Why Does the Format of a Book Matter?

[@jscottphillips503]

I've struggled with this mystery myself. WHY does it make a difference? My preferred format is the old mass-market paperback. The size is perfect for holding and carrying out. I don't care much for trade paperbacks. They are unwieldy to me, but they are the norm now, so I just deal with it. I DO love the ease and convenience of my little Kindle in almost ALL cases. The reading experience itself has a lot of great features. But ... those mass-markets still win. This is how I've solved that mystery: A physical book seems to have a soul. I know that's completely untrue, but it is a human connection my primitive brain makes. Physical books have a warmth and psychological importance that an ebook just can't carry. There is even something appealing about the wear and tear a physical book goes through as I read it. They become friends and companions, and I would never get rid of them. Even a library book carries some undefined essence of the people that have read that copy before me. It has it's own history, quite separate from the written story inside. Printed books are personal, in ways that ebooks somehow can never be.

[@russworks2882]

Very much this. Beautifully stated.

[@snowysnowyriver]

What an eloquent way to describe books! I have a modest collection of books, most of them over 50 years old, and the idea of them having their own "soul" certainly does chime with me.

[@TheEricthefruitbat]

I agree completely. Unfortunately, most of my literary consumption these days is through audiobooks. Don't get me wrong, I like my audiobooks, but they lack a certain something.

[@Yesica1993]

I struggled with the ebook/paper book thing as well. When I first discovered ereaders, I thought they were genius! I still do. It's wonderful to have almost limitless books all in one tiny device. But I soon learned that I found it harder to retain what I was reading when I was reading digitally. I haven't quite figured it out, but I think the aspect of a physical book as a companion does play into it. I've always done most of my reading on the go - on public transportation, in coffee shops, outside, etc. I'm also not a hugely fast reader, so I would carry around books for weeks. There really is something about becoming used to the cover, perhaps it getting a bit banged up in certain spots, the feel of it, the smell of it, the memory of putting it down here or there as you take a break, the format of the pages, the font style/size - all of these things are different for each book in a way that ereaders can't replace. I think it somehow does impact your experience and your ability to retain what you've read. For example, a few years ago I wanted to read Jane Eyre for the first time. I bought a cheapie paperback, in case I didn't like it. I ended up LOVING it. But I got caught in an unexpected rainstorm and the poor thing got water damaged. And yet... I can't bear to part with it. I have all my little tabs in it. There's memories associated with it of when I got caught in the rain, rushed inside the family's house where I was babysitting and immediately spread the poor book out on the kitchen table to dry and try to salvage it. I don't know why , but it helps me remember the story a bit better than if it had just been words on a screen. That's why I'm to the point where I use my Kindle mainly for rereads of beloved favorites. Or for quick reads that I don't feel a need to really remember. I'll let those smarter than me figure out all the reasons why. But I'm convinced there is something to it.

[@jscottphillips503]

@@Yesica1993 That’s a huge part of it to me… the journey you and the book take together. The wear and tear, the spine cracks, the coffee stain on an interior page, all are marks of the time you spent together with that book. As a fan of cover art, that’s a big part, too. You gaze at that artwork during the whole time you spend with it, something you don’t do with an ebook. With a physical book, you wind up with memories beyond to story itself. It IS a companion. And then it goes up on a shelf with lots of other friends.

[@AngryPict]

I've also read W&P in physical and e-reader formats. The tactile aspect of reading a physical book is all that was missing. But that, for me is a part of the reading experience. The ability to gauge with a brief touch your progress etc. The trophy on the shelf once you've read it. The smell of the book too. Having said that, for me there is a perfect size. Oversized or hardbacks are OK, but the standard paperback is what works for me.

[@MasterMalrubius]

Well said!

[@michelle_flora]

The experience of the book itself is what matters I think. The touch and smell of the book and its pages, but also, at least for me, the nostalgic memories as a child/teen of browsing in libraries and book stores, and the excitement of finding something new to read(I may be younger than you, but I also remember phone books, haha). Also, I find paperbacks to be cozier to read than hardcovers, the way I sit and hold a book comfortably tends to bend the cover(that floppiness you mentioned), and that comfort makes immersion for me easier.

[@docsavage8640]

The smell of the paper is sometimes an experience in itself.

[@glockensig]

A couple things: 1.) I feel sorry for the fancy-pants books that never get touched. I will read mine and drop pipe ash on mine 2.) Can't learn to like e-readers. When the end of the world as we know it comes.... you can't wipe your butt with an e-reader. Think how valuable war and peace in book format will be!!

[@Fred-gu6pk]

There are also volumes of the US tax codes

[@glockensig]

@@Fred-gu6pk But soon all "cash" will be digital..... so they can take more!!

[@LiterateTexan]

I remember having my mind blown when a friend of mine explained to me that she preferred mass market patterns to other formats because the other formats were too heavy. I'd always assumed that people who read mass market paperbacks were just on a tighter budget. As I've gotten older, the size of the font makes a difference to me, so I read fewer mass market paperbacks than ever.

[@dana7340]

I always read mass market paperbacks because they were lighter, more portable and took up less space on the shelf. Then Kindle came out and I was like 😍😍😍

[@LiterateTexan]

@@dana7340 Right? Kindle has sorta made mass market paperbacks obsolete

[@DanielsBibliophagy]

I love mass market paperbacks. It fits in one hand and in my pocket. It is my preferred format.

[@LiterateTexan]

@@DanielsBibliophagy It's popular with a lot of people!

