What We Keep: 150 People Share the One Object that Brings Them Joy, Magic, and Meaning

by Bill Shapiro

Everyone has that one object that holds deep meaning -- some relic that speaks to their past, that carries a remarkable story. What We Keep is a collection of interviews with people about the single object in their life that has the most emotional significance , those objects we often don't talk about but that make us who we are.

Why, for instance, does author Cheryl Strayed keep a particular pincushion in her bedroom? And how did a notebook sketch change the life of comedian Hasan Minhaj ?

The objects and stories revealed in this collection belong to people from all walks of life -- from business leaders like Mark Cuban and Melinda Gates to celebrated authors like Ta-Nehisi Coates and James Patterson , from astronauts to autoworkers , from former counterfeiters to cloistered nuns . Each story appears in the form of an "as told to" along with a photo of the object, allowing readers to see the nicks and scuffs on a locket, a playing card, a pocket knife -- and providing an intriguing glimpse into the small, emotional moments that make 150 fascinating people tick.

At a time when the dueling trends of decluttering and over-consumption seem to offer no middle ground, What We Keep provides a fresh perspective on both, and leads us to consider our own objects in a new light -- not only what we truly value but why.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Adult, Essays, History, Short Stories, Art

208 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2018

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is short, sweet, and deeply heartfelt. I laughed and cried several times; it perfectly illustrates how much meaning an object can have in someone’s life. I highly recommend it if you want your heart strings tugged.

P.S. My object would be the first edition Harry Potter books I own.

[Michaela Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect “coffee table book,” because every page is interesting. Read cover to cover.

[Moonkiszt · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are books one reads slowly, dipping in and out over a season (however we define that), and What We Keep: 150 People Share the One Object that Brings Them Joy, Magic, and Meaning, by Bill Shapiro and Naomi Wax is one of those for this reader.

It is not at all an overlong read, it is a 'smorgasbook' in that one can pick and choose, but in the case of this one, I read every entry, the acknowledgements, and the photo credits. Knowns and Unknowns contributed to this project of the authors. I keep thinking about it, about their chosen objects, and their reasons why. Heartfelt, compelling and often adorable.

Snippets from 3 of the 150 objects which are introduced and explained by the object owners:

“We form these attachments to objects and they become totems of our past.” ~ Anthony Wintraub

“These things come from people who can no longer speak.” ~ Mike Monterastelli

“Somehow, I ended up with the glass – which would have meant the world to me at the time. I love the idea that something I’d have fought and died for at one point in my life now just holds my Diet Coke.” ~ Sarah, between jobs, Portland, ME (a batgirl glass)
[This Reader – I think I had one in my school days!]

If you are looking for something different, thought-provoking, to take your mind off whatever. . . I highly recommend!

[Mary Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a fantastic idea for a book, and the presentation throughout was excellent. But....

Here I go clutching my pearls, but there were a couple of things that dampened my enthusiasm for What We Keep. First, the liberal use of the f-bomb. This was a collection of individual, personal stories, but it's a shame that the publisher didn't require a certain standard of decorum. It saddens me to see how pervasive public cussing has become in certain segments of our society.

Second, while I don't think this book was intended to be political, the stories chosen by the editors show a decided liberal bent. That's their choice, obviously, but I think there are some potential readers who may like to have that information going in. There are at least three stories that gush over liberal political leaders (not one mentioning a conservative); several stories that are about, or touch on, being LGB...; two that unabashedly glorify the subjects' connections with illegal activity, etc. I was disappointed that a really nice idea for a book everyone could potentially enjoy was so left-leaning. (Please don't send nasty comments - if you disagree, fine. Write your own review.)

[Sarah B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of those books I picked up from one of my local libraries at random. It's not often I go looking in the nonfiction area but I did and I came across this. And I had thought it looked interesting.

And it is.

Reading this in some ways is like hearing actual stories about random items you might come across in a thrift shop. I think that is the best way to describe it. And because there is such a huge variety of items and tales you are bound to find many that do indeed interest you. Because I did indeed find some more interesting than others. But each story is short. Often just a few paragraphs. Sometimes there are 3 stories on a page.

Each page tells a personal story of someone's most prized possession. And it's actually the stories themselves that make this book so unique and fun to read. I actually read this cover to cover in one sitting. And the items range so widely! Photographs, unique vintage items, a paddle, a harmonica, a tiny house, jewelry, clothing and coins, hats, the list is so long! But each of these items is very special to that person and it is the thing they would most definitely rescue if some disaster was coming. One man dreamed about his special hat all the years he had been unjustly locked away in prison because DNA later proved he was innocent. And a few people in here had been to jail... Even more had traveled wide and far, to exotic places. And I did have the feeling (and realization) while reading this that I cannot really relate to these people. They seem to live very different lives. Traveling to foreign countries. A huge number of them do that actually.

