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Chopping up books when they're physically too big

229 points · 211 comments · matt_kirkland

  1. SmasherEpilepti · · focus · HN ↗
    At that rate, you might as well buy and use an e-reader instead. It really doesn't get any more comfortable in the hands than a light device like a Kobo or whatever one you prefer.
    1. moffkalast · · focus · HN ↗
      And you don't even have to hold it open and mess with bookmarks which at least to me was always super annoying. And the built in lamp, chapter search and dictionary. And single tap page forward and back. Physical books are beyond obsolete imho.
      1. QuantumNomad_ · · focus · HN ↗
        > mess with bookmarks

        I’ve have had enough bookmarks fall out of the book that I have changed my strategy. Instead of using a bookmark I take a photo of the last page I was reading before closing the book. I then add the photo to favourites so it’s easier to find. And then later when I continue to read, I check in my camera roll to see what page I was on. With the current book I am reading I also like to end on the end of a chapter when I can. Easy to remember that next time I will start reading chapter 5 or whatever. And if I don’t have time or energy to read to the end of a chapter I still try to remember what page number I am on, just in case my phone runs out of battery and I want to continue reading.

        1. moffkalast · · focus · HN ↗
          Well that's certainly the most ridiculous way of keeping track I've ever heard of :D Not only do you always have to scroll through the pages to find the right one, you also have to mess with your phone a bit first.
          1. layer8 · · focus · HN ↗
            I would assume that the photo includes the page number.
            1. moffkalast · · focus · HN ↗
              It's still O(log n) to find the right page from a closed book.

              Compare that entire rube goldberg machine with one button press on an e-reader.

              1. QuantumNomad_ · · focus · HN ↗
                OTOH, a paper book never runs out of battery :^)
                1. moffkalast · · focus · HN ↗
                  Ha, I actually have insane battery anxiety usually, but even my decade old Kindle still runs for a solid month on a single charge so I've never actually had that problem at all.
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