[@OoLaLaFrenchGirl]

For me, formats serve different purposes. I buy used, beat-up, cheap paperback editions for annotating. I buy hardback editions for collecting. I read e-books when I’m in bed at night or traveling. My favorite format will always be physical books though.

[@eklektos44]

Being comfortable with technology and not suffering from the sentimentality of nostalgia the Kindle wins hands down. Lighter, adjustable, and more convenient. This reminds me of the CD/Vinyl argument. Like the audio argument it's never the technology, it's the quality of the production. Always. I have the different formats, but it usually comes down to price. I'm not going to buy a kindle copy for $29 when I can get a thrift store used copy for a buck.

[@Domino365]

I had to resort to ebooks a few years ago because I just don't have room on my shelves for more physical books.

[@tyghe_bright]

It's definitely a different experience for each format. My favorite are trade paperbacks, especially with a nice, velvety matte finish. I also love leatherbound books, but find them less comfortable to hold. It took me a while to feel comfortable with eReaders--but man, it's so nice to be able to change the font size on the fly when my eyes are tired. And they're so nice and lightweight. I read a lot more on Kindle than on anything else.

[@tyghe_bright]

The other issue is that studies show that reading comprehension and retention are better with physical books than with eBooks. (There are, of course, some studies that show no difference, and even one that showed better comprehension for eBooks for readers with dyslexia.

[@Yesica1993]

I can't prove it with any study, but for myself, I know I retain less when reading digitally! I struggled and struggled to figure out why. I'm still not quite sure. But I know I am not imagining it. @@tyghe_bright

[@GentleReader01]

@@tyghe_brightAnd someone who reads as much as many of us so is unlikely to be a typical reader in otherwise. I am willfully, persistently left handed even though that’s not typical either.

[@jeremyfee]

Alternate titles for video: "The Floppiness Feature" or "Do You Prefer Them Big and Floppy?" I love how your discussion here entirely omitted my new favorite format for enjoying books: audio books. I even have associated memories, like when I think of a certain chapter from a book I might think about how I was cooking jambalaya while taking in the story.

[@benriley6716]

Ebooks ~ and they change the content! I like my old vintage, mass market, paperbacks. The mass markets are just easier to carry around and hold. Versus Ebooks and hardcovers. Plus they usually have really cool art on the cover!

[@tonette6592]

If only you could see our numbers of books. Frankly, I am not wild about ebooks but since, let's face it, they are cheaper. Another consideration is that those are the only way to be able to read a number of older books, plus, most of my writer friends have their works published only as ebooks. I really don't enjoy them. Absolutely NOTHING beats a nice hardback book. I love hardback books. We have a lot of paperbacks, because, again, they are often less expensive and easier to find, (not pulp romances, I can tell you!). I HATED audiobooks, I despised them. Then I stumbled across Kenneth Branagh's reading of "The Magician's Nephew". It may have also been that the story was new to me, but the whole Narnia series done by various fine actors is a beautiful set. I have since looked for listentoable audiobooks to catch up on some gaps in my reading experience,(or to revisit old friends), with GOOD readings of stories. The experience is not the same, but I can do mindless work and catch up on stories,(or again, hear old friends). It is certainly not my favorite way to experience a story, and many that I have rejected in audio I look for it in a way to read it word by word. If it is a story to savor, I want to go for it, but a truly good reading has its place in MY life, anyway. (I have screamed over AI.)

[@stephennootens916]

While I am fine with any format, I find I am more likely to finish ebooks often times slightly quicker. It might just be that I carry my kindle around with me or it is lighter but I have no problem just reading a book on ot for hours. Made I am just addicted to the damn thing.

[@ChrisDailyReading]

Interesting discussion! I love both physical books (preferably floppy paperbacks) and ebooks, for different reasons. I also have some fancy pants books, but honestly, mostly just for the shelves because I love them so much.

[@n815e]

There is something about reading a physical book that I prefer. The feel, the smell… And a book that is also an expression of art beyond the content? For my favorite books, there’s no substitute.

[@troytradup]

The Dunnigan translation of W&P is great! That very paperback was also my first experience with the book. Must be something in the air -- I'm reading the original version of The Stand right now, in its original mass market, and it's making me think a lot of about e-books. Again. Perhaps I'll do a video ... Cheers!

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Look how late I am getting to the comments! You did a great video.

[@prettymind1134]

i like all of the three formats ,i like old thrifted yellow pages floppy paperbacks with shiny covers lol they are easy to carry them around, on bed when ur sick or tired maybe ,kindle also the same for everywhere and hardbacks i love them on my shelves and i'm an old soul i like to read a book and feel like i am from a much older world like some old man in his victorian library with tea and candles burning around

[@gavinmcintosh5716]

Yeah, logic goes out the window with this topic. Format matters to me in some cases, so I don't fight it. 😅

[@snowysnowyriver]

Readers are spoiled for choice these days. The contents of books can be accessed in a myriad of ways and many versions. It is so exciting and something to relished and celebrated. Unfortunately, there are still people out there who sneer and condescendingly look down on those who use e-readers or audio formats. Surely the most important thing is that as many people as possible have access to the wonderful world of books. There can be a myriad of reasons for a person to use an e-reader or an audio format to access books, and none of them deserve snobby judgement.

[@evanames5940]

Hard covers let you do a Bible Thump without a Bible on hand. My favorite advantage of EReaders is the feature to do a Lookup. Words I don't know or historical factoids I did not know.

