Do you buy second hand books or do you only...

@marguicha (213823)
Chile
January 5, 2012 3:55pm CST
read new books? I had not thought of this before as I am a bookworm and get many of my books at second hand bookshops. There you can find good books for a very small price. My brother never buys a second hand book and seldom if ever gets a book at a library. I have come to the conclusion that he is afraid of "bugs" although I will not ask him. Considering that we handle money everyday, that we put our hands in many dirty places, Don´t you think that this "book thing" could be too much? If I had a special problem with books, I´d spray them with Lysol before reading them. How about you? Do you have problems with second hand books? Or, with any other object that might get dirty? Share!
12 people like this
61 responses
• Ireland
5 Jan 12
Hi marguicha, I tend to buy neither to be honest. It's just that any book I've ever wanted to read my local library has it, or if not they are willing to order it in or get it transferred from another library in the same county. I don't mind knowing that these books have been handled by other people, but sure so has money, door handles (you get the picture) so I'm not going to obsess over germs, bugs or whatnot. I don't tend to buy anything secondhand; not because I have an aversion to doing so, just haven't quite found the *need* or desire to yet, not that there is anything wrong with buying secondhand stuff. IrishGal77 :)
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
5 Jan 12
I agree with you, if you have such a good library service. Where I live, libraries are centered in helping out schoolchildren and people who read bestsellers. But I like other books as well and those are difficult to find.
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Jan 12
I agree - I always go to the libraries. I think buying new books is wasteful (both in money and in natural resources) unless you re-read books regularly or do a lot of highlighting and note-taking.
• Ireland
8 Jan 12
Hi prettyruby, Not sure that I'd say it's wasteful (not starting an argument with you, honest!) but I suppose if I can get access to the book for free (seeing as I only read them once anyway) I don't see the point in buying the book. I have bought books in the past but they were for a childcare course that I was doing. IrishGal77 :)
@allen0187 (58447)
• Philippines
6 Jan 12
hi marguicha! yes i do buy second hand books. there is a store here in our place called 'booksale' and they live up to their name with a vast collection of second hand books. they have hard bound books, reference books, textbooks, novels, children's books, and even old magazine issues. i take time to visit different 'booksale' branches and look at their inventory. some books that they sell have discolored paper and dog ears and what not but there are those that are still in good and even in mint condition. anyway, i've purchased quite a couple of books from the store and i'm quite happy with my purchases. never really thought about 'bugs' in books or spraying these books with lysol until you brought it up but that may be the case if need be. so far, i haven't had any sneezing or coughing fits with books that i've purchased from 'booksale'. either the books are well dusted or i just have a greater immune system. hopefully, both! lol! anyway, here's a three thumbs up to second hand books!!!
@allen0187 (58447)
• Philippines
9 Jan 12
my thoughts exactly marguicha. most of these out of print books are only available at second hand stores so i really don't mind going through all these old books to look for a book that i've been meaning to read for the longest time. cheers!!!
1 person likes this
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
9 Jan 12
There are much more books to choose from at second hand stores. I love getting a book I have wanted to read for a long time and that has gone out of print.
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
2 Feb 20
@allen0187 I was happy to rediscover this post. I´m sorry I did not follow the thread then. We bookworms are kindred spirits.
1 person likes this
@cotruelove (1016)
• Denver, Colorado
5 Jan 12
I handle things all day that have germs on them and from what I see, so do most people. I buy second hand books, new books, eBooks, get free eBooks, use libraries and all of them have the dreaded germs on them in some manner, shape or form. Maybe I should wear surgical gloves to keep the dreaded germs off my hands, but I breathe, and the air is full of dreaded germs. I'd have to wear scuba gear everywhere and change it in a sterile room. An heaven forbid I was exposed to the dreaded germ, I would have no immunity to them because I would have never been exposed to dreaded germs. I'd have to live in a sterile environment, and that is totally impossible without a ridiculous amount of expense and effort. It almost sounds like I'm writing a comedy routine. I love exploring used bookstores. I love exploring garage/yard sales for books. I must be in love with the dreaded germs!
• Denver, Colorado
6 Jan 12
Glad to hear you are going to be out and around! This reminds me of a time when one of the family friends showed up with their little girls in dresses and wouldn't let them play outside for fear they would get dirty. Funny, but I found out she always dressed her girls in dresses and big a big deal about dirt! Poor kids!
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
5 Jan 12
I agree with you about the germs. I took special care while I was on chemo because my defenses were wery low. But now I don´t use Lysol everyday. Anyway, I do wash my hands a lot. I would never live in a sort of bubble for fear of germs. These last 6 months, very much secluded, have been a pain. But not anymore!
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
6 Jan 12
I had lots of Summer dresses for my kids when they were small so that they could play with dirt, mud and water. I was the kind of kid that had to stay inside the house as it was more ladylike according to my grandma. I made sure that my girls had more freedom. Right now, I cannot garden with gloves. I love to have the feeling of soil on my hands. Bug free means slavery for me.
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
5 Jan 12
Hi Marguicha! I read 3 or 4 books per week. If I was compelled to buy them all new, I'd be broke. Once in a blue moon I'll buy a new one, but mostly I either get them from the library or or buy them used. Yard sales are great places to find books, and usually they've only been read once. Church bazaars, flea markets and yes, 2nd hand book stores are also good places. When I borrow books, I really try to keep them in perfect condition. However, finding an occasional crumb, coffee stain or other debris doesn't really bother me. It just shows that whoever read the book before me was so engrossed that they just didn't notice. I get more irritated by people too lazy to use a book mark, who dog ear the pages instead.
