When a person
fills their book
shelf with trendy novels, reference books, and/or classic literature to make themselves feel better about their base level of knowledge. Also refers to someone talking about a book they just
read in a way which seems as if they had read it years before to make themselves sound well-read.
"That guy had the complete works of Shakespeare, 10 or 15 New York Times best sellers, and the Encyclopedia
Brittanica 2009 Edition on his shelf. That guy has some serious
shelf esteem problems."
"I was about to join one of those book of the month clubs you always see on TV, but then I grew some shelf esteem."
You: "Like that scene in
the Da Vinci code...."
Someone Else: "Dude, buy yourself a 12th grade education level and get yourself some decent shelf esteem."
