Why Are Special Edition Books So Popular?

[@javil1648]

We are in a time where companies don’t want consumers to own physical media and only want to license works through apps and streaming, so knowing that you can have a nice book that won’t go away if I stop paying a subscription fee is why I like collecting. And it looks cool on a book shelf!

[@MattsFreeChannel1]

You don't know what I've gone through to keep my old PSN account's games downloaded on my PS4. A permanent blocker for more games saved there because I bought it digitally.

[@lisac1619]

They also know we won't be able to sell anything if we don't own physical media.

[@Jacksonfordauthor]

Agreed with almost all of this. I very firmly believe that turning a book into a beautiful art object gives it life beyond just the story inside it.

[@mikesbookreviews]

We're the same

[@B.LEE.DbrianleedurfeeREVIEWS]

I have 20 different versions of Lord Of The Rings!! BTW Broken Binding & Five Warrior Angels next year??? Maybe

[@mikesbookreviews]

You deserve it, brotha! If it’s not a done deal let me know and I’ll get in Matt’s ear about it.

[@alexwallachian7720]

Huge news!! Huuuge

[@Roondawg_Valhalla]

I might have to resub for this alone!

[@Leroy510]

For me the emphasis is more on the quality of the materials (cover, pages) and construction of the book (binding, gilding, embossing, slipcase) rather than the aesthetics or pictures. Seen too many overpriced “special editions” that are cheaply made, but look nice.

[@JohnAndrewMacDonald]

Agree 100%. High quality production means so much more that bling. How may videos on KZbin are about collections of faux leather, gilded books that have cheap glued bindings and super cheap paper. The people that review them don't even seem to notice or care. They only care about the outward show of how it looks. These same people never read the editions. They just "display" them. Give me an everyman's library edition (if a classic) that is a fraction of the cost, looks just as good (in my personal opinion) and will last many, many years longer.

[@OnlyTheBestFantasyNovels]

I don't have a problem with SEs so much as I don't understand the craze surrounding the subscription services. It's such a racket to be forced to pay for expensive books you don't necessarily want or care about just for the sake of getting the occasional one you do, and I was made to understand reselling the books you don't want is grounds for getting your subscription cancelled. I'm starting to think I'm in the wrong line of business over here, lol.

[@therevanchist1123]

This is a pretty bad generalization, BB has produced some of the Best Fantasy Books within their Subscription service, most subscriptions allow a number of skips a year for books you make not be interested in, there are dedicated groups for buy/sell/trade within their respective communities, books that are no longer wanted can be sold on the secondary marketplace pretty much guaranteeing your money back or more in some cases. I haven’t heard of anyone getting the subscriptions cancelled for resealing their books. I’m not sure where the racket is when there are multiple avenues to not pay and you can cancel pretty much at any time.

[@Fakespy]

1 is certainly “a number of times”

[@alexwallachian7720]

Reselling won't cancel anything. There's literally an official Broken Binding facebook group full of people reselling.

[@MrRustywood]

Reselling isn’t the problem, they had an issue with people swapping addresses every 3 months to send to whoever had bought that set

[@helgestrm9670]

It isn`t a special edition if it isn`t smyth sewn with acid free paper. Don`t be fooled. Demand quality, not just pretty pictures.

[@Fakespy]

Hence why Broken Binding is a racket. They’re just a pretty dust jacket with a sprayed edge. Big deal.

[@JohnAndrewMacDonald]

@@Fakespy agreed to a point. the only reason i joined TBB is to get books in hardcover that i cannot get any other way - like Memory, Sorrow and Thorn. I will sell the ones I don't want. If I don't see the value beyond that I'll cancel the subscription.

