Unfortunately I have to consider myself an addict. I do read (and listen) a lot, but I seem to "collect" more than I'll ever be able to get to. And I keep on adding to the collection. From Libby mostly, I tend to add (permanently by many means) just about anything I see recommended in reviews, on Reddit, etc.
I'm 78. I'll ever get to even 2% of them 😠 I'm sick in the head 🤣
I have a tier system. Tier one is comprised of authors who's books I will just immediately buy the minute they're published solely based on the fact I love everything they do. I also (shamefully) immediately pause whatever I'm reading to read the new works by this tier of authors.
Tier two is authors I've heard good things about or I've been recommended a spefici title by someone I trust. I might not buy these books immediately but it's usually pretty soon. Within a month usually.
Tier three is books I've heard vaguely good things about from a lot of people. These go on my 'will buy at some point' list. These books may or may not get bumped up to tier two if I hear a recommendation by someone I trust.
Tier four is a list of books that I like the look of. There's a decent chance they might never get bought. This is the equivalent of my personal 'slush' pile. If my TBR pile is getting low (ha!) then I might dip into this list and buy one.
but yes, I'll read books on my computer and then get a physical copy if I like it. I tell myself I get them so I can re-read them or lend them out, but I never do lol.
I pirate most books, but if I really like them then I'll buy a physical copy to support the author, usually a nice hardcover. I got the Brandon Sanderson secret projects Kickstarter with hardcovers and epub which was the first time in a while that I've bought books before reading them... But he's my favorite author, and I've loved all three so far so it's been worth it
I kind of have the opposite problem. I feel no joy in reading anymore and struggle to find books for leisure which I find in any way interesting. (currently everything I read is textbooks, reference manuals, and some other books about things I want to learn or think I should learn)
I used to hoard and display my books, thinking they represented me as a person. About 8 years ago I made a hard decision that I didn't like my walls lined with shelves and I donated all of them except for a few that I couldn't part with. Now almost everything I read is on an e-reader and my house only has a couple of occasional physical books out. I'm glad that I did it, since I prefer my new decor.
‘Whatever works’ is always the best rule. I kind of started doing it because I hated going to peoples houses, glancing at every single book in their bookshelves - as every sane person does - asking about a title and hearing ‘oh, I haven’t read that one’.