Books aren't only a source (read treasure trove) of knowledge, they're also a magnificent way to express oneself to others in a nonverbal way; A balanced and structured bookshelf can tell much about one's interests and general-knowledge without saying a word.
It's a small- but important realization to me, and maybe it'll spark something in others, too.
Who do you think "higher" of at first glance:
Someone with a diverse and structured bookshelf, or:
Someone with a high-end gaming and movie set-up?