[@alohm]

I like this discussion. There is also another level to this - how the print and font size can be a barrier to some, how digital has shown itself to be less informative to the student... I argue that we should give students an audio book, digital and print edition of a book(and thanks to your discussion we should provide options for the print versions for students). Allow students to choose the format they find most educational, and even use an audio book with a digital version or print... I use all three. I tend to prefer the Audio versions, use the print versions for some of my very favourite books, and digital versions I use for notes and in-depth study since the copy and paste quotes and search function is amazing for someone predating the internet.

[@docsavage8640]

I personally can't read more than a few paragraphs of an eBook or PDF.

[@thomasr7292]

I think it's similar to ordering takeout and having it on a plate versus having it in the container it comes in. Technically, you're still having the same food but something about having it on a plate presents it in a way that seems more appetizing.

[@deborajohnson5717]

I read the fancy pants edition of War and Peace while listening to the audiobook at the same time. I loved it!

[@kaywebbharrison3373]

Very interesting subject. I like physical books, but because I now have problems with my hands, I pretty much read on my e-reader. My husband suggests that your preference for old mass-market paperbacks might have to do with olfactory stimuli. Regards, Kay

[@Steve_Stowers]

I love mass-market paperbacks because they're easy to hold, but mostly for the nostalgia factor-so many of the great reading experiences of my life have been with this format. But I also love e-books, and hardcovers (whether relatively plain or fancy-pants), for various different reasons.

[@GholaMuadDib]

My preferred reading is Kindle. I like that it's portable and I can blow up the text for my aging eyes. I went back and reread Dune, Conan and Lord of the Rings in regular book form. I still love them, but it never recaptures that feeling I got the first time I read them. So now I just reread them on Kindle. I have fancy pants editions of all of those books as well. It's more for the art and to have a relic of sorts from the before time. Before computers took over our lives completely.

[@ABT212]

I also love the thick mass market paperbacks. It's the one of the reasons I read Gone with the Wind.

[@Zeugnimodms]

I try showing people the chp Fearful Symmetry in Watchmen, and how the chapter reflects itself first page/last page toward the center. However, the exact centerfold loses its power as the spine submerges in the novel format. Now were it in the original floppy or even digitally it's much easier to take in the center image. So it does lead to discussions into the best way to consume the comic medium if traditional book bindings seem to hamstring the art of full page spreads

[@GentleReader01]

Comics are one of things I do make physical space for, along with art books, atlases, and some others. Sometimes the arrangements of element in space absolutely so matter, even for someone who reads almost entirely electronically.

[@alanbooker1955]

Great video as always! For some reason if there is a book that I love I always try to get a 'Fancy pants' edition knowing full well I will probably never read it ( I will re-read it on kindle or in the paperback I have). It will sit on my bookshelf untouched, taking up space etc. I don't know why I do this, but do it I do. I guess it's all part and parcel of being a book lover.

[@Yesica1993]

I love that I'm not the only weirdo who thinks WAY too much about this issue and still can't quite figure it out!

[@GentleReader01]

If you’re not overthinking, are you REALLY having an experience? :)

[@Yesica1993]

Ha!@@GentleReader01

[@AurorXZ]

For me it comes down to a few "primary modes": 1) ebooks are ideal for travel and research, 2) audiobooks are good for narrative and performance, 3) paperbacks are more carefree; 4) hardcovers are more serious/enduring, 5) fancy-pants are commemorative/heritage. Normally, I only buy hardcovers if available, simply because I plan to pass them on. I splurge on fancy-pants for works that I'm proud to own, and/or are a part of my literary DNA.

[@sandyokey1019]

I like ebooks for travel, but I don’t travel much😊. I love physical books, hardbacks, trade and mass market paperbacks, oversized, fancy-I love them all. I love the smell of books, I love being able to see how much I’ve read and how much more is left. I love bookmarks and finding odd bits in used books or library books. Inscriptions are fun to see, but I draw the line at liking previous readers grammar editing. I see the mistakes and I don’t like seeing them twice. I have never listened to an audio book. I think my mind will wander and I’ll lose too much of the story. Love this topic❤️

[@Spacejack-xx2yp]

For my own part, I tend to have a fondness for the construction of book club editions. You get a hard cover, but the floppy paper behavior of a B-format paperback. And always the absolute most accessible of typefaces. I like 'em.

[@zlmat]

Cheers from Portugal, Lisbon. Keep the good work to you and Roger

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks!

[@mrZanZibar777]

I'm a sucker for those Barnes and Noble Flexibound classics, not quite hardcover and not quite softcover, they're durable, comfortable to read, don't get creases on the spine, and look good on a shelf. Best of all worlds.

[@dagmoon]

Great subject! Thank you for bringing it up. I can't bring myself to an electronic format although it certainly has good logic going for it. However, 1. I can't donate it when I'm done, ebooks are a one person purchase. Paper books are not forever, but a single copy can be read by hundreds. Dozens for sure. 2. That annoyance of needing repeated charging whereas physical books are ready to go at all times. 3. It is physically a different experience. Reading a physical page is light bouncing off it, but reading electronically has the light projected through it. I don't know the science but I know the screen tires my eyes sooner. P.S. My favorite format is trade paperbacks. They are lighter to hold than hardbacks. And often open flatter. Mass markets can be smaller print and the spines are more resistant to a nice flat opening. That's my thoughts. Big thanks again for the video and attracting all the experiences of the commentors too.

[@NerdishlyActive]

To each their own. I honestly don’t understand the love affair/fetish with physical books. You said it yourself…”it’s the exact same story.” Most of us were reading books before ereaders existed so it’s safe to say we all love and appreciate physical books. But the perks and advantages of ebooks are simply unmatched. They are cheaper than physical books 98% of the time, they take up zero space in your home, you can customize your font and display/layout settings, and they are effortless to hold. How on earth can you beat all of that?! You can’t.