One odd thing I did notice is that the bright yellow van on the cover is not actually in the book? Or I didn't see it anyway... So then why is it on the cover?

Many of these tales do stick in my mind but I guess the one that hits me the most is the one about the ancient coin. The coin is over 2,300 years old and the person bought it for only $30! That I find just astounding! I would have thought something so incredibly old would be much more expensive! I mean some modern antiques cost more than that. Or even books from the 1940s and 1950s! So how can you get a coin that old for such a cheap price?

I sort of also got the idea that most of these people in here are supposed to be famous in some way? But I have no idea who they are. Well one is a famous author - James Patterson - but otherwise I am clueless! But I still enjoyed reading all of these stories.

And it's not the money value that makes these items so important to the individual. Its what the item represents. Often it's a link to their past or their families. Sometimes it represents other things, like freedom or success. Or something they just truly loved and picked up as a kid; something connected to their passions and possibly a future career... Many of these items are over a hundred years old and have passed down through the family.

Do you own anything over a hundred years old? The book says most people don't. Did you ever stop and think what is your most precious item? The answer may surprise you!

This was a quick, fun and entertaining read for me. But it is not something I would actually buy for myself so that is why I rate it 4 stars.

[Kevin Hodgson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of these stories will touch your heart. All of them will make you think, and wonder: what’s my object?

[Heather Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute book - like Humans & PostSecret. Some stories will make you cry, some laugh, some proud, but all are unique stories. It is a quick read, but took me a while only because it was my "work" book that I read in spurts between customers and tasks.

[Kristina · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

It really was fascinating to see what objects hold importance in people’s lives. For most people, the memories associated with family empower ordinary items, creating talismans that link generations. I know that famous names are more likely to help sell books, but I would have preferred the inclusion of more “have-nots” in this collection. Everyone’s stories are priceless, not only venture capitalists, CEOs, and entrepreneurs. This book remains excellent, however, and would be an interesting conversation starter for book clubs or group gatherings. Highly recommended.

[Windsor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. A great concept that's beautifully executed: The writers asked lots of really interesting people about the single object that means the most to them. Each story is about a page long and is accompanied by a photo of the object, with all its scratches and signs of wear. (By the way, the hardcover is waaaaay better the ebook; don't bother with the ebook.)

The writers interviewed well-known people (like Cheryl Strayed, Amanda Palmer, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Melinda Gates, the head of the Library of Congress) and "regular folks" (a guy who was wrongly imprisoned for 30 years, a nun, a woman who runs a coffee shop in a small town). Each story, no matter who it's from, gives us a window into the person's heart -- who was important to her, what does she believe in, what brings her joy. The stories are intimate, confessional, and so....human.

I'll be giving a few "What We Keeps" for Christmas because, ultimately, the book is about connection, to things, yes, but really to people.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a few passages from this book each day, and I love the diversity of stories. Some made me cry, some were silly or strange, yet each one was inspiring.

[Laura Hoffman Brauman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a perfect book to dip in and out of. Shapiro and Wax collected 150 stories from people about the one object that they would keep. Each of the stories reflect the deeper meaning that objects hold for us, whether it is because they serve as a reminder of an event, an accomplishment, or a treasured memory of the person that gave it to us. This would be a good read to spark discussion about what we value and why.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and touching. A small few of the vignettes were throw-aways (ie, not enough information to understand the story fully or make a good connection), but most of them are really good. Some are downright fascinating. A very fun idea that lead to a very nice book.

[Beth Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read this in my book group and I was blown away. There’s sooo much emotion in these little stories – perseverance, faith, joy, love, and this sense of remembering what’s really important in our lives. Even though, as usual, a couple people in the group didn't finish the book, it led my group to talk about our own most treasured objects and what they mean to us. It might have been the most “real” discussion we’ve ever had. (A suggestion: one person in my book group got the kindle version, but for a book like this you really want the hard copy. The layout is better and the book is really beautiful.) So interesting to see what both famous and non-famous people find sacred in possessions. I feel like I'll refer back to the book again and again.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Humans of New York for objects and the premise is absolutely fascinating and gives you pause and reflections for those objects that you have kept in your life... or not... or wished you had and the memories they evoke. It's beautiful and I would have stood to read more about the psychological aspects of the things we keep in addition to more "every day" people and their objects. There were definitely famous people and people with "interesting" backgrounds that lead them to have interesting objects to tell stories about but on the same token, they're all interesting and why I find this book endlessly fascinating.