[@cmdollars]

For me the quality of books has declined so much and reading has always been an experience that includes more than just the words. I recently reread my first edition Cujo, which is almost as old as I am, and then I read You Like It Darker, which had pages 5-12 fall out (and then others almost fall out) right when I opened it. I’ve never had HB pages fall out like that. It’s a piece of garbage. 1981 used-up Cujo is light years better. I went back to BN and checked every copy they had on the shelves and all had the same binding problem. When Robert McCammon returned to publishing, it was difficult to find his books and to this day I have been buying them from Subterranean or Lividian when they come out. They are well-made and I don’t mind paying a little extra for them. They are not the extra expensive special editions just the nice standard ones. Those are the kind of books I want on my shelf and in my hands when I’m reading.

[@mikesbookreviews]

It's like new cars; they don't make them like they used to!

[@KakashiHatake-ou7mp]

What irritates me is when they come up with special edition books with high price and then don't use Acid Free Paper

[@JohnAndrewMacDonald]

Agreed. also glued bindings

[@JesseRad]

In a time when AI is replacing artists' work and streaming isn't making anything for most musicians, I like supporting authors, artists, and musicians by buying physical items. I stream music and purchase books on Kindle, but when something is really special to me, I'll buy music on vinyl or will shell out some money for a sweet Kickstarter edition of a book. Support your favorite artists!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Right on

[@JohnAndrewMacDonald]

"Everything you want in a special edition"? Except sewn bindings, high quality paper stock and real leather or cloth boards Instead we are shown acidic paper in glued bindings between cheap paper boards that it's good are not read as they will soon fall apart if they were.

[@stevenstewart782]

I just got An order from broken binding today and yeah there is nothing quite like Open that case andThere's 3 boxes inside each 1 3 boxes inside each 1 with Single single book in it Single single book in it and it's exquisitely wrapped In multiple layers When you get to the bucket When you get to the book itself it's gotta Another layer of wrapping on it with a bowtie

[@mikesbookreviews]

No doubt

[@Don_Rodrigo44]

I completely understand collectors and special editions but ive always favored a chaotic books shelf of well read books compared to what essentially is an art display

[@execute92]

That's exactly why I like to hunt down worn out first editions of paperbacks I like. It gives me the sense of owning something special and at the same time fits the aesthetic of my bookshelves.

[@thebookborough]

I love SEs but I wish they were limited to anniversary editions. The number of subscriptions have exploded and even debuts are coming out with SEs. A lot of SEs are just a prettier version of a standard book, rather than actual quality. I sold a lot of mine and will probably limit my SE purchases to absolute favorites, if I want to spend the $$. It’s nice to get out of the fomo as well.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Yeah, they are losing their "limited" feel when everything has a SE now.

[@EmpressNoriko]

I just got my purple set of the Dandelion Dynasty 2 days ago! Probably the most gorgeous set I now own. I feel incredibly lucky to have been able to get into special edition collecting in the last few years. I’m aware it’s an unnecessary luxury, but it makes me happy. Reading is an enormous part of my life so my collecting reflects that. I have multiple editions of The Stand, Lord of the Rings, Dune,The Hobbit and more. I read The Hobbit out loud every year that I taught. My worn, taped, illustrated copy I read from every year sits proudly next to my beautiful pristine editions. Another collecting bug I’ve caught recently is Loungefly bags. I’ve gone from “all I need is an everyday purse and a fancy one” to owning close to 50 Loungefly. I match them with my t-shirt when I go out. Now almost every time I go out I have fun, short conversations with strangers as we bond over Star Wars, LOTR, Harry Potter and more. I’ve spoken with people from 8-80. Fortunately being a geek or nerd is now widely celebrated. Big moments of intense joy are wonderful, but rare. Enjoying small moments of happiness helps make life better.

[@deadslugs]

I remember my first special edition, it was an 80 year old Jane Eyre folio society and to this day, i sniff that thing when im sad. Hahah but its true looking at my bookshelf first thing in the morning gives me motivation to continue working that corporate grind!