[@mr.alaska2232]

Because most of us book readers are also book collectors and we enjoy having a physical copy

[@NerdishlyActive]

@@mr.alaska2232 Weird

[@dagmoon]

Consider this. ebooks are not cheaper than used books. Also, once you've read and donated said used book it too takes up zero space in your home. We all do what works and pleases us best, including a mix of approaches..

[@Spacejack-xx2yp]

Like seeing a movie in a theater, with company. The movie stands alone, but your experience was also of the evening, the people, the place, how full your stomach was, the state of your dental situation at the time, maybe the state of intoxication, etc...

[@marjoriedonnett5467]

I prefer trade paperbacks with larger print. Not huge print, but not smaller than 12-point. When one gets older, small print just doesn't "cut it." A few months ago I picked up a copy of "Sandstorm" by James Rollins. It had 14-point print and was also a very fun read. On the other hand, I ordered a copy of "The King in Yellow" from Barnes and Noble from its website and when it arrived, I was shocked to see the tiny print! There needs to be a warning when the print is 8-point! Mass market paperbacks, therefore, I avoid, due to the small print. I have an e-reader, but rarely use it. I just love physical books.

[@UsernameyMcUsernameFace]

In terms of digital vs physical, I prefer physical for fiction, because the editions tend to be nicer and I like the tactile, olfactory and visual benefits of holding a book in my hands, but I'll primarily go with digital for non-fiction because it makes annotation so much easier and if it's a textbook then it's likely to be significantly cheaper that way. As for types of physical edition, I unfortunately discovered Folio Society last year and have gone a little bit ham on buying from them directly or on eBay since. I do like a nice edition. It enhances the experience for me for the above reasons. That said, it depends on the book. I'm spending that kind of money on major classics and/or personal favourites. Translation is important as well, which is why I tend to avoid Easton Press and similar publishers. Their edition of Don Quixote is almost the perfect edition of my favourite book, with the artwork by Gustave Doré and everything, but their insistence on using shitty translations just because they're public domain ruins it a bit. For the price they charge you'd expect more consideration given to the inside, not just the baubles and adornments on the outside.

[@hisforheretic1765]

Hardcover or soft, as long as I have a physical copy, I'm fine.

[@rickcantrell5302]

Hi, Michael! Another interesting video. As a fellow book-lover and collector, I think about this a lot, as well. Here are my thoughts: The author of a book puts down the words he wants us to read. He does not create the paper, or the binding, or even (usually) the beautiful (if he's lucky) illustrations that may go along with the words he put down; the ones he wants us to read. If you think of a book as the conversation between an author and his reader, then really, in a perfect world, the ebook is the perfect way to receive the author's words. No distractions. Of course, we do not live in a perfect world, and ebooks have some issues. But really, every book format has some issues. Reading through the accompanying comments makes that clear. You just have to do what works for you with a given book, taking into account availability, price, storage capacity, and aesthetics, and probably some other considerations I forgot. I'm currently reading the Complete Short Stories of Henry James. I'm reading it on my Kindle Scribe. I also have the five volume Library of America edition of these stories. The LOA edition has notes (good) and small print (bad). The edition on my Scribe is the First Edition, as James originally published the stories. The LOA edition is the Second Edition, including all of the changes (not necessarily improvements) James made when he was older. I'm glad I have both. If there was an audiobook version by someone whose voice I could stand to listen to for many years, I would probably get that, too. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with my books, movies and music when I die. "Don't give 'em to me!", my nieces and nephews say.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

How do you like the Kindle Scribe?

[@rickcantrell5302]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 I really like the Scribe, mainly because it is like a paper white, but with a much bigger screen. I haven't played with the note-taking capability, yet. MJ did a couple of videos on it, which sold me.

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

The text on an ereader is easier on the eyes for the most part. Bad formatting can negate that advantage. As I get older the print size on some paperbacks and hardcovers is too small without reading glasses.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I just wear my glasses 👓

[@NmDPlm31]

Nice video, Michael. As far as why people prefer some formats over others, the reasons are many and varied. I'm one of those who prefers a hardcover because I like the heft and the quality and it stands up nice on my shelf. If no hardcover exists I will opt for the trade paperback. I almost never choose a mass market unless I'm buying old SF/F classics at the used shop. But this is a change from when I was in my teens, when almost everything I bought was mass market -- because I could more readily afford the $2.99 throwaway book instead of the $20 hardcover. But I will buy a digital copy for my Kindle because I've found that it's easier for me to read in bed, not having a light on and disturbing the Mrs. Or if I'm on the go. Otherwise, my reading at home is always physical copy. Why do you choose to go back to the mass market instead of the digital? Easy. Nostalgia and comfort. Your brain already equates a fond memory to the reading of said book in that format and so returning to it again is almost second nature. The tactile feel of a book and the turning of those pages bring immediate recall and it feels good. Books are more than just the words. Books are an experience that involves words. The feel and smell of a book and the turning of pages all imprint themselves and give a different satisfaction as opposed to reading digitally. Just look how excited you get when you look at how many pages are left! That tiny sliver and you get all worked up with excitement or disappointment. You can't see that digitally. Sure, you can see a number that says you've read 95% of a book, but actually SEEING the pages remaining is a different input for your brain. And we'll just gloss over the studies showing retention of material is improved with physical book reading as opposed to digital. (Not here to knock digital. I use it and find it super useful.) Another point before I wrap up, when I released my debut fantasy in 2022, I offered hardcover, trade paperback, and Kindle versions, and I expected the Kindle version to sell more because it was cheaper and more efficient. But trade paper and hardcover have sold almost double the digital output. Which made my hardcover loving heart smile. Anyway, keep up the awesome videos. Glad I've run into them.

