How to Form a Library, 2nd ed

An earnest, compact handbook for anyone dreaming of a personal library, this volume gathers the essentials that scholars and casual readers alike struggle to recall. The author walks a careful line between broad advice and specific recommendations, offering tidy classifications, practical tips on acquisition, and notes on the most useful works across literature, science, and the arts. Readers will appreciate the clear, catalogue‑style listings that serve as a ready reference when memory fails.

In its introduction the writer surveys earlier attempts—from Dibdin’s early 19th‑century companion to Goodhugh’s gentlemen’s manual—pointing out both their charms and their dated gaps. By acknowledging these predecessors, the guide positions itself as a modern, concise companion for building a well‑rounded collection without overwhelming the reader. The book is also a quiet tribute to the late bibliographer Henry Bradshaw, whose memory lends a scholarly gravitas to the project.