Comments on: ‘Why you should throw books out’: Maybe even that boring old novel on whaling? http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/07/01/why-you-should-throw-books-out-maybe-even-that-boring-old-novel-on-whaling/ News & views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:55:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Michael Harrington http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/07/01/why-you-should-throw-books-out-maybe-even-that-boring-old-novel-on-whaling/#comment-842509 Michael Harrington Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:13:49 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/07/01/why-you-should-throw-books-out-maybe-even-that-boring-old-novel-on-whaling/#comment-842509 Robert, yes, the ownership would have to be confirmed by delivering the book in some way. All the shipping costs of the books are a dead weight loss, which is why I think you need a philanthropic effort to cover that. (But Amazon does have a material interest in this as they would sell lots more Kindles. They can email me a mailing label.) eBooks have value beyond the print version and I'm willing to pay something for that value. My gut feeling is somewhere around $2-3. (=zero delivery cost with pure profit margins shared by publisher, author and Amazon as eBook distributor.) Robert, yes, the ownership would have to be confirmed by delivering the book in some way. All the shipping costs of the books are a dead weight loss, which is why I think you need a philanthropic effort to cover that. (But Amazon does have a material interest in this as they would sell lots more Kindles. They can email me a mailing label.)

eBooks have value beyond the print version and I’m willing to pay something for that value. My gut feeling is somewhere around $2-3. (=zero delivery cost with pure profit margins shared by publisher, author and Amazon as eBook distributor.)

]]> By: Robert Nagle http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/07/01/why-you-should-throw-books-out-maybe-even-that-boring-old-novel-on-whaling/#comment-840983 Robert Nagle Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:50:48 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/07/01/why-you-should-throw-books-out-maybe-even-that-boring-old-novel-on-whaling/#comment-840983 Michael, great idea. The problem is that Amazon would need some way to confirm your ownership, and if you need to mail them back a book, that defeats the purpose. It might work if you could return it to a Borders or Barnes and Noble though. Let's be clear. Used print books are generally cheaper than ebooks, but the balance will be tipping over the next few years. A more realistic idea would be for Amazon to agree to upconvert ebooks into the latest format if you purchased them. That would be nice and reassuring. Sometimes it takes a decade for me to get around to a book. Michael, great idea. The problem is that Amazon would need some way to confirm your ownership, and if you need to mail them back a book, that defeats the purpose. It might work if you could return it to a Borders or Barnes and Noble though.

Let’s be clear. Used print books are generally cheaper than ebooks, but the balance will be tipping over the next few years.

A more realistic idea would be for Amazon to agree to upconvert ebooks into the latest format if you purchased them. That would be nice and reassuring. Sometimes it takes a decade for me to get around to a book.

]]> By: Michael Harrington http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/07/01/why-you-should-throw-books-out-maybe-even-that-boring-old-novel-on-whaling/#comment-840488 Michael Harrington Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:23:33 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/07/01/why-you-should-throw-books-out-maybe-even-that-boring-old-novel-on-whaling/#comment-840488 I had an interesting conversation with an Amazon rep about personal inventories of print books. My wife and I are both PhDs so we have two offices in the home and all our wall space is covered with bookcases. It's a bit much. But these books also represent a personal treasure of knowledge - a library. So what to do about combining digital and print libraries? Comparing to my iPod experience- the value of the $350 iPod was in converting all my CDs to MP3s, which I could do on my time and not have to buy again through iTunes. Can this work with the Kindle? If Jeff Bezos wants to sell Kindles and the publishers wants to sell us backlists, I suggested perhaps Amazon wants to find a way to trade in print books for eBook versions and then consolidate these books for shipment to libraries in developing countries. I would pay a nominal charge to replace print books with eBooks and I'd be happy to donate my print books to libraries that need them. (It will be sometime before poorer populations can mass consume eReader devices.) Good PR for Amazon, good for publishers, good for poorer societies and good for personal libraries' oversized footprints. Maybe Bezos could get Gates involved, or all those philanthropists with too much time and money who hang around Davos every year? I had an interesting conversation with an Amazon rep about personal inventories of print books. My wife and I are both PhDs so we have two offices in the home and all our wall space is covered with bookcases. It’s a bit much. But these books also represent a personal treasure of knowledge - a library. So what to do about combining digital and print libraries?

Comparing to my iPod experience- the value of the $350 iPod was in converting all my CDs to MP3s, which I could do on my time and not have to buy again through iTunes. Can this work with the Kindle?

If Jeff Bezos wants to sell Kindles and the publishers wants to sell us backlists, I suggested perhaps Amazon wants to find a way to trade in print books for eBook versions and then consolidate these books for shipment to libraries in developing countries. I would pay a nominal charge to replace print books with eBooks and I’d be happy to donate my print books to libraries that need them. (It will be sometime before poorer populations can mass consume eReader devices.)

Good PR for Amazon, good for publishers, good for poorer societies and good for personal libraries’ oversized footprints. Maybe Bezos could get Gates involved, or all those philanthropists with too much time and money who hang around Davos every year?

]]> By: Yoda47 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/07/01/why-you-should-throw-books-out-maybe-even-that-boring-old-novel-on-whaling/#comment-840269 Yoda47 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:28:43 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/07/01/why-you-should-throw-books-out-maybe-even-that-boring-old-novel-on-whaling/#comment-840269 I'm aghast at the thought of throwing books out! Though I do agree that outdated computer books and the like can go. I'd agree with gnowingonfoot, if you must get rid of them, do try to recycle; either by giving them to a library or someone who wants them, or *cry* re-pulping the paper. Oh, and regarding the headline for this post: Moby Dick is a good book, despite what my wife thinks! ;) I’m aghast at the thought of throwing books out!