[@inanimatecarbongod]

Don't know if Signet still prints that edition of W&P, but they do have it in ebook form. Stupidly cheap, too (currently only $1.99 on Amazon). For me I think the contents of the book are more important than their physical or electronic container, even more so when it comes to translations into English. A nice, big fancy edition (like one of those Easton Press books or a Folio Society one) can be a delightful thing to read, but as someone whose eyes are not what they used to be and getting worse with time (and were never much good to begin with, I've been wearing glasses since I was 7 or 8), ebook simply tends to be the best option for me. I can play with size and line spacing and things like that, even edit the file itself to suit me, which I obviously can't do with printed books; too many older books just have too small print for me.

[@GentleReader01]

I’ve got a friend going blind from diabetic retinopathy who literally wouldn’t be able to read print at all without the ability to crank the text so large that at most a single paragraph fits on the phone screen. But with that he can keep up with current research in paleontology and other things that interest. I value his reading and the reading of people like him over feelings of others about soul and the like, when it comes right down to it.

[@inanimatecarbongod]

@@GentleReader01 I'm probably going to end up blind from diabetes as well if I live long enough. So I can see myself (as it were) in your friend's position one day.

[@GentleReader01]

@@inanimatecarbongod Here’s hoping it holds off a good long while, and that you have comfy options as you need them. Degeneration sucks.

[@BookishChas]

It doesn’t necessarily matter a whole lot to me, but the whole reading experience is better for me on kindle.

[@GentleReader01]

This is a thing for me too. The text feels more…present, I guess…on Kindle or phone than in print, about 19 times out of 20 for me in the last decade. There’s a companionliness in not wrestling with an awkward tome. And always having a hand free to hold my SO or pet our cats.

[@charliedogg7683]

When I buy a physical book I possess the text as printed for as long as the paper lasts. If I download that same book someone I don't know can change the cover or the text without my permission or knowledge. The implied contract between me and the author gains a third player, the company supplying the ebook version, and most of the power is suddenly with them. So I will stay with physical books. This is why you have so many subscribers and views Michael, you don't just review stories but look into the philosophy of reading and those elements that underpin our desire, nay, need to read. A great video.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks

[@GentleReader01]

It’s entirely possible to buy books that are actually sold as files you can download and keep. Lots of publishers and various kinds of storefronts do that. One can even read these in Kindle devices. I agree that not-actually-owned purchases are bad, but it’s not the only game in town. DriveThruFiction is a good example, as is the book section of Humble Bundle.

[@ellesse3862]

I've read all kinds of formats of printed books, of those I began to keep relating to characters/authors/worlds, I've since replaced crumbly older yellowy foxed paperbacks with omnibus editions, usually hardbacks. I still buy paperbacks, either its the only available option at that moment or because its a classic old book, I like the larger paperbacks more than the old smaller size of our youth. New or newish releases I'll buy in hardback if I can. I don't buy books to be ornaments, I buy them to read, hopefully well made because if I like a thing I will keep it and return to it again and again. Conan for example, I got the Del Rey paperbacks over the one volume hardback because an expert on the material advised which was the superior product.

[@jesustenes2]

I wish I could read on physical books because I prefer them too, but most books I read are not in my native language so the kindle really helps to look-up words. I am also extremely picky and I often find something that bothers me with physical copies, often the font-size being too small. But I definitely miss holding them and the smell!

[@LoreLord-]

I have a softcover reader copy and a hard COLLECTED copy of my favorite books. I preferred to read a hard cover sewed binding type book because I come from the comic world where omnibus is KING! That being said a small paperback is way more viable and can cary around with you don’t have to sit at a table or have a bunch of pillows around you

[@captainnolan5062]

If you set a 'floppy' book [like a large paperback] on the table, it will likely stay open to the page you are reading (much more likely than a hardback).

[@stretmediq]

I used to have an MMP in my back pocket that I could whoop out and read anywhere. When I was home though I preferred HC books that I could lay out on my desk. As for my kindle I've only read one book on it just to see what it was like and I kept wondering if this is what it was like when Nebuchadnezzar was sitting around the palace reading Gilgamesh on his cuneiform tablets. Now I only use my kindle for reading technical papers and other stuff for work

[@capturedbyannamarie]

I think the first way you read a book is often the way you want to reread it, so you can replicate the joy of reading it the first time. I often will not read a book if the edition is not one I want to keep, because if I like it then I get super attached to the first copy I read.

[@captainnolan5062]

I also love the Signet Classics War and Peace (I have 2 copies). It feels really good in the hand. I also have the Easton Press version, but prefer the paperback. When you read a book electronically, studies have shown that you do not retain the information as well as when you read a hard copy. I only read an e-book as a last resort. I love physical books and vastly prefer reading them than e-books.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I know of one study that showed that but I admit I’m skeptical. If there have been other studies that duplicated those results then that is a different story. Paperbacks are certainly cooler and more satisfying in any case.

