'Shelfies,' not selfies, provide personal insight and encourage bookshelf therapy

By David G. Allan, CNN

Updated 4:30 AM ET, Wed January 26, 2022

Over the last two decades, I have sketched the spine of every book I've read (with the exception of many short children's books), making a personal bibliography of this virtual bookshelf. Most of these books I no longer possess, including the ones above, which span the period from teaching in Phoenix to writing a travel book in Dublin, Ireland.
Photos: A 20-year virtual bookshelf
The 20 year bookshelf – Over the last two decades, I have sketched the spine of every book I've read (with the exception of many short children's books), making a personal bibliography of this virtual bookshelf. Most of these books I no longer possess, including the ones above, which span the period from teaching in Phoenix to writing a travel book in Dublin, Ireland.
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1 of 14
Dublin to San Francisco.
Photos: A 20-year virtual bookshelf
Dublin to San Francisco.
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2 of 14
San Francisco to Bangkok, Thailand.
Photos: A 20-year virtual bookshelf
San Francisco to Bangkok, Thailand.
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3 of 14
Bangkok, around the world for a year, and settling in New York.
Photos: A 20-year virtual bookshelf
Bangkok, around the world for a year, and settling in New York.
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4 of 14
Considering graduate school for comparative religion.
Photos: A 20-year virtual bookshelf
Considering graduate school for comparative religion.
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5 of 14
Trying to break into scripted television writing and then ending up at The New York Times.
Photos: A 20-year virtual bookshelf
Trying to break into scripted television writing and then ending up at The New York Times.
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6 of 14
Having a baby, writing travel stories.
Photos: A 20-year virtual bookshelf
Having a baby, writing travel stories.
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7 of 14
Leaving the Times for the BBC.
Photos: A 20-year virtual bookshelf
Leaving the Times for the BBC.
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8 of 14
I like maps.