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Books - Do you prefer Paperback or Hardcover?

For me, when I get books I often get the cheaper paperback option, give it a read.

Then if I really liked this book, I’ll donate it to a charity shop or in my social circle and purchase the hardcover version.

The only gripe I have with hardcover though is some books come with that sleeve cover around it, you know the one, bit fidgety to use when reading.

Paperback I like if there’s a book I am mildly interested in and I’ll just go “whatever” I’ll keep it as part a collection.

Paperbacks = cheap as chips but aren’t as protected as hardcover, easy to fill up your collection or shelf with, might sell it if i want the luxurious version of that book. this is for me.

Hardcover = More luxurious as it provides proper protection to the pages and outer area of the book, Often comes with items as part of a collectors set. Usually I get the same book if I really enjoy it to add as a gem of my shelf.

What are your tastes? Same as me or do you lean more heavily to one or the other?

sga ,
@sga@lemmy.world avatar

PDFs

I know it was implied to be physical book, I usually read academic stuff, and having ability to select stuff and searching, dark theming, and ability to carry my older almost closet full of books, in something like 100-200 MBs of PDFs is just great. There are times when I actually had physical books, I would scan and ocr if i could not find a digital copy from the 7 seas.

When I actually would get stuff, Hardcover (preferably jacketted) because they were thick (like 400-1400 pages thick) and not having hardcover meant the covers would have a half life of something like 50 uses, maybe less, or atleast it would get stained.

some_guy ,

Either, so long as it’s a physical book. I don’t like reading on a screen for books, but don’t mind for Wikipedia and news.

EveryMuffinIsNowEncrypted , (edited )
@EveryMuffinIsNowEncrypted@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer: It depends. To own? Definitely a hardback. They last longer. To borrow (i.e. from the library)? Paperback for sure. (Often) easier to read imo.

casino ,

I assume you mean that you prefer owning hardcovers?

EveryMuffinIsNowEncrypted ,
@EveryMuffinIsNowEncrypted@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

Yes, I mistyped. Lol. Thanks for the correction. It is now fixed. :)

rekabis ,

Honestly, there is a subtle but distinct difference between hardback and hardcover.

A hardback book has the cover fully designed with graphics, as it is meant to be seen.

A hardcover has a minimalist cover, without any designs since the dust jacket is what is visually flashy and attractive and is meant to be seen.

Otherwise, the two are structurally identical, only with the hardcover having an extra protective layer in the dust jacket.

EveryMuffinIsNowEncrypted ,
@EveryMuffinIsNowEncrypted@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

That’s interesting, if true.

However, I’ve never seen that distinction mentioned anywhere. After you mentioned it, I looked it up on my own and none of the search results I found mentioned that distinction.

What I did find was that at most they are merely examples of British English (hardback) vs American English (Hardcover), though that was only in one source, so take even that with a grain of salt.

Unless you have a reputable source to back up your claim, as far as I’m concerned, this is either dialectal differences at best or someone (not necessarily you) making up a distinction merely to feel superior to others at worst.

Cowbee ,
@Cowbee@lemmy.ml avatar

Ebooks and hardcovers.

Wahots ,
@Wahots@pawb.social avatar

I love a good hardcover, but tend to flip between hardcover, paperback, and kobo e-ink. I try to buy used books where possible just for the environmental impact. They are often less expensive, too.

afox ,

Old ass musty smelling paperback. 50’s and old racist 60’s sci-fi books smell best. I have a problem.

clay_pidgin ,

I think you and I would be good friends. Other than buying books by the Grandmasters, I pick based on the ridiculous cover art. Woman in a space-bikini with an atomic raygun threatened by a lizard/wookie hybrid with a jetpack? Yes please!

afox ,

I love you already. Favorite authors? Ray Bradbury and Arthur C Clark.

clay_pidgin ,

Clarke, Niven, and Heinlein for me. The original _Rendezvous with Rama _inspires awe in me every time. Stranger in a Strange Land is beautiful. The Known Space (Ring world) books are among my favorites. I’m also very fond of Ian Bank’s The Culture , though they are from this millennium and maybe out of scope for this conversation!

I have and love Burroughs’ John Carter of Mars, Zelazny’s Amber, and Castle Perilous by John De Chancie. I’ve just started collecting E. E. “Doc” Smith. I’m slowly adding to my Ursula Leguin and Lester Del Ray shelves.

And I really can’t resist buying old yellow books with ridiculous titles like “_Mutiny in Space” , “assault on the gods” , or “The shattered stars”. _ Bonus Points for awesome spaceships on the cover. I’ll buy those any day without any idea of the author or story.

xorollo ,

I like free books from my library and usually read on my phone. I like that I can try a book, and if it’s garbage, I have zero sunk costs. Just move on and read something else.

TheV2 ,

I always choose hardcover. I try to keep the number of my owned physical books low. So when I do buy it, I want my eyes to be satisfied and they prefer the looks of hardcover. Since I usually buy secondhand books, overall it’s very cheap (although I don’t have high standards on the book’s condition).

phdepressed ,

Paperback. I’ve sometimes waited for paperback versions of books after their initial hardcover release. Cheaper, lighter, same reading, I used to be less patient so would suck it up and get the hardcover, nowadays I don’t read as much so waiting is easier. I read a lot when traveling and hardcovers are just such a pain. The only “nice” collection I have is LOTR+hobbit.

I’m trying out an eReader soon but I’m not sure I’ll be able to get away from the desire of physically turning pages.

Vanth ,
@Vanth@reddthat.com avatar

Audiobook > ebook > paperback > hardcover.

I listen to audiobooks way more often than reading. I can keep listening to the same book while driving or exercising or doing whatever around the house.

Paperback over hardcover if I’m going to have a physical book because it’s less expensive and more space and weight efficient.

MicrowavedTea ,

I don’t care about keeping books on selves and ebooks and paperbacks are easier to read. Hardcovers are always so heavy.

communism ,
@communism@lemmy.ml avatar

Paperback. For big books maybe hardcover so it stays in one piece, but tbh all the 1000+ page books I have are still paperbacks. Even if they were the same price, I think paperbacks are easier to hold and read since they’re more flexible. But the sturdiness of hardbacks can be nice sometimes

Taalnazi ,

Personally I’d like me some blend between paperback and hardcover.

Paperbacks can be laid flat (but damage quickly), hardcovers not as easily (but don’t damage quickly).

Something like a concealed Cased-in-Wire-O might be best, but where you don’t really see the spirals between the pages.

Jackthelad ,

I find paperbacks more comfortable. Though I have just bought a Kobo so I’ll probably be using that more soon.

rhacer ,

Hardcover on the bookshelf that will never get read. Ebook on the Kindle.

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