What's the Point of Hardbacks?

Comment by sandy_coyote 2 hours ago

I've lost the point of dead trees entirely. My disenchantment is the result of moving many times over the years and lugging a once-huge but now dwindled collection of books, along with being able to send library books straight to my e-reader. If anything, my reading volume has picked up over the years due to the convenience of the small device.

I no longer buy printed books, but I do keep a few favorites around on a shelf because they look cool and remind me of my favorite reading experiences. I still have my Asimov's SF and comics, though. I'll never give those up.

Comment by tiltowait 2 hours ago

There's research[1] suggesting readers of physical books have greater reading comprehension than readers of eBooks. Anecdotally, I feel that describes me well.

[1] https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/well-read/202402/the...

Comment by jjgreen 3 hours ago

I have most of Iris Murdoch's novels in hardback, routinely 500 pages but small and compact, a lovely thing to hold and read on the Tube. But I almost never buy modern hardbacks, simply because they are huge.

Comment by para_parolu 3 hours ago

I always buy hardbacks when possible. I don’t care about hardback part much. But I found that paper quality is often better jn hardbacks.

Comment by jjgreen 3 hours ago

Of course, French books get it right, first edition is softback but with really nice paper, and not too sodding big. Portable.

Comment by cratermoon 3 hours ago

The question is posed about popular fiction. Apparently the audience for the latest Nora Roberts or Danielle Steel book is the person who expects to toss the book into a bag to take to the beach on on an airplane, read it once, then give it away or forget about it. The nonfiction and literary world are much more into hardbacks that last and can be enjoyed or consulted repeatedly.

What's the Point of Hardbacks?

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