[lb1lf]

This. I try to maintain a TBR (to be read) shelf or two at home, comprising a few dozen titles, both fiction and prose.

The reasoning is that I'd rather have a choice when picking up the next book, rather than just having to read the last one I bought; as you say, you never know where reading will take you next. Often, reading a book on a subject makes me want to check out a few of the works referenced, and before you know it, the TBR pile has increased in size...