Reading nicholas basbanes lengthy and meandering work a gentle madness bibliophiles bibliomanes and the eternal passion for books is much like one of the activities the book celebrates browsing slowly through a large packed used book store or a large library and becoming both enthused and overwhelmed basbanes celebrates books reading and collecting and their eternal appeal first . A gentle madness bibliophiles bibliomanes and the eternal passion for books written by nicholas a basbanes 1999 edition publisher holt paperbacks paperback . A gentle madness bibliophiles bibliomanes and the eternal passion for books written by nicholas a basbanes 2012 edition publisher fine books press paperback books amazonca. A gentle madness bibliophiles bibliomanes and the eternal passion for books books amazonca. When it was first published a gentle madness astounded and delighted readers with stories about the lengths of passion expense and more that collectors will go in pursuit of the book