You know those perfectly curated bookshelves you see in magazines, on TV, or even on Zoom calls that just scream 'sophistication' and 'intellect'? The ones that look like they were painstakingly assembled by a literary scholar? Well, often, they weren't. They might just be the work of a service called 'Books by the Foot.'
It sounds almost too simple, doesn't it? Buying books by the linear foot. But it's a surprisingly thriving business, especially in places like Washington D.C., where appearing well-read can be as important as actually being well-read. This isn't about finding your next beach read; it's about crafting an aesthetic, a statement. Think of it as interior design, but with a literary twist.
At its core, Books by the Foot, a venture from the bookseller Wonder Book, takes used books, overstock, or even books that have fallen out of favor with collectors, and repurposes them. Chuck Roberts, the owner, describes it as giving these books a second life, saving them from 'oblivion.' And they have a massive inventory – we're talking millions of books – to draw from.
What's fascinating is the sheer variety of ways people want their books. Need a foot of vintage leather-bound books with a distressed look for that old-world charm? They've got it. How about a foot of modern hardbacks in a specific color palette, like 'Fade to Black' or 'Rainbow Ombre,' to match a contemporary space? Absolutely. They even cater to specific vibes, offering collections like 'Coffee Table Antique Vintage' or 'Midcentury Modern.'
It's not just for individuals, either. Fortune 500 companies, hotels, offices, and even film sets have utilized their services. And then came the pandemic. Suddenly, the demand for the perfect Zoom backdrop surged. People working from home wanted their virtual presence to convey gravitas, and a well-stocked bookshelf became the ultimate accessory. Books by the Foot found itself adapting, curating shelves for the home office, ensuring that even in a virtual world, the impression of erudition could be maintained.
How do they do it? Well, the process is surprisingly meticulous. If a client requests, say, 12 feet of books with a progressive political tilt, a staffer will head to the relevant section – in this case, a box humorously labeled 'Politically Incorrect' – and select around 120 books. These aren't just thrown onto a shelf; they're 'staged,' arranged with the care of a florist, checked, and then sent off to their final destination. Sometimes, the clients are so high-profile that they use code names, adding a layer of intrigue to the whole operation.
It’s a clever solution to a modern problem: how to project a certain image in an increasingly visual world. And in doing so, Books by the Foot breathes new life into countless books that might otherwise have been discarded. It’s a win-win, really. A beautiful shelf for the client, and a continued existence for the books.
