In Episode 103 of the Good Scribes Only Podcast, hosts Daniel Breyer and Jeremy Streich dive into a fascinating discussion about books, identity, and the way we design our living spaces. What do our bookshelves, furniture, and decorations say about us—and how much of it is for ourselves versus the signals we send to others?
Through personal stories, self-reflection, and a bit of humor, they explore how our possessions shape (or project) our identities, whether physical books serve as trophies, and why the way we present ourselves can feel both authentic and performative at the same time.
The episode kicks off with Jeremy discussing his new home and the choices he’s making to reflect his interests. His first priority? A floor-to-ceiling bookshelf, filled with books and plants.
“If I could put a dog there, too, that would pretty much sum me up.”
While the bookshelf is partly a practical choice, Daniel presses him on whether it’s also a form of signaling—subconsciously or not.
“Are you designing it for yourself, or are you designing it for people who come over?”
Jeremy acknowledges that while he enjoys the idea of books as a personal and aesthetic statement, there’s also an unavoidable element of projection. He compares it to someone placing a bar cart in their home—not necessarily because they drink every night, but because it conveys a certain image.
The conversation expands beyond bookshelves to explore how people craft identities through their possessions.
“We put out signals all the time—sometimes for others, sometimes for ourselves. The question is, do those signals actually match who we are?”
Jeremy and Daniel discuss a phenomenon familiar to many book lovers: buying physical copies of books they’ve already read, simply to own them.
“I listen to a book on audio or read it on Kindle, and if it really impacts me, I buy the hardcover,” Jeremy says. “It’s like a trophy.”
This leads to a deeper conversation about whether bookshelves serve as personal archives or public statements. Are they for us, or for the image we want to project?
Daniel shares a concept from Umberto Eco—the idea of an anti-library, a collection of unread books that represent knowledge we have yet to explore.
“Maybe the most honest bookshelf isn’t the one filled with books we’ve already read, but the one that shows what we still want to learn.”
The episode takes a philosophical turn as the hosts reflect on why we feel the need to curate identities—whether through books, home design, or even weddings.
Daniel shares his personal struggle with wedding planning, overanalyzing every detail as a statement about status, relationships, and societal expectations.
“I get caught up in what every decision ‘means.’ Who sits where? Who’s in the wedding party? What does this all signal? It’s exhausting.”
Jeremy reassures him with a simple truth:
“At the end of the day, none of this matters as much as we think it does.”
This episode of Good Scribes Only isn’t just about bookshelves or home décor—it’s about the human need to shape, project, and sometimes overthink our identities. Whether through books, whiskey collections, or major life events, we constantly navigate the space between authenticity and perception.
As Jeremy puts it:
“We all want to be seen a certain way. The trick is figuring out whether that image actually reflects who we are.”
For more reflections on books, identity, and the way we present ourselves to the world, tune in to Episode 103 of the Good Scribes Only Podcast.
