How bizarre...

I was sorting through some books at home - sorting them into read and waiting to be read, the latter in oder of preference of course! Then it struck me.... When English language books are on a shelf, you have to tilt your head to the right to read the title and author's name. On all German language books the title and name are the other way round and you need to tilt your head to the left! How bizarre! Or is it bizarre that I noticed? Is it my slight tendency to ocd when it comes to 'sorting/tidying things'
Either way, can anyone explain why?? Incidentally, I checked out a couple of French books too and its obviously a continental thing.... But why??

Work highlight: yesterday I was told that the head was coming to observe me today with bottom set year11 - after initial panic I got things into perspective, did not re plan my lesson and luckily after my marking frenzie at the weekend, the books were freshly marked. I survived the observation - head left just saying 'ausgezeichnet' phew! :-)