Sunday, January 24, 2016

Books in Multiple Formats

With the advent of e-books, it's now possible to own the same book in both digital and print versions. I've chosen to keep some of my favorite books, such as Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, With Strings Attached, and To Say Nothing of the Dog, in both formats. My paper copy of Z&AMM is pretty beat up by now, but it has a lot of underlining and notes that I want to keep. (I have highlights and notes in the Kindle version too, but they may not be identical.) Other paper books, particularly novels, I'm willing to sell after I've purchased a duplicate electronic copy. I haven't added new bookshelves to my office for several years, so even though I don't buy paper books as much as I used to, I still need to make room for new books. Finally, there are other books, such as The Story of Philosophy, that I have in paper but not in e-book format. I think I did download the sample at some point, but I will probably wait for another sale on the e-book before I buy it.

If you read both paper books and e-books, do you keep books in both formats, or does one format replace the other? Please feel free to discuss your format preferences in the comments.

9 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I still have some books I will keep in print, like the hardbacks of my Terry Brooks and Preston and Child collection. But paperbacks I get rid of, some even if I don't have them in eBook form. (It's a rare book I read more than once.) We've actually gotten rid of some bookshelves.
I'd like to start chucking CD's next. We must have a thousand or so...

Susan Jett said...

I do this too! My favorites, I might even have a physical reading copy, and a 'gorgeous copy'. Plus an e-copy in case I simply MUST read it while traveling.

And then of course, there are the ebooks I've bought on sale, which then MUST be owned in hard copy.

All books are good books!

Sandra Ulbrich Almazan said...

Alex, I do have some hardcovers and trade paperbacks in addition to normal-sized paperbacks. Maybe I should start selling those off too. Many of my CDs have become damaged due to poor handling, so I should get rid of them too.

Susan, I don't have space for "gorgeous copies," but I agree all books and all formats are good!

Maria Zannini said...

I generally buy nonfiction in paper and fiction in ebook. Most fiction I'll only read once while the nonfiction is usually a technical journal (like canning, gardening, or crafts) that I'll reference often.

Sandra Ulbrich Almazan said...

Maria, I buy most of my fiction in ebook, but I do get ebook nonfiction as well, especially if it's offered at a reasonable price.

Anonymous said...

Generally, I only buy ebooks and online magazines. I have kept my science fiction paperback collection from back in the day and probably would never part with them, but I don't feel wedded to paper bound books for pleasure reading. I'd rather keep the space in my house and the ability to up the font for easier reading. Exceptions are signed copies of books from writer friends or authors I adore.

On the flip side, I always buy tutorial/how-to books on paper. I like to use them in my design studio, but there is much metal dust and metals flying around. I would rather not bring a tablet in there, so paper works better in that environment. Same goes for cookbooks. I have a small collection of these two types of books in my office or kitchen.

I have not caught the audiobook bug as yet, so I don't own any of those currently.

Sandra Ulbrich Almazan said...

Nowastedink, I do have several signed copies of books, and I agree paper cookbooks are easier to work with than ebooks. There's a place for everything, I guess.

PT Dilloway said...

I've bought a few books for Kindle I already own in paper when they went on sale. Otherwise I don't usually have money to own two copies.

Jennifer Ruth Jackson said...

My best friend buys in both formats frequently.
I don't. Since I tend to only read books once and then give them away, I buy few physical books. I'm really loving ebooks the past month or so and have bought more books on my device since Christmas than I have physical books in years.

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