diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py b/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py
index 63abde25dd..60947f3589 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ gprefs.defaults['blocked_auto_formats'] = []
 gprefs.defaults['auto_add_auto_convert'] = True
 gprefs.defaults['ui_style'] = 'calibre' if iswindows or isosx else 'system'
 gprefs.defaults['tag_browser_old_look'] = False
+gprefs.defaults['book_list_tooltips'] = True
 # }}}
 
 NONE = QVariant() #: Null value to return from the data function of item models
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/library/views.py b/src/calibre/gui2/library/views.py
index 106ee89808..cb32358d3b 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/library/views.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/library/views.py
@@ -82,6 +82,11 @@ class BooksView(QTableView): # {{{
     files_dropped = pyqtSignal(object)
     add_column_signal = pyqtSignal()
 
+    def viewportEvent(self, event):
+        if (event.type() == event.ToolTip and not gprefs['book_list_tooltips']):
+            return False
+        return QTableView.viewportEvent(self, event)
+
     def __init__(self, parent, modelcls=BooksModel, use_edit_metadata_dialog=True):
         QTableView.__init__(self, parent)
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py
index 84b75dd663..3d2b0da8e7 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ class ConfigWidget(ConfigWidgetBase, Ui_Form):
         r('ui_style', gprefs, restart_required=True, choices=
                 [(_('System default'), 'system'), (_('Calibre style'),
                     'calibre')])
+        r('book_list_tooltips', gprefs)
         r('tag_browser_old_look', gprefs, restart_required=True)
 
         r('cover_flow_queue_length', config, restart_required=True)
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.ui b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.ui
index 9621b20871..43420a900e 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.ui
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.ui
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@
          </property>
         </widget>
        </item>
-       <item row="6" column="0" colspan="2">
+       <item row="7" column="0" colspan="2">
         <widget class="QGroupBox" name="groupBox_2">
          <property name="title">
           <string>&amp;Toolbar</string>
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@
          </layout>
         </widget>
        </item>
-       <item row="7" column="0">
+       <item row="8" column="0">
         <spacer name="verticalSpacer_3">
          <property name="orientation">
           <enum>Qt::Vertical</enum>
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@
          </property>
         </spacer>
        </item>
-       <item row="5" column="0">
+       <item row="6" column="0">
         <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout">
          <item>
           <widget class="QLabel" name="label_2">
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@
          </item>
         </layout>
        </item>
-       <item row="5" column="1">
+       <item row="6" column="1">
         <widget class="QPushButton" name="change_font_button">
          <property name="text">
           <string>Change &amp;font (needs restart)</string>
@@ -194,6 +194,13 @@
        <item row="0" column="1">
         <widget class="QComboBox" name="opt_ui_style"/>
        </item>
+       <item row="5" column="0">
+        <widget class="QCheckBox" name="opt_book_list_tooltips">
+         <property name="text">
+          <string>Show &amp;tooltips in the book list</string>
+         </property>
+        </widget>
+       </item>
       </layout>
      </widget>
      <widget class="QWidget" name="tab_4">