[@Kite562bookishreviews]

I'm not picky about hard cover or softcover what matters to me most are 2 things: 1. The print the story is written in is easy on my eyes. 2. The book is in good condition to be read but is not going to explode pages everywhere the second I open the first few pages lol. 🙂❤📚

[@richarddefortuna2252]

As per e-readers, I can't explain it, but I get anxious when I'm reading an e-book that does not have page numbers. I don't want to know how many minutes or hours are left in the book or chapter, as it makes me feel like I'm being tested to complete it in a given time; I really don't want to know how many data parts I've completed out of a total number of data parts, both of which could just as easily be randomly generated numbers as far as I'm concerned; and a lack of any indication of the passage from first page to last makes me feel as if there's no beginning and no end. So frustrating!

[@mrc-rrn]

don't know what ebooks you are reading but 95% of mine have a page count

[@annakhjelm146]

I completely agree! I have always enjoyed seeing my progress thrugh a book, maybe be because I am a very slow reader due to being wordblind and e-readers, for me, always seem to lessen the achivement of finnishing a big book🤔 which is most of the books on my TBR at the moment 😅

[@dqan7372]

Business practices and rights are a big issue with me, but I still buy digital. Formatting also makes a difference; I have a Big Book of Pulp that includes comics that did not port well to my digital device. (I have a newer device, so I should recheck it; maybe it's improved.) I absolutely LOVE the fact that I can change font and font size on a whim. And as I have some physical disabilities, it's nice to have hundreds of books at my fingertips. Still, if I had a bigger house, I would definitely still be getting physical books. I turned down a free Ishiguro novel yesterday because of limited space. Crazy.

[@russworks2882]

The essential element of books is just words, but the experience of books is sensory, the format and typeface engage the intellect in specific ways. And there is also a sensual component for book lovers; collectors of old paperbacks, pulps and newsprint comics often savor the smell, the fumes from the books they enjoy, they appreciate the craft of the binding or the cover paintings and find these things enriching to their experience of the books as objects. I really love well-made illustrated and illuminated books and in other ways I love lurid vintage paperbacks with exploitative covers and hysterical back cover copy. I've seen reviews of books that seemed valuable as physical works of art, even beyond what the text says. How can you not be captivated by the Barry Moser illustrated giant folio edition of Moby Dick, or the trippy version of the Hashish Eater with collages by Wilfried Satty, or the Snakeskin-bound German edition of the Wild Boys, with drawings by S.Clay Wilson? Even the sheer heft of a thick book is part of the experience. I think it can be in some ways a comfort to have something that substantial that you can spend your time with, like making a new friend and revisiting a reliable friend in the rereading of it.

[@AmtrakJack42]

I usually have both e-book and paperback copies of each book I read. I prefer the paperback during the day and e-book at night in bed. I live within walking distance to the Brattle so it makes it possible to do it cheaply.

[@gustavo9506]

I bought the Big Book of Pulps (and also the Big Book of Black Mask Stories) just because of your video about them and I have to say this: both are much more interesting than any phone book I've seen.

[@citrinedragon1466]

I've read war and peace five times... but these days I only read ebooks because I can change the font size lol

[@upstart3r]

I was talking to someone at work back around the time Blu-rays became popular around 15 years ago now and wondered why they couldn’t do something similar with books and music with providing several physical copies (4k, Blu-ray, and DVD) and a digital copy. Music could be packaged with vinyl, CD, or cassette and digital code. Books could be packaged with your choice of physical copy (hardcover, trade paperback, mass market paperback, or audiobook) with a digital code for an e-reader.

[@Yesica1993]

I've been saying this since ereaders came along! Or, at least have the price come down. Yes, you can get some deals. But there are still many cases where a digital copy is way more than a used paperback copy. It makes no sense to me. I'm broke, so I have to go with what's cheapest!

[@Mister_Sosotris]

I’ve read many different formats, and the one that feels the best is trade paperbacks. I know MMPB are smaller and easier to hold, but trade paperbacks just feel more tactile and I love the bigger font sizes. Maybe I’m just old, haha

[@bigaldoesbooktube1097]

Keep banging that War and Peace drum Mike. I keep telling people they need to read it but with little success. Is it the 1400 pages? It has a reputation but it certainly isn’t warranted. I think it reads really well and is soooo good 😊

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

It really is.

[@Yesica1993]

I've wanted to tackle it! I usually don't mind huge books. I see it as a challenge. But, yeah, that one intimidates me. Aren't there a lot of characters to keep track of? That's always a struggle for me.

[@bigaldoesbooktube1097]

@@Yesica1993 there are a few but less than AsOiAf as an example. Other than a couple of the very early introduced Princes you will not muddle any of the characters as they are very distinct. The Brothers Karamazov is much harder for this as they are more inclined to use shortened or nick names for the characters. The hurdle of War and Peace is really only about 400 pages because the next 1000 suddenly start flying by.

[@DavidWiley7]

It absolutely seems to make a difference. I'm not sure I could pinpoint it, either. I'd almost always prefer a physical copy, even though there's some convenience in eBooks!

[@datfly3034]

The Kindle is great - most of my current library is in Kindle format - and the reading experience is essentially the same. However, on Kindle you don't own the book, and Amazon can make modifications and updates (or even remove access) at their discretion. The maim reason I prefer kindle is due to storage space constraints. If I had space for a huge library, I'd probably prefer paperbacks. That said, I think both formats have a place. Kindle is convenient, yet its great to have a paper copy - even if only for archival purposes. I also like the ability to adjust font size, as my eyesight deteriorates.