[@unlimitedreads]

I don't have special editions but since The Shining is my favorite book of all time, I have about 8 versions in HB and PB - I even have a very rare movie tie-in paperback, the yellow one that has movie stills in the middle :)

[@mikesbookreviews]

Oh wow!

[@allthekingsbooks]

I understand Special Editions and all, I just don't understand why so many unfinished series are getting special editions and why people are buying those. It's quite predictable that once the series are complete, another special edition will be forthcoming to celebrate that fact 🙂

[@jthespiceoflife]

Right!

[@amandacantcometothephone]

yeah i agree, im subbed to fairyloot and ive gotten books in a duology in the regular box and i doubt we are getting the second book in another month, they might release a set in the future but then ill have two of the first book or no chance to get the second to match, kinda only works for stand alones

[@dubhmoore575]

Happy bookshelves happy person 😇

[@emosongsandreadalongs]

I think booktube has contributed significantly to the popularity of special edition books. People want to show off their pretty stuff

[@chefeddie6164]

I always called them "Shelf Candy." I love my old leather-bound books; they just feel right in your hand when you read them.

[@rmattbill]

Book lovers love beautiful books. It’s that simple.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Bingo

[@natrosereads]

Great discussion, Mike. I like that you're shamelessly open to owning many copies of your most loved books. There is something so beautiful about books being visual art as well. And the bit about the Nike app is too relatable. 😆I justify my behavior by saying that as long as I use the Rakuten app for the cashback - which Nike can really come in hot on! - it's not so bad.

[@zackattack366]

A huge factor in continuing to collect special editions is that it allows us to reconnect even just for a moment with a world or character that are important to us.

[@GenuinelyCurious120]

It definitely adds alot to the reading experience if it's a nice book. My favorite place to be is leaning back in my chair with a big ol fancy, heavy, hardcovered tome on my lap. Exactly! "Its more immersive"

[@marianneguevara8279]

If I love a book I have no qualms with owning several editions of it. I love seeing the different artistic directions each edition goes for. One of my main gripes is that there aren't enough special editions of books/series that I want

[@natrosereads]

Yes, I completely agree with this! If it's a book near and dear to me, I want as many unique editions as possible. Unfortunately, some of the most beautiful editions out there are of ones I have no interest in. :(

[@marianneguevara8279]

@@natrosereads Same here! For example, I’d love to have some Broken Binding editions but they haven’t put out any for a series I want yet.

[@SciFiScavenger]

They're so purdy! Waiting for my Sun Eater TBB editions to arrive. I also signed up for the SF sub, looking forward to my first sub book too.

[@YourLocalCryptid164]

"why buy the special edition of the book you already own?" cause it's pretty and makes my brain produce the Feel Good Chemical when I see them XD

[@mikesbookreviews]

Ha ha correct

[@Lim_Jahey]

This is one of those things that completely depends on the person ... I have these books and would love to have another copy of these... also the subscription is cool in a way that you never know what you will get, and it's a nice surprise when you do get them. these are for collectors who love esthetics I want!😫

[@safinan8008]

Special books edition can be very expensive too…

[@ThisIsJaysWorld]

*stares guiltily between video title and special edition LOTR*

[@StoryGirl1128]

They’re super pretty! I can’t see myself ever buying something like that, but I’ll admire yours 😁

[@Shelf-Esteem]

I love the special editions and intentionally buying beautiful books - though I love going to library book sales and getting incredible well worn vintage copies as well. I’m so glad we live in a time where you can choose your own adventure in this respect! I find myself eyeing special editions of books I even DNF’ed but that’s on me 😂

[@ellefit5564]

What I do is I’ll get books off Kindle Unlimited or EBooks and read them. If I absolutely love the book and it comes out in a beautiful SE I will buy the SE and put it on my shelf. I am very picking with my physical copies of books. Paperback and Hardback. A lot of books I read that do not look good or wasn’t that great of a read are all on my kindle. I have 500+ ebooks. That way my shelves are untouched and stay beautiful and selective.

