Thread

1. prydt · 1789501820 · focus · HN ↗

   I came to a similar realization recently. I used to care so much about how pristine my books looked and then I realized that some of my favorite books I have found in used bookstores are ones which are written all over and have a well-worn feel to them. I now annotate all my books with pencil and also write my name in them. I love seeing a history of who's owned a given book when I open the front cover and see a name and phone number.

   1. jimnotgym · 1789503426 · focus · HN ↗

      I once read that the only way you can actually damage a book, is by not reading it.

      1. rogerrogerr · 1789510843 · focus · HN ↗

         Fire is pretty effective too, in my experience.

         1. bluGill · 1789515721 · focus · HN ↗

            Floods are pretty bad for them too. I have some books drying now, some paper is really bad about getting wet while others are okay.

            1. zem · 1789540327 · focus · HN ↗

               they're not exactly thrilled by termites either. lost a lot of my grandparents' books to that.
         2. jimnotgym · 1789622550 · focus · HN ↗

            I think someone following the mantra I repeated, would say that you are thinking too much about the physical copy of the book and less about the book as a collection of words.

            Buy another

      2. WillAdams · 1789516514 · focus · HN ↗

         Well, one can damage a hardcover by not opening it properly the first time:

         <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.reddit.com&#x2F;r&#x2F;lifehacks&#x2F;comments&#x2F;7sry7v&#x2F;open_a_hard_cover_book_without_breaking_the_spine&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.reddit.com&#x2F;r&#x2F;lifehacks&#x2F;comments&#x2F;7sry7v&#x2F;open_a_ha...

         (which was a lesson in 2nd grade, when we got our first-ever hardcover textbooks)

         1. fortran77 · 1789520493 · focus · HN ↗

            When I was in grade school in the 60s (I&#x27;m old) they showed us this film:

            <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.youtube.com&#x2F;watch?v=HHe2hx1JL7U" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.youtube.com&#x2F;watch?v=HHe2hx1JL7U

            For some reason, the lessons learned stuck with me.

            1. djhn · 1789624089 · focus · HN ↗

               Ah, watching that was like soap for a brain sullen with today’s video content.
         2. yoz-y · 1789543760 · focus · HN ↗

            Wow. I’m almost 40 and never knew this!

            1. WillAdams · 1789550587 · focus · HN ↗

               Yeah, really, Barnes &amp; Noble marketing is missing a beat by not printing that as a bookmark to include with new book sales after asking the question at the register, &quot;Has the person you are buying this hardcover for ever opened a new book correctly?&quot;

               Oblig. XKCD:

               <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;xkcd.com&#x2F;1053&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;xkcd.com&#x2F;1053&#x2F;

               (which I kind of wish was comic #1,000 so it was easy to remember&#x2F;link)

               1. account42 · 1789553078 · focus · HN ↗

                  A better solution would be for them to just pre-open the books so you don&#x27;t need complex rituals to read them.

                  1. WillAdams · 1789585677 · focus · HN ↗

                     If I buy a new, unread book, I expect to be the first person to open it.
         3. egormakarov · 1789555445 · focus · HN ↗

            That&#x27;s sure can&#x27;t be true for &quot;modern&quot; (as in 1960s+) books? Bookstores normally allow to look inside hardcovers without being instructed on proper handling first

            1. WillAdams · 1789557898 · focus · HN ↗

               If you can find a book with a sewn binding (or better a pair, as-yet unopened), if you open one per the instructions, then open the other haphazardly as one reads it, you will find that over time, the book which was not opened with care will develop a directionality to its binding causing it to be cocked, while the other, so long as it is read carefully will remain square.

               Typical glued texts are more prone to this, but depending on the state of the glue, may go back so square if pressed when square to correct.

               1. egormakarov · 1789560917 · focus · HN ↗

                  Would definitely try next time I buy a hardcover :) But I think this first opening rule must be some US quirk. I only see US sources for it on internet, and can&#x27;t find German or Russian one

                  1. WillAdams · 1789562766 · focus · HN ↗

                     It gets mentioned in British texts on hand bookbinding.
         4. jimnotgym · 1789622336 · focus · HN ↗

            Well that is a real issue for me, since I much prefer second hand books! I am rarely the first to open them
   2. protocolture · 1789519538 · focus · HN ↗

      I bought a copy of Warhammer Quest, a board game, from Lifeline for 5 bucks.

      It came with annotations, some kids custom rules, their character sheets and the outline of a custom campaign they were writing. Its got so much texture.

   3. eszed · 1789534207 · focus · HN ↗

      The few times I&#x27;ve had a chance to have something signed by an author I like, I&#x27;ve deliberately taken along with me an old and well-loved copy of one of their books. I&#x27;ve bought the new one, sure, but it&#x27;s the old one I&#x27;ll ask them to sign. I don&#x27;t even know if I&#x27;ll like the new one yet! No one has said anything about it, yet, but I kind of hope they notice and appreciate it.

      1. dust-jacket · 1789556909 · focus · HN ↗

         my guess is that they&#x27;d actually just assume you haven&#x27;t bought the new one!

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