Dan Pelzer, who died on July 1, 2025, at the age of 92, left behind more than just memories—he left a 109-page, handwritten list documenting the books he read over the course of his life. The tally is astonishing: at least 3,599 titles meticulously logged, beginning in 1962, when he first discovered a love of reading while volunteering in a small library in Nepal. His family estimates the true total exceeds 5,000 books.
Pelzer’s record-keeping was as devoted as his reading habits. Each entry included the book’s title, author, and the date he finished reading it. His log reads like a sweeping tour through the literary canon, featuring classics such as Anna Karenina, Ulysses, and David Copperfield, alongside contemporary works and nonfiction. The reading log remained a constant in his life, a quiet act of reflection and curiosity that spanned more than six decades.
His family has digitized the collection, making it available online so others can witness the breadth and depth of his literary journey. The archive is a testament not only to one man’s intellectual appetite but to the enduring power of books to accompany a person through the seasons of life. Pelzer may be gone, but his reading life endures as a legacy—page by page, title by title.
