Is it wrong to buy second hand books?

You are actually helping the environment when you buy secondhand books because that is reusing or recycling. I do that a lot because you only read a book once. What is the use of keeping it for a long time after you have read it? I find it more practical to buy secondhand books.

What?! I don't get why he called you crazy just because of buying second-hand books. I don't think it's wrong. The publisher and the author have already earned from the one who bought it brand new. I have already bought a second-hand book by Stephen King, "The Green Mile".

I don't think there is anything wrong in buying second hand books. I also do this. I think it is practical since you will save money. I also don't think that buying second hand books is in any way associated with piracy since you are still purchasing it and not just downloading the story from the net. We are also saving the trees =)

Oh wow, this makes me think a lot. I am a fan of books and for me all books need to be read at least once. Even the oldest of books should be read. Though I get your friends' point because secondhand books dont give the writers and the publishers the credit that they deserve for making those books. However, I feel that secondhand books also have been bought by people when they were new, and this is the value of that book. Since the older the book, the cheaper it gets there's really no reason that the writers and publishers dont get their value. They could protest to secondhand books if over time the books get even more expensive but that is not the case. Buying secondhand books is definitely not wrong. In fact it adds value to the book because it has a new owner. It can share it's information or provide entertainment to another person. That is the whole purpose of a book's existence after all. For me, Id rather see a book being sold at a secondhand book store rather than on a pile of rubbish for disposal.

Are you kidding me? LOL..I don't see anything bad in buying second hand books. I mean, i pretty much prefer buying used ones because it's cheaper. Physical appearance cannot guarantee beauty but the quality is just the same, nothing more, nothing less. In my opinion, yes in a way piracy can be dealt here and your friend was quite right about that, however, we also need to take into consideration that reading is our passion and sometimes the only way for us to have one is to buy second hand ,other than brand new which is quite expensive. Getting brand new is not bad either, in fact i like it more if i can afford..But due to financial constraints, second hand books are in demand ...

I never had an habit of reading novels or any kind of books but my mom is crazy about those and she used to lend books from a library and pay back with some rent added to it.i still remember those days when she used to forcibly take me to the library man---i hated that place coz its too silent and i cant keep my mouth shut and i used to create a mess around by disturbing others(serious readers) so that my mom would pick a book faster and get me out of that place else she would be at the racks for hours searching.she used to read all those fictional and suspense genre mostly. According to my observation she never read a book twice---dont know if this happens with everyone or not---may be if its too intersting then one would buy it so he can read it again.So there is nothing wrong in buying second hand books---it saves a lot of money coz some doesnt carry out the story with the same pace till the end right.great day.

true book theft is when you buy ones with ripped off covers-it could be one reported to the publisher as "destroyed". no,they don't make money on the second sale,but to call it piracy is stretching it. consumers have the right to resale after they've legitimately paid the first time. copying it in bulk and reselling that would be piracy if it's still in print. i buy second hand books all the time-sometimes it's the only way to find rare and out of print books.

there is nothing wrong with buying old books, new books also may not be used forever. If you do not have the money to buy a new one for what you force your wish. I don't think you're crazy, you do the right thing. Before you buy old book make sure the content same with new book. I also buy old books because the writing was not legible I keep in the closet as a memory.

Your friend needs a serious wake-up call. If you are in college. What does he think of the furniture that you are forced to use in the dorms. Does he consider it piracy that he has to re-use what is there? If it weren't for the second hand shops, then things would end up in the landfills and cause more environmental issues. Or how about those who have yard sales? When we may need a little pocket money? Are we considered pirates as well? As many others who have responded have said, they publisher and writers have already been paid. That is in their contract. What happens after wards with the books. Well, that is the responsibility of the person that purchased it.

Booksales are all over the world, and there is nothing wrong with it. It gives books second lives. Because some people read books once, and don't mind them after that. So it is better when somebody else, without the financial capacity to buy a new one, read it. You are just being practical, I think your friend is just rich, and he shows that he can afford to buy new stuff all the time.

HI! I think there is nothing wrong about that buying books second hand.There are many people buying second hand books, there are also many people buying second hand clothes, and I don't see anything wrong in that to buy something second hand! I think it is good, because when you buy the book, you give it a new life, I mean its last owner has rode it and maybe he will not read it again, and when you bought it you give it new life, because now you will read it and maybe you will give it to someone else who can read it too! We must not throw our books away. Books are like treasure! And we must keep them !

I don't think there is any problem with using second hand books.From grade 6th onwards I have been using second hand book.If you are in higher grades, thee is an advantage too with second hand books, your old book might be marked with importants notes.Go for it.

That's a silly question. :) Books are wonderful and it doesn't matter what condition they're in or how many times they've been passed around or anything like that. And that stuff about piracy is a total crock. If it was piracy stores like "Half Price Books" would never be allowed to resell them. That's like saying Good Will is piracy!

there is nothing wrong with buying second hand books, you just recycle the books and there is no need to cut trees for the paper to publish another. another factor is that second hand books are much cheaper. i think it is not piracy. the original owner who bought the book has no more need for it so it is his prerogative if he wants to sell it and make a profit of what he owns. he can either give it or sell it. he sold it and you bought it, where is the piracy in there?

I buy a lot of second had books. I usually know a person, who has got brand new books, which are sold to him after a couple of readings, and I usually get it for about 30% of the orginal rate.I cannot offered the price of the new books. I also buy some specialised magazines second hand.These magazines are quite expensive, and I usually get it after a month or after a couple of months later, for just 10% of the original rate.

I'm not a book lover but I think buying secondhand books is not a bad thing at all. I would not call it "piracy" since the book you bought is an original copy, the difference is that it was already owned by someone. Being practical, buying secondhand books is a one way to satisfy your needs at a less cost. Technically speaking, put the lessons you learned in economics. If the cost of a new book is less than the benefit you'll get, then go ahead and buy a new one. But if not? You already know what to do.

Even though second handbooks but quiet meaty and good content its really nice one. The importance is that you get something in it. Knowledge is powerful than having a new books without a very good content and we cannot see and read what we like to know. It is not wrong if we buy some of it, its a kind of striving to learn more and more than nothing at all. It is very helpful to read whatever books that is developmental and historical whatever that can add our minds and thoughts of history and events that can be useful in our daily living.

My views are that the book was paid for once at full price (most likely) and the author got the money he or she deserved. If you dont have the money to buy new books all the time you shouldnt feel presured to do so. Old books are just as good!

In buying second handed books you will be able to save money and you are helping the seller of the book to earn. As long as the book is still in good condition then buy it. But for me, I like to buy books on sale than second handed books.

Dear sagnik42, your friend really has a very unique way of looking at this matter. To me, it is perfectly all right to purchase 2nd hand books. Let's see an example. Not many students has the means to buy brand new textbooks, especially books of technical nature like programming, computer networking for example. These books usually come with a hefty price tag. Buying 2nd hand books will be a more affordable solution for them. On the other hand, students who have no more use for their textbooks after they graduated can sell off their used textbooks and get some money in return. If buying 2nd hand books is infringing copyright laws, why do I see so many 2nd hand bookstores around?