this many books, these many books

[joham]

Martin Hewings says in his ADVANCED GRAMMAR IN USE (UINT69):

We can use much and many with this and that as in:
I've never had this much money before.

I searched the DICTIONARY.COM web pages and found 652 results for "this many books" and 162 results of "these many books".

Are both phrases right? Thank you.

[Anglika]

Both are correct.

This many books is what the shelf will hold - specifies that a particular number of books can be housed.

These many books are what we need for the class - specifies that a multiple number of books are required.