[@tim2401]

It's tough for me because like...if I didn't physically read the copy on my shelf I feel like it's a pointless thing. I have a first edition Storm of Swords and I still feel more of a connection with the paperback i physically read. So it's a weird thing for me.

[@michelemartin7673]

I started getting some of the more expensive special editions -- specifically, Grim Oak Press's Belgariad -- to replace the worn-out paperback versions I had...and there weren't easily available HB alternatives for that series other than the even-more-expensive Easton Press editions in eBay. Have gotten some other GO versions of older series I like that are otherwise hard to find. I actually don't want a bajillion copies of the same book; just one (or maybe 2) quality versions of books I really like. It's both aesthetics and quality I'm looking for.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Getting an upgrade to a well loved set is such a cozy feeling

[@Olphas]

I really got into collecting special editions last year. Mostly because Broken Binding has this sweet spot between beautiful editions and affordability. The Dandelion Dynasty was just delivered to me a few minutes ago! Of course by now I have a few other more expensive but even more special ones, too. Like the Dune books from Folio Society. And some Wraithmarked. Just had to buy a new shelf for the next books! Why do I do it? It makes me happy! And I do read them, too, if I haven't before.

[@JohnAndrewMacDonald]

TBB are just trade hardcovers with a paint job. acidic paper, glued bindings and maybe a new cover.

[@elaineirving77]

Waiting on my TBB Sun Eater editions which will be my first special editions. Other than those I have my signed Red Rising trilogy and Light Bringer (need my IG and DA signed at some point). I take joy in the knowledge that I have them, and the world needs more joy!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Yeah those look nice!

[@DrL_Reads]

Love the shirt. I will just enjoy special editions vicariously through you all.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Lord knows I've done my share of that ha ha

[@godzillasan1817]

Hi, Mike! A bit of a different topic .. how about a short video (or a small part of weekly video) dedicated to football? Congrats on a Texans win !!

[@Chance.Dillon]

If I love a series enough-I’m throwing in on as many copies of them I can find 😂. Even MMPB…just give me all of them

[@zachbrehany2253]

Looking at my shrine for Anne Rice, I feel the need for special editions. Besides being nice to own, helps make you look more impressive in fandoms. XD

[@mikesbookreviews]

I have all the Vamp Chronicles in hardcover. Wouldn't mind an upgraded set, for sure!

[@zachbrehany2253]

@@mikesbookreviews yeah, I'm that one guy that owns everything from The Vampire Lestat to the Mayfairs, Christ the Lord, songs of the Seraphim, Wolf Gift, BDSM Sleeping Beauty, all first editions with half autographed. Lol. I might have a problem.

[@halifirien]

My crown jewel is the 25th anniversary edition of Stephen King’s “It” from Cemetery Dance. I love having that on my shelf.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Nice!

[@jaylytical2271]

Completely off topic from the book stuff (another great video btw) but the shirt you’re wearing is awesome Mike! Brings me wayyyy back to my wrestling fan days😆

[@mikesbookreviews]

When you're with the nWo, you're with them 4 Life.

[@jaylytical2271]

@@mikesbookreviews you got that right!

[@ReppavBooks-dt2gg]

Nope, its marketing from booktube/tok etc and fomo whats feeding the recent trends. From a publisher perspective its an amazing deal, they can get consumers pay for the same thing multiple times.