Though I do agree that outdated computer books and the like can go.

I’d agree with gnowingonfoot, if you must get rid of them, do try to recycle; either by giving them to a library or someone who wants them, or *cry* re-pulping the paper.

Oh, and regarding the headline for this post: Moby Dick is a good book, despite what my wife thinks! ;)

]]> By: gnawingonfoot http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/07/01/why-you-should-throw-books-out-maybe-even-that-boring-old-novel-on-whaling/#comment-839640 gnawingonfoot Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:23:14 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/07/01/why-you-should-throw-books-out-maybe-even-that-boring-old-novel-on-whaling/#comment-839640 I'm more offended by the non-mention of recycling as an alternative to trashing books. I have no problems with getting rid of bad/old books, but it should be done in a way that is the least environmentally destructive. Repulp the paper and gimme another read! I’m more offended by the non-mention of recycling as an alternative to trashing books. I have no problems with getting rid of bad/old books, but it should be done in a way that is the least environmentally destructive. Repulp the paper and gimme another read!

]]> By: Jon Jermey http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/07/01/why-you-should-throw-books-out-maybe-even-that-boring-old-novel-on-whaling/#comment-839593 Jon Jermey Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:05:52 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/07/01/why-you-should-throw-books-out-maybe-even-that-boring-old-novel-on-whaling/#comment-839593 I have a simple proposal for public libraries: instead of throwing books out, each library passes on their entire surviving stock of fiction (minus duplicates) to another library every five years, and receives that library's stock in exchange. The ratepayer saves money and the library's subscribers have a chance to read a completely different set of books. 'But they're not NEW fiction books,' the neolibrists always whine at this point. OK, explain why that matters. I have a simple proposal for public libraries: instead of throwing books out, each library passes on their entire surviving stock of fiction (minus duplicates) to another library every five years, and receives that library’s stock in exchange. The ratepayer saves money and the library’s subscribers have a chance to read a completely different set of books.

‘But they’re not NEW fiction books,’ the neolibrists always whine at this point. OK, explain why that matters.

]]> By: Robert Nagle http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/07/01/why-you-should-throw-books-out-maybe-even-that-boring-old-novel-on-whaling/#comment-839582 Robert Nagle Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:52:26 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/07/01/why-you-should-throw-books-out-maybe-even-that-boring-old-novel-on-whaling/#comment-839582 Books whose value and relevance declines with age should be thrown out. (computer books, etc) Books which are unused and can be checked out of a library in a pinch should be thrown out. (i.e., anthologies). Books which cannot be easily donated to someone willing to take it should be thrown out. (i.e. old periodicals). Works that are now in the public domain should ...with very rare exceptions...be thrown out. That leaves novels, essay collections, criticism, history, I have bought lots of books in the last two or three years. all of them novels. None of which I expect to throw out for a while. It's hard to reduce the size of your book collection. When I went into peace corps, I had to discard about 75% of my books. It was time consuming and painful. Books whose value and relevance declines with age should be thrown out. (computer books, etc)

Books which are unused and can be checked out of a library in a pinch should be thrown out. (i.e., anthologies).

Books which cannot be easily donated to someone willing to take it should be thrown out. (i.e. old periodicals).

Works that are now in the public domain should …with very rare exceptions…be thrown out.

That leaves novels, essay collections, criticism, history,

I have bought lots of books in the last two or three years. all of them novels. None of which I expect to throw out for a while.

It’s hard to reduce the size of your book collection. When I went into peace corps, I had to discard about 75% of my books. It was time consuming and painful.

]]> By: Jim Lester http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/07/01/why-you-should-throw-books-out-maybe-even-that-boring-old-novel-on-whaling/#comment-839538 Jim Lester Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:57:33 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/07/01/why-you-should-throw-books-out-maybe-even-that-boring-old-novel-on-whaling/#comment-839538 @Rob The line I use with my wife is that my books provide both thermal mass and insulative properties effectively increasing the energy efficiency of the house. That my story, and I'm sticking to it :) @Rob
The line I use with my wife is that my books provide both thermal mass and insulative properties effectively increasing the energy efficiency of the house.
That my story, and I’m sticking to it :)

]]> By: Rob Preece http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/07/01/why-you-should-throw-books-out-maybe-even-that-boring-old-novel-on-whaling/#comment-839527 Rob Preece Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:45:50 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/07/01/why-you-should-throw-books-out-maybe-even-that-boring-old-novel-on-whaling/#comment-839527 For those of us who realize we're making mortgage payments on square footage used mostly to provide air conditioned comfort to hunks of wood pulp, the idea of getting rid of books is appealing (actually throwing away my treasures is hard, though). My lovely wife imposed a rule years ago, after she realized we'd filled our wall space with bookcases and were encroaching on the centers of rooms, that one book must go out for each book that comes in. Absolutely one of the advantages of e is that we can have our books without letting them take over our homes. Rob Preece Publisher, www.BooksForABuck.com For those of us who realize we’re making mortgage payments on square footage used mostly to provide air conditioned comfort to hunks of wood pulp, the idea of getting rid of books is appealing (actually throwing away my treasures is hard, though).

My lovely wife imposed a rule years ago, after she realized we’d filled our wall space with bookcases and were encroaching on the centers of rooms, that one book must go out for each book that comes in.

Absolutely one of the advantages of e is that we can have our books without letting them take over our homes.

Rob Preece
Publisher, http://www.BooksForABuck.com

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