A lifetime of books handwritten across 109 pages

After a lifetime devoted to books, 92-year-old Dan Pelzer left behind more than memories: he left a legacy of reading. Pelzer meticulously recorded every book he read since 1962—over 5,000 titles handwritten across 109 pages—a quiet ritual he kept for more than six decades.

In a tribute to this lifelong habit, the Columbus Metropolitan Library has made Pelzer’s list available to the public in multiple forms: a 98-page PDF arranged alphabetically, a searchable online database of 2,091 titles and growing, and a physical display at the Whitehall Branch—a branch Pelzer visited often—appropriately titled “What Dan Read.”

His reading journey began during his Peace Corps service in Nepal, where he first found solace and adventure in a small library. From Cold War thrillers to courtroom dramas and literary fiction, his tastes spanned a broad spectrum. Friends and family recall him as a frequent patron of the local library and a believer in reading as a shared, lifelong joy.

Rather than keep the list private, Pelzer’s family launched a website—What-Dan-Read.com—to celebrate his reading life and invite others to reflect on their own. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to the Kinship Community Food Center, or simply: read a good book.

Dan Pelzer’s story is a reminder that the habits we cultivate quietly and consistently often become the most enduring part of who we are.