[@Yesica1993]

Your opening comments about your W & P editions reminded me of my own experience with my old, beloved, now falling to pieces paperback edition of Gone With the Wind. It's a favorite re-read of mine. I'm 50+ and I've had this particular copy since I was in 8th grade. I only know that because I had scrawled my classroom number in it. Who knows why kids do anything? It was a thrift store buy, so it was already old by the time I got it. I adore that thing. It's now in a plastic bag for protection. I haven't looked at it for a while. Maybe it's literally dust by now. But, yes, even though I bought an almost-new hardcover and also have it on Kindle, I really would rather read that old battered one. I'm sure someone smarter than me knows the psychological / science-y reasons of why editions and formats matter. It shouldn't. I have this mental argument with myself all the time. IT'S THE EXACT SAME WORDS! It makes no sense that there should be any difference. And yet, there somehow is.

[@gnosis555]

My favorite book type is a slim hardcover no more than 250 - 300 pages. Very few of those out there. I’d rather larger books came out in multiple smaller volumes.

[@davidnovakreadspoetry]

I read _Anna Karenina_ in a similar (not so fat) Signet. Two-columned type in a book is my worst nightmare. 😂

[@disshelvedwithadamwhite8731]

It sounds like a kind of nostalgia for how you first experienced the book or how you feel it should be experienced. I’m kind of the same way. If there’s a big annotated version of the book I usually go with that one. Or if there’s a definitive version like the Del Rey Conan. I try to do as much digital as possible just for not having any space for stuff but that never stops me from getting a physical copy if I feel it necessary. And my eyes aren’t so great so the digital copy having increased font size helps my reading. But if it’s a book I want to reference things from I prefer physical so I can mark the pages easily. So I’m kind of all over the place.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I’m still kind of all over the place as well.

[@MadJustin7]

It depends. When I'm reading classic literature I prefer B&N paperbacks because the footnotes add insight and help to make the work more digestible. Then if I like the book, I'll try and find the nicest edition I can afford to add to my collection because I like having nice books to display. Regular fantasy or Scifi I like hardbacks because of the tactile feel and reading experience. But I also have a kindle app because of the convenience of being able to read in waiting rooms ect. I also listen to audiobooks because I commute to work an hour each way and it's a horrible waste of time to listen to music every day.

[@Zozette27]

I don’t have much choice about my the format that I use. I have poor eyesight and arthritis in my fingers. My eyesight means I need a larger font so that is a reason for either using a large print format or an e-reader. However only limited large print books are available and are too heavy for me to hold. The absolute best format for me are audiobooks because I don’t need to hold anything. About 85% of books I ‘read’ are audiobooks, 10% ebooks and 5% paper books. I can only read a paperback for maybe 30 minutes before my fingers start to hurt.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I’m really glad audiobooks have become so popular because now the selection is so vast. That wasn’t always the case.

[@Yesica1993]

My eyesight is getting worse all the time, so I am sure I will come to the point where I have to use an ereader more often than physical books. Thank God we have such options, right? I'd lose my mind if I couldn't read anymore.

[@GentleReader01]

@@Yesica1993Sooo true.

[@Barrigard]

I’d love to be e-reader free and only read old school format paperbacks but there is too much new independent fiction coming out just to e-book format to not own a Kindle.

[@annakhjelm146]

Good point 🤔 I haden't thought about that

[@bernardjohnson8093]

I like mass market paperbacks. They fit well in the hand.

[@knittingbooksetc.2810]

The books I really like and reread ad eternum I want to have in paper. The smell and tact are important.

[@DanielsBibliophagy]

If it has a cool cover, generally fantasy or science fiction, I will want a paper copy of the book. Hardcovers only annoy me when they have an unsecured dust jacket.

[@erikaeriksson9840]

Ebooks trigger migraines for me so - no. Really floppy paperbacks -no, hate them. Beautiful leatherbounds -I buy these of my favourites just to keep on the shelf and admire. For reading I prefer hardbacks if I'm at home and paperbacks if I travel. Some books I have in three different editions... 😅

[@kyrilson71]

I struggle with this myself. I like both print and ebooks, and logically, it seems like ebooks would win out everytime, since they're ethereal and don't take up space, and you change the font size, etc. But sometimes I'll opt for a ratty old paperback, even if I have the same book on my kindle. And like you, I cannot, for the life of me, figure out why.

[@Six-Shooter]

I do feel it does matter somehow. I mean, I love to read my Westerns but when I got a old paperback where its pages bout to fall out, I won't read it unless I have a better condition copy or up to date printing. Since having the Kindle, I have struggled to finish a book on it as of yet. I seem to have difficulty in getting into the habit of picking it up and quite often end up tripping up on words and sentences on it. But that might just be cause I ain't the strongest reader anyway. But I do blame the kindle for being the reason I was unable to finish Zane Greys Lone Star Ranger when we were reading it for Rogers Book Club. Since I had no reading copy, just a rare great conditions vintage copy, I chose to read it on kindle. To which sadly I didn't finish.

[@docsavage8640]

I love a book small enough to carry around with large enough print to be easily readable. A lot of fancy premium hardcovers are totally useless to me due to sheer size and weight.

[@jonathanfenton5496]

There is a difference and that is, the pay the authors get. Funny's thing. An author gets more for the more expensive hardback versus the less expensive paperback. But I do see the appeal in carrying books on your phone, instead of something physical. I find I read more on my phone but do like getting physical copies. (Depending on what it is. A modern thriller would be a kindle purchase for sure)

[@davidsigler9690]

It's the art work on the covers is why you like the printed versions.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

It doesn’t hurt.

[@davidsigler9690]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 Indeed that is true.

