While going through my Dropbox, I came across a number of programming ebooks that I have yet to start reading. Shocking I know. I mean, who buys books and then doesn't read them?

At the time I thought the book was a necessary purchase but after buying it, I simply forgot that it was there. Over the months it seems I have built up quite a collection of unread programming ebooks.

I never had this problem with a book. You buy it, you read it. You read it because the book takes up physical space in your surroundings and therefore you are continually reminded that the book is there to be read. Most of the time I would place my book beside my bed. It's the one time of the day where I can get a quiet half hour to read. Every night the book is there as a reminder that the book needs to be read.

Wat about ebooks though? They're there somewhere in your room, you just have to look for them. And that's my problem with them. Out of sight, out of mind. There's no reminder in my space that I have a book to read. I have a Kindle yes, but there is at least eight books on there that I haven't read, but by looking at my Kindle from across the room, I just can't know that there is eight books on it that I have yet to read.

So what's the answer? Being accountable for the books you read and publish your reading list for others to see? Perhaps. Maybe people can give you a poke when you haven't updated the reading list for a while?

It's worth a try. I'll do anything to try and get my money's worth from my unread programming books.