[@Edog1337]

Well I just ordered Folio Society of Dune trilogy if that answers your question, and have kickstarted every Wraithmark release.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Down with the sickness

[@stigsmcqueen3178]

I think that different hobby communities have different perspectives on this. For example, in the automotive enthusiast world, people tend not to like garage queens. There is a strong perception that cars are meant to be driven, and people tend to like prominent members of the community like Jay Leno who choose to drive every single car that they own on public roads - no matter how expensive the car in question happens to be. What makes the car hobby different than a lot of other hobbies is the price of entry - getting anything that is dynamic and engaging to drive tends to be an expensive proposition, and it has only gotten worse since the pandemic. However, with collecting fantasy books, I think it's different because the cost of entry to the hobby isn't so high. In fact, when it comes to regular hardbacks/trade paperbacks/mass market paperbacks of much of what Mike recommends, you can usually find used copies that are in pretty good shape for $8-$12 (in U.S. dollars) on eBay - at least if you live in the U.S. Thus, with those copies abundantly available, I can see why folks aren't as turned off by those who collect these expensive editions. I don't think that I'd be interested in collecting them myself, but I can see why others find it to be enjoyable.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Likeminded collectors usually understand.

[@MattsFreeChannel1]

I've done the opposite, lol. I've lost my copies of The Sun Also Rises, The Great Gatsby, House of Leaves, etc. Ray Bradbury books, etc. Some of them I probably threw away before a car trip where I was taking ALL of them.

[@libraryofaviking]

Great video!

[@nickwilliams3759]

I feel like it's one of those things you have to be an avide reader to understand wanting special editions. Also, love the NWO shirt!

[@mikesbookreviews]

4 Life

[@dansmith3085]

Most people wouldn't recognize an actual high end book if they saw one. The majority of these things are just Beanie Babies for people who fetishize reading.

[@paradigmshift7907]

I kinda collect by whatever cover art I like best. Edition doesn’t matter so much

[@KevinBaxter-i7x]

More important question is how Mike gets these editions quickly 😆

[@andiewalsh6887]

Mikes cold opens are the best 😂😂

[@michaelkibble740]

My pocket edition of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings is from Harper Collins and they are leather so is the box . I love it .

[@philippburnett6045]

A better question is why they are so expensive? Broken binding isn’t always that much well but it’s way more expensive

[@inkshoe25]

YEah, Kickstarter is becoming an addiction for me.

[@mikesbookreviews]

It's a slippery slope to be sure

[@rammelbroadcasting]

It's not fair that I paid good money for that edition of the dandilion dynasty, and mine still hasn't arrived😢. Shame on you and the broken binding! JUST KIDDING keep up the good work!

[@Henry-jp3mc]

I want that TBB Dragonborne Chair edition so bad. 😅

[@benja6902]

I'm getting buried in Marvel omnibus editions. I'm becoming obsessed with collecting all the old comics from my childhood with the associated nostalgia.

[@mikesbookreviews]

That's a nice hobby!

[@RLDesrochers]

Hey, Mike! Do you use Mylar to protect your covers?

[@Darth_Sepharious]

I'll gladly pay more for any edition of a book that gives me more info than the original, either through artwork or new foreword, etc.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Makes sense

[@nazimelmardi]

Broken bindings for me is not expensive. The translated books here are getting expensive so it’s a great deal for me being a member. A bit more expensive in return it’s way more beautiful.

[@JohnAndrewMacDonald]

way more beautiful? they are just trade hardcovers with a paint job

[@nazimelmardi]

@@JohnAndrewMacDonald are you having trouble understanding what a special edition is?

[@JohnAndrewMacDonald]

@@nazimelmardi Not at all. I was commenting on the comment directly above who mentioned The Broken Binding. I am referring specifically to them.

[@nazimelmardi]

@@JohnAndrewMacDonald not with logic as it seems. I don’t care about your feelings about broken bindings, my comment was very clear. The other language books are expensive as they are, the broken bindings version is a very nice alternative being cheap and way better quality than the standard print. Are you slow? I saw your other cry here in Mike’s video, get a life, if you don’t have the money for this? It’s a “your problem” not a “my problem”. Nobody cares because it’s not important to have. No, we don’t need a second job, I can pay it easily. Surprise: here in Europe we have paid vacation too, 20 days minimum by the law in the EU. Cry about it.