I've now following the hashtag on Instagram and want MORE stories about this concept. Love love love.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book about possessions that hold strong meanings in people's lives. Every page or two is devoted to the person and their object, and it covers all walks of life, from Melinda Gates and her Apple III computer, to a man living homeless and his stone. The photographs were nice, and I enjoyed the brief glimpse into other people's lives.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, sweet, thought-provoking in a very sentimental way.

[Devin Redmond · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend in NYC recently had a fire in her building. She wrote in a FB post that she was faced with a “What do I grab?” situation in the middle of the night. (For the record, she grabbed her family, including her dogs, and her laptop.)
Another friend has spent a chunk of her adulthood going through her grandparent’s and parents’ belongings, moving it all many times and having to decide what to keep, recycle, sell, throw away.
I have an aversion to stuff. I am overwhelmed with the resources and human lives that go into making things that we buy and then throw away without thinking about it. And I bet, if we ultimately asked ourselves, “What would I keep?” our lists might not be very long.
I LOVED this book, which is more like a small coffee table decoration. I didn’t feel like the answers were sappy, they were honest. I think if we all sat down and talked about the stories behind what we’d keep it’d be a cathartic experience.
My favorites were pages 71, 94, 107, 120, and 152.
I also really liked the story a man shared about a night in Vietnam, when he and two other soldiers were to set up a listening post to count the North Vietnamese passing by so they could set up a mortar strike. A group of 21 North Vietnamese are about 15 yards away and the narrator can’t call in a mortar strike because he’d be killed as well. The group of Vietnamese soldiers has a transistor radio they’re playing and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young comes on. Then Eric Burdon and the Animals and “House of the Rising Sun. The Vietnamese are all singing along in English. Quietly, the American, starts singing the same song but in Vietnamese. Then he said to them, also in their language, “Tonight is a good night for rock ‘n’ roll and not for death.” The next morning his report says, “I didn’t see anyone.” He saved a bullet from that night, “It reminds me of all the people I lost in Vietnam, the majority of my platoon, and of the people I killed, and of human beings in all of their frailty and magnificence and brutality.”

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

The commonalities among these stories fascinated me because each one is so unique and intensely personal. I enjoyed seeing our deep desires as humans explored through the lens of our “stuff.” Such an unconventional and interesting read. I agree with the reviewer who encouraged reading a physical vs. electronic copy, as the photography and layout of the book enhance the reading experience.

[Hebah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun collection. They're intriguing glimpses into other people's lives through a wide range of possessions. Now I kind of want to ask everyone I know what their most meaningful, prized possession is.

[Laura VanZant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the content but had a lot of issues with the formatting, particularly font size and style

[Brave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and sweet little coffee table-ish book. Absolutely fascinated me.

[Sherilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun premise... The author crossed the country asking random people to tell of their greatest treasure. It was really interesting. Everything from a 100-year old iron skillet to a bullet that was a reminder of a night in Cambodia during the Vietnam war, these articles of sentimentality were fascinating. Interesting read.

[Tiffani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness!! Spent an entire rainy afternoon devouring this one— a coffee table style book that asks 150 people— some famous, some not, some anonymous, to talk about the one item they’ve kept that brings them joy and meaning. Absolute fascinating and made me think of my objects that have lasted through years of my life and what they mean to me…

[Robin Carlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting stories about what people hold onto and objects that are meaningful or bring joy. Great conversation starter at your next dinner party.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m going to give this one four stars. It’s really hard because it depends so much on what mood the reader (that would be me) is in.

When I first read the book I was so moved; it was so deep and meaningful that I wanted to savor it. So I decided to set it aside and read it a little bit at a time. I could see that you could really zero in on what was important to a person if you understood their most prized possession. Listening to these stories was hearing people describe their souls.

The next time I picked it up I must’ve been in a bad mood because every single story seemed to be about something someone had kept just so they could show it to people and brag about themselves. I put the book down again.

The last time I picked it up to finish it, I enjoyed it. Not as much as the inspiration I got the first time, but still I enjoyed it very much.

It is interesting to listen to the stories and read between the lines. Some people have kept objects because of what they meant to them. And other people have kept objects apparently because of what they thought they should be reminded of. It’s interesting. And I wonder if I’d been approached for the book what object I would list. I have so many treasures that represent important memories. I tend to keep objects as reminders of people.

[Lili Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great concept and stories! Loved having my class complete this exercise as well :)

[Melly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish the stories were longer, and I wish the photos came before them rather than after, but still, I liked it quite a bit. Beautiful photos, and interesting stories about all kinds of (American--not a drawback, just an observation) people having all kinds of experiences.

[C]

Saw in Oct 2018 Sunset mag

[Martine Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this collection of tiny essays and photos of what people choose to hold on to and why.

[Tay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool concept! Each page features an item and the (usually) sentimental reason the person has kept it throughout their life. Includes some celebrities, professionals, and others.