[@Yesica1993]

Oh, goodness, I only just a few weeks or a couple months ago finally got rid of the last phone book I received when they used to pass them out! I kept it for nostalgia's sake and also just in case the internet disappeared or my computer / phone died and I had no access to it. Now watch that happen and I'll be CUT OFF FROM EVERYTHING AND I WILL DIE!

[@wburris2007]

All books should be available in Mass Market Paperback. Someday I should set a month aside for reading War & Peace.

[@jayspeijer614]

I generally prefer hardcovers or trade paperbacks for aesthetic and ergonomic reasons. For large fantasy/sci-fi novels having maps and sometimes illustrations this is a must. I will tolerate a MM paperback if I don’t have a better option, but dislike them particularly for anything over about 300-350 pages; prying open anything larger makes my hands feel like those of an over-worked chiropractor. Ebooks don’t help to reduce screen time, and they are just not cozy, so no. Audiobooks also lack tactile appeal and are clunky for re-reading passages when my mind wanders, which it increasingly seems to do, so once again, no. Fancy pants books: love them, and love reading them, taking extra care to mind my coffee spills 😉

[@HobbiesofaMan]

To me the mass market paperback is almost always the best version of a book for me. The size is compact and just the right size for my preferences, it’s cheap which serves for two things, I can buy more books, and it makes it so that I don’t feel so bad about folding it and cracking the spine so much since I can replace it easily if needed. Hardcovers are nice for the shelf but not for reading for me and ebooks remove the physical feedback that makes reading a pleasure. No smell, no crinkle, no texture, just a sterile screen that is just a bit too bright sometimes

[@centy64]

I like it all but I mostly read on my ereader for convenience, the books I like best I buy a hardback of if possible for the bookshelves.

[@paulbigbee]

The purchase of a physical book should include a non-DRM ebook version. The book oligopoly knows it can pretend that the ebook is substantially different but I would point to the TTRPG publishers as the counterexample.

[@robertlynn7746]

I like collecting physical books, hardcover or softcover. As far as reading I like softcovers they just seemed easier to hold and read

[@missstarbuck]

Ebooks aren't for me. I tried reading one in january, and i still haven't finished it. I just love physical books. I love to see how far i have read, i love the feel of turning the pages. I love to see my books, because mostly the covers and such are a work of art. I even love the smell of an old or a new book. I stay with physical books. And also... we nowadays are way too much already in front of screens... i don't want to add another screen into my life. Paperback or hardback doesn't really matter to me actually. But i guess why a lot of people love paperback more is bacause they will flip more easily open. Also... i do not consider audiobooks as reading... you listen to a book, but you aren't reading a book. Also not something for me.. audiobooks.

[@kirktanka8199]

It all comes down to paper books are better. Each book has character (bent pages, scuffed up covers, and lest I not leave off the most important, the smell). An ebook is always the same screen. Books allow one to progress through the book and it is a tangible thing to hold and turn pages and lest I not forget the most important, the smell. I will take an old Edgar Rice Burroughs book and smell the pages as I flip through the pages and proudly exclaim, “Smells like…ADVENTURE!”

[@jimmysoncookland5446]

Like I found a cheap copy of the Omen that was published the same year of the movie. It's so cool to me holding something 50 years old in my hands and I love the idea of that and don't mind reading it.

[@Sgtvenom4598]

I love horror novels in their original paperback forms. I’ve tried Ebooks and they just don’t give me the same satisfaction as a worn out old smelling paperback.

[@kaipacifica1289]

I tend not to like paperbacks because they are the hardest to keep pristine -- and I hate reading yellowed, crumbling books or those with broken spines. I like how hardback books look on a shelf, but... I don't care for the 10" size or rigidity. I prefer the smaller book club editions. But with that comes the lower gauge of the paper and inferior binding. Still, there's something about those miniature hardcovers! The only format of book I hate is E-book. Why? Extreme hoarding is encouraged, reader retention is poor, and without electricity you might as well have nothing.

[@Brunette_Rapunzel]

I bought the fancy pants version of my favorite classic, The Count of Monte Cristo. Now, will I ever read that version? No, pry not. The 1500 page Count of Monte Cristo don't travel well and would be impossible for me too hold up in bed. They are just too heavy. I love being able to carry around books on a very lightweight device. As a severe fibromyalgia sufferer and a traveler, if I can only choose one, I'm going with team Kindle. That being said, I have several fancy pants versions of my favorite novels, but it's more because I collect them and they look nice in my Tolkien library/office than anything.

[@diamondslashranch]

In my case reading has nothing to do with sense😂. As I see it we have many choices now for many situations and that’s pretty nice.

[@michaelrenteria1984]

Idk, the tactile feel of the paper and the type of material that is being used on the covert, Oh and don’t forget the smell of old books too. I prefer physical books

[@andromedakrull5239]

It depends! I'm a great fan of Kindle, especially because I'm a somewhat messy person. At the moment I'm reading "The Count of Monte Cristo". I'm positive should I've chosen a paper format, that'd be completely destroyed already, even with missing pages! So, obviously, I'm using kindle. Having said that, some books I have to get on paper because I want to highlight pieces, make notes ... Kindle's very practical, you can customise your book, what's great. However I dislike the idea of depending on technology. Plus the gadgets get dated very quickly. Books don't need the internet, batteries, updates, they don't crash, you don"t need to sign anywhere in order to download them etc etc etc. Books are eternal!

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Yes they are!

[@Luckyshaker2]

I have big book pulps in audible format 73 hrs. :)

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Wow!

[@Darwriter]

I prefer hardbacks. The Everyman series is really good quality - at such modest prices.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Those are excellent books.