[@JohnAndrewMacDonald]

@@nazimelmardi why are you commenting to me? I never initiated any comment to you. Have a great day and please refrain from commenting again - if you are able to.

[@theromanwanderer8923]

Did you upgrade your copies of the Dark Tower, they look different from the Viking editions you had before?

[@mikesbookreviews]

Just got custom covers

[@calenrobb]

There's nothing I'd love more than to get that special edition of Sword of Kaigen but at $135 in Australia after postage is just not something I can get behind :(

[@mikesbookreviews]

I completely understand that!

[@neondemon5137]

I don't really care about special editions, I only have those illustrated versions of the A Song of Ice and Fire series.

[@frozunyogert6159]

Same reason deluxe/special edition albums & movie box sets sell.

[@Aust51989]

I own so many copies of the Dark Tower series, it isn’t even funny. It is so good!

[@danielhall5238]

I personally only collect special editions of Adrian Tchaikovsky because he is my favourite author. There is even some books that get hardcover special editions, when they previously had not been printed in hardcover. The area of special editions I don’t understand is the special editions are absolutely terrible quality. Or getting special editions of books that have no meaning to you? That I don’t really get

[@mikesbookreviews]

I have bands I do that with even though I quit buying CDs about a decade ago.

[@alexbigday1587]

I'm curious, how much are we talking about when it comes to these special editions? What would the prize range be?

[@mikesbookreviews]

I've seen them range from $30 to $600!

[@douglasbunch3313]

Knowing you’re a King fan, what is your opinion of Cemetary Dance vs Broken Binding, etc?

[@mikesbookreviews]

I've only seen TBB material in person so far

[@gryftkin]

Luckily, my wife helps me choose how much money we spend on special edition books :D

[@mikesbookreviews]

It's good to have an emergency brake

[@wassr1956]

Why do all you booktubers read the same books? Boring after awhile. Read what you want like Durfee.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I can’t think of another Tuber reading A Canticle for Leibowitz right now. But maybe you watch more than I do.

[@wassr1956]

Jack Vance tales of the dying earth. One of the most influential science-fantasy worlds ever envisaged, which inspired a generation of writers including George R.R. Martin The fourth in the Fantasy Masterworks series, the Dying Earth saga inspired writers like Michael Moorcock and Gene Wolfe, who freely acknowledges his debt to Vance in his own Book of the New Sun. Here, in one volume, is Hugo, Nebula and World Fantasy Award-winning author Jack Vance's classic Dying Earth saga comprising The Dying Earth, The Eyes of the Overworld, Cugel's Saga and Rhialto the Marvellous. Travel to a far distant future, when the sun bleeds red in a dark sky, where magic and science is one, and the Earth has but a few short decades to live . Read what everyone is saying about The Tales of the Dying Earth: 'He was, in a single paragraph, able to sketch the most incredible cultures and societies . . . he'd outline a world as interesting as all of Dune. And he did it again and again and again' Christopher Paolini, New York Times bestselling author of To Sleep in a Sea of Stars 'Absolutely amazing! I've never read anything quite like Vance's Dying Earth stories . . . very witty and full of sarcasm . . . Even if you're not a fantasy fan you should read these stories' Goodreads reviewer, 'This is one of the best series EVER WRITTEN and the world created by Jack Vance is as good as anything I have ever read . . . HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION!!!' Goodreads reviewer, 'Within a few pages, I was completely drawn in, and there was simply no escape for me . . . This omnibus volume is the perfect way to experience everything about the Dying Earth' Goodreads reviewer, 'Almost singlehandedly defined an entire sub-genre of SF and Fantasy . . . the Dying Earth quartet is doubtless a masterpiece' Goodreads reviewer, 'Vance has got to be one of the greatest writers I have ever read, and quite probably the greatest stylist . . . as soon as I started reading each novel in the book, I couldn't stop' Goodreads reviewer, 'Awesome . . . a surreal fantasy setting on our own world, surrounded by crumbled civilisations and overlooked by a sun that could blink out at any moment' Goodreads reviewer, 'Jack Vance's masterwork of fantasy novellas and novelettes. Read once, read twice, read again. A powerful imagination in top form. This book is one of the main reasons that I love the fantasy genre' Goodreads reviewer, The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR001387977

[@KevinBaxter-i7x]

0:00 What is that page sound effect?

