I have had customers who enjoyed their hobby but kept it in perspective. They didn't let it negatively affect the rest of their lives, but I've also had clients that consumed macaroni and cheese all month long so they could afford a particular treasure. One pair of clients (they collected together) phoned on the way to the airport leaving for their honeymoon. The gift money they'd just received would pay for a treasure they'd been eyeing. For some people collecting is their life, and the rarer the treasures they possess, in their mind, defines how important and special they are. As passion for the hobby grew so did the crimes at shows I'd attend. Theft became common and more and more security guards were hired to inspect packages and watch the entrances and exits.

This book is a compelling narrative of the world of collecting and the passionate individuals who reside in it. It illustrates how the line between desperately wanting something can evolve into theft because the need and distorted importance of the collection overshadows right and wrong. It is a true crime, cat and mouse game where the end result, as is often the case in the real world, doesn't neatly resolve everything.

Whether the reader is a collector or has never for a moment cared about searching for old treasures, the book does what good books should always do -- permit immersion into another's world. The book does this beautifully and makes this the perfect gift for a sick friend, an avid reader, a book lover or a collector.

Story about John who loves having rare books. He buys them using stolen credit card numbers. There is a guy tracking him. This is told mostly from the write's perspective. The reader has a good voice.

This book was a great read. Best when it covered the world of both the Utah rare book store owner and enthusiast Sanders (who kind of plays detective) and the world of the book thief Gilkey. In my opinion the author erred when she began following the thief, thereby upsetting and losing the trust (and that half of the story)of Sanders. The story suffers when Sanders is no longer involved.

"Why is collecting books one of today's most popular compulsions or addictions? The Man Who Loved Books Too Much is part mystery, part thriller and part science. Proving once again that criminals are really stupid - or are they?"

Good quick read. Did not really like the book. Question the author's behavior as she knowingly worked with a criminal but did not find it necessary to turn him in. All for the sake of her future book?

I stopped reading this book around page eighty for two reasons. I kept waiting for just one of the endorsements on the back cover to ring true (Compelling read... Skillfully composed... Galloping foray... Tautly written, wry, thoroughly compelling...) and felt that one of them should have evidenced itself before or by page eighty. None did. I read at night before I drop off to sleep and am usually eager to rejoin whatever book I am reading before nodding off. That never happened with this book. It was a chore to pick it up so it's going to Goodwill.

Being an avid reader and book collector I picked this up with some interest, but found myself disappointed on many levels. The two main characters aren't particularly intersting (the thief is a non-entity with an overgrown sense of entitlement and no thoughts of other human beings), the crimes and the tracking down of the thief aren't interesting at all, and the author conducts herself with a sense of fear and trepidation as if she were following murderous druglords as opposed to a loser who uses stolen credit card numbers to steal first editions. I grew tired of everybody involved long before the end.