lending books for reading

I will never ever loan a book out again! I did this for a colleague three years ago and I see him everyday and he still hasn't returned it. I stopped asking in the end. I don't know how people can be so rude!

This is so true! I've lent books to people and never ever got them back. I've got to the stage where I refuse to lend anymore.

I don't like lending anything cos I hate people that don't return stuff. Then I will ask them till I get it back and probably lose the friendship in the process..not that I am materialistic, but I expect them not to take me for granted and keep what isn't theirs, without expecting a reaction!

I never lend a book that I am "attached" to but then again I'm rarely "attached" and will often enjoy knowing that I've offered a book that I loved to someone else to enjoy. I love to share my books. My mom and I share books all the time too and we do give them back and forth most of the time. I have a typical saying I tell everyone I give a book to... "it's a book, enjoy it, read it, take it with you and if I never get it back that's fine as long as you've enjoyed it as much as me". And I truly mean it too!

It all depends on who I loan the book to. I only loan books out to the friends that I know for sure will return them. Otherwise I will just give them the book. If I don't want it back then that is ok. I don't ever loan out certain books of mine such as my Reiki books, among others.

This begs the question of whether we should lend books to friends. You are right to suggest that books once lent might be considered gone. That is why sometimes we should understand when people refuse or are uncomfortable about loaning books. It has nothing to do with selfishness. Book lovers... love books. I would rather buy a second copy and give that to you than lend you my only copy. :P

That is funny, I'm familure with Thomas Carlyle's writings but have never heard this - I have however had friends like that and tend to be very very leary of lending books anymore, only close trusted friends.

There are 2 peoples 1. they say i read book a lot and collect many books 2. if they took a book they wont start another book before finishing the first one.... so you can lend to second type of personalities