[@TheLizardofOzzz]

Ooo Mikes into sneakers too? What’s your favorite pair?👀

[@mikesbookreviews]

Any of the 6 pairs of Air Jordan 1 lows I own. Best shoe ever.

[@_Conzo_]

I collect books AND Elvis memorabilia, would I fit in at your family Thanksgiving?

[@mikesbookreviews]

Without a doubt!

[@Grimm44]

I can't afford these types of books. think it comes down to I can afford but you can't one upmanship

[@mikesbookreviews]

For some, maybe. Definitely not a competition for me.

[@irodeker]

If it’s not a Harry Potter special edition I‘m not buying it. The normal hard covers are already expensive enough. I am fine with normal books without a fancy cover or sprayed edges. In the end it’s the same content and the most special editions are ugly as hell anyways. 😂

[@mikesbookreviews]

I've got 4 sets of HP I'm working on. Hope they finish the illustrated ones.

[@jthespiceoflife]

One piece CCG is hurting my book budget lol

[@mikesbookreviews]

That'll do it

[@mattamant915]

Ugh....another Sword Of Kaigen special edition 😅❤

[@michaeloporto5202]

Cause they’re special

[@mikesbookreviews]

Muy

[@RhinoViper]

People always dig on "insert random hobby here" but always fail to realize they have the same "hobby" problem, just for something else. Why would you pay xyz for a book....well dude, you just spent $3,000 on that new golf set and you'll get all new clubs in 2 years, so don't say anything. Or, why would you spend $1,000 on a piece of cardboard(baseball card)....well dude, your are spending many thousands every month for your vintage car. Or don't talk about the amount we can spend on guns and ammo. Oh, I'd rather not talk about how much I can spend on Bourbon. Or don't ask my wife how much she spends on scrapbook stuff, etc, etc....everyone has something, just because that one thing may not be your thing doesn't mean you don't also have a ridiculous hobby you spend too much on....some people spend more on their daily Frappe Latte Carmel Sugar Bomb than a lot do on books. Also people need to realize that $200, to some people, is the equivalent to about $10 to your broke a$$. ;)

[@philippburnett6045]

Not necessarily. We all suffering in the same shitty economy that commies in power did for us. Some consider showing off expensive hobbies they do as an insult or joke to those barely making by

[@philippburnett6045]

Not necessary. Many people are struggling to live in this economy that commies in government made for us. Ans seeing some of others showing off their expensive hobbies feels like an insult and slap in their face. It has nothing to do with broke ass things

[@philippburnett6045]

@@RhinoViper that would be wrong assessment. Lots of people can’t afford a lot of things due to the state of economy. Showing off ones expensive stuff is seen as a slap and cruel joke against other people. It didn’t have anything to do with broke ass

[@MrPleers]

The most cringeworthy special edition was the 10th aniversary edition of The name of the wind. A special edition of the first book of a trilogy that will most likely never be concuded.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Yeah, that hurts

[@burge2695]

Their are way too many imo...I don't buy them either...maybe 1 a year

[@JohnAndrewMacDonald]

I LOVE beautiful, high quality editions of books that I value and read. But let us state a truth very clearly here. The reason there are so many is pure unadulterated materialism and greed. Like them, hate them or feel indifferent about them. The answer is the same. If it wasn't about that then there would be about the same amount of special editions as there always has been. Instead they are growing exponentially. You practically need to take out a second full time job just to keep up with a quarter of the editions that are appearing.

[@SweetShakes]

Book