Manfred Papst's futile attempts to shed literary ballast

In a personal essay for NZZ am Sonntag, Swiss writer Manfred Papst reflects on his ongoing struggle to reduce his book collection, a metaphor for his broader efforts to simplify his life. Despite regularly donating books to public bookcases, he finds himself acquiring new ones, often from his favorite Zurich antiquarian bookstore Klio, which is closing on August 29 after 37 years due to a terminated lease. Papst describes the emotional pull of the books in the store, including a set of works by 19th-century German author Georg Weerth, whose satirical writings he admires. He humorously compares his situation to the fairy tale character Hans in Luck, who trades away his possessions only to end up with nothing, feeling liberated. Papst's essay, titled "Wie ich vergeblich versuche, Ballast abzuwerfen" (How I vainly try to shed ballast), captures the paradox of decluttering: the more he gives away, the more he brings home. The piece is a reflection on attachment, memory, and the materiality of books, set against the backdrop of a beloved local institution's closure.