I don't have THAT many books I'm emotionally attached to, so it was relatively easy to "Kondo" about 225 of them last year. My "keepers" fall under spirituality, permaculture/simple living/gardening, and some key self-help books (the ones that literally changed my life). Also, I have a small collection of autographed books that I got from the actual people themselves--I have T. Boone Pickens book that he autographed for DH and I when we met him in rather unusual circumstances in the 80s; I met Joyce Carol Oates in the 80s and had her sign American Appetites. I also had the opportunity to meet some authors at book-signings: Michael Pollen, John Lithgow, Deepak Chopra.
One of my favorite autographed books came from Duane Elgin, the author of Voluntary Simplicity. At one point he was huge in the VS movement, if you guys recall. So one day I noticed he was giving a talk in NYC at this place where they do new-age type lectures and workshops. I was so psyched!!! I got out of work early, but of course the train was delayed and I was really upset because I figured that would mean I'd have to stand at the back of the room and I'd barely be able to see him.
So I signed in and they directed me upstairs and when I opened the door, I was shocked. There was Duane, in a circle of about six other people. He waved me over, and said, "Sit down!" And in the conversation that followed it was apparent that no one really knew his stature in the VS movement. I had brought my second-hand copy of Voluntary Simplicity with me, and at the end I asked him to sign it, and I made it a point to mention what a pioneer he was in the movement, so that these young NYC whippersnappers would know to whom they had been speaking.
I'll never give THAT book away.