1 person likes this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
5 Jan 12
That's funny. I have a brother like that, too. He's a couple of years older than me. When we were children, it was easy 'getting even' with him when we had little squabbles. I just had to mess up his room a bit (when he wasn't looking).
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
5 Jan 12
When we were little, I read his books while he was out playing. He would not let me handle his books, but he would not read them either then.
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
5 Jan 12
That´s what happens to me too, catla. I would be broke. And I agree about not using book marks. They don´t hve to be beautiful: even a clean napkin does it. But why harm a book forever! My brother is the "clean is clean" type though. His furniture is cleaner now than when he bought it. I think it is because my brother and his wife have no kids.
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Jan 12
I buy new, I buy used, and I also go to the library. I prefer new books, though I've never been afraid of "book bugs" and the idea sounds a little bit ridiculous to me. I like buying books new for a number of reasons, firstly because I like to know that I am supporting my favorite authors. The other reasons are pretty much just sentimental... I like the feel of new books and I like getting a new book and reading it before anyone else. I also like to keep a big collection of books and new books (in hardcover, that's my favorite) last much longer. Most of the books that I've bought used have been in good condition... I can only recall ever getting one book that was in bad condition, but that was because the book's previous owner had treated it like a notebook and coloring book. I think it was a copy of "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett, and while it was still readable, it wasn't the kind of copy that I would want to keep. I don't have it anymore, I think I sold it right back to the used book store! I bought a brand new copy of The Secret Garden. I get books wherever basically, but I do prefer to buy them new.
1 person likes this
• United States
6 Jan 12
That's what new books are for though... to become used books. I like to call it "well loved".
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
6 Jan 12
I loved that name! You sholud see my copy of Pride and Prejudice and the Little House books.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
5 Jan 12
I have all kinds of books, but most of the books that come to my house new are gifts since I am a widow. I had to cut the amount of money spent in books, but I could not stop reading. So used books were the answer (an answer I had found a long time ago as many books one needs to read a the university are not in print anymore). I had a new "secret Garden", but it´s not new anymore. I have reread it too many times.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (110600)
• El Paso, Texas
2 Feb 20
I rarely read real books and if I did the only thing that would concern me is if someone with a contagious disease handled it and coughed or sneezed all over it. Of course most viruses don't live that long outside a living organism so most likely any germs from those infected people would probably be long gone before I picked up the book.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
2 Feb 20
I agree to that. My only real problem would be if it had a page less.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
2 Feb 20
@rebelann I thank you for answering this old post. I found many old friends from the first mylot. Some never came back. I wish I know what became of them.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (110600)
• El Paso, Texas
2 Feb 20
Yeah, a missing page wouldn't be fun especially if that missing page was part of the plot itself @marguicha
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
5 Jan 12
I am a cheapskate I don't buy books new or second hand, I rather go to the library for them, although I am not such a big book reader as I used to be, I blame the internet for that, when I started using the internet I read less and less. The only books I own are all the Harry Potter books and a couple of dictionaries which were all bought for me! Anything I read is on line now. Plus when I was younger I moved around a lot, I had a big book collection and you can imagine having to move boxes and boxes of books every time, so I gave them all away to charity and just kept a few books.
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
6 Jan 12
If you have a good library, you can get all you want. But I like to reread many books or book parts so I like to have my favorite at hand.
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
6 Jan 12
Second hand book stores save me a lot of money each year. I haven't given much thought to books being all that dirty. I am fairly selective about a secondhand book when it comes to it's condition. I also buy new books as I prefer to buy new if it is a book I want to keep in my collection. I don't consider myself germophobic but I will admit that handling money is something I pay attention to. I am conscious of everything I do with my hands (specifically keeping them away from my face) until I can cleanse my hands after handling money.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
6 Jan 12
I check that the books have all the pages, but I don´t mind doing a little mending at home with some scotch tape, if the book is worth it. I don´t mind getting my hands dirty if I have plenty of water and soap around.
@mayka123 (16555)
• India
6 Jan 12
I regularly go to the second hand book stall to check what books they have. I am very fond of reading and am ready to pick any book that is worth reading. For the last couple of years because of my job I have not been able to read much so have not bought many books of late.
@mayka123 (16555)
• India
7 Jan 12
I tried reading ebooks on the computer but realized its not the same as taking a paperback edition in your hand and reading.
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
9 Jan 12
I only read on the computer if I want to read a book that I cannot get otherwise. I was sent a book from a mylot friend some days ago and I printed it to read it while in bed.
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
6 Jan 12
Seconfd hand bookstores are a good way of getting good books without spending too much. Now people read less because there´s the computer nearby.
1 person likes this
@aerous (13434)
• Philippines
7 Jan 12
I think those second hand book is good but depend on the book itself. Like Electronics book...these books must be new and updated because if the electronic book is second hand the other new technology will be inclined into it... Like the civil laws and criminals... But if the book is history, bible, fictions and other related into those books. Well, i said they are good to read and to buy for them... Yup! I buy second hand book sometimes but I like history and the bible
@aerous (13434)
• Philippines
8 Jan 12
That is why we need to choose what second hand to buy. Because the other book is outdated and technology change a lot that other books did not mention... But those history books, the bible and literature are still good to buy even they are second hand because in my opinion they are much better than the new book because history much or the bible must not be change...
1 person likes this
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
2 Feb 20
@aerous I still buy second hand books and prefer them to the ones online.
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
7 Jan 12
You are right: some books get outdated very quickly. Those we must either buy new or get at a technical library. When I was studying literature and later, when I was a professor, I needed new books sometimes, mostly about theory. