"In Tereza's eyes, books were the emblems of a secret brotherhood. For she had but a single weapon against the world of crudity surrounding her:.... They not only offered the possibility of an imaginery escape from a life she found unsatisfying; they also had a meaning for her as physical objects: she loved to walk down the street with a book under her arm. .... It differentiated her from others." -The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera

Well, this could sound somewhat arrogant. But doesn't everyone somehow differentiate themselves from others to form their unique identity? I do choose books as part of differentiating myself from others as I'm sure you've noticed.