Comments on: Book Reading During a Recession, Tips from Forbes

By: Tom Roman

Tom Roman — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:10:13 +0000

Used books online are getting very cheap due to the economy. As gifts at X-mas, they are great. They could be an old book you wanted to reread again or share with a friend or family member.
The best thing is, the receiver of a nice old book with meaning to him/her, is a thoughtfull gift and the person assumes you spent a lot more than you did.
The internet used book trade has made just about every book ever printed available in minutes. You don’t have to go from store to store hoping you may find it.

By: Devon

Devon — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 12:24:09 +0000

How about good old borrowing from the library?

–says the disgruntled librarian

By: MaryK

MaryK — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:48:15 +0000

Love library sales – they’re like treasure hunts. You never know what old, cool books people’ve donated from their attics.

By: deputman

deputman — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 18:58:30 +0000

What’s been helping me lately, because I don’t like the selection and/or pricing in my local used stores, is to go to Goodwill. I always walk out with several books that I’ve got on my TBB list and since I live in a big city, between the neighborhood I live in and the one I work in, I have four that are fairly conveniently located that I rotate going to.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:13:04 +0000

Yeah, more people seem to be buying and selling used books. I know we're getting a lot more people coming in to work to sell books. People cleaning out their garages and attics hoping to make a few bucks. I also use Paperspine to get my paperback fix of titles that I doubt will come in to work frequently.

By: Jane

Jane — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:28:25 +0000

Emily, the article listed several bookswapping sites.

By: Mireya

Mireya — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:36:33 +0000

I am subscribed to Books Free. I know, I am paying, but considering that I used to spend upwards of $200, paying $21.99 for 6 books-at-a-time is peanuts in comparison. Specially when I gobble about 3-4 books a week and most I don’t consider keepers.

By: Leah

Leah — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 04:07:14 +0000

Paperbackswap is sometimes a little more expensive than I would like it to be, but it’s fun to “shop” there at 2 am! Besides, our used book store has very little variety, and is not that cheap. Also, on Amazon, you can buy used books from individuals/booksellers listed with the new title. Almost every book has a used copy listed. I have sold some books that way, and bought some as well. Aside from a pirated DVD that would not play, I have never been disappointed.

By: veinglory

veinglory — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 04:06:25 +0000

I find it odd that they recommend specific site not a general category with many examples (there are at least 3 book swap sites). It always makes me a bit suspicious.

By: Ann Somerville

Ann Somerville — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 03:57:08 +0000

I didn’t really get this tip

They offer free public domain books to read in their entirety and free samples. Sure, you can get the books elsewhere but it’s a specific place to start, per Emily’s suggestion no.8.

By: veinglory

veinglory — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 03:46:52 +0000

7. Read fan fic etc online
8. Free out-of-copyright ebooks

A local 2nd hand book shop works out cheaper than paperback swap most of the time (postage/packaging, fees, deadbeat senders etc).

By: Ann Somerville

Ann Somerville — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 03:37:35 +0000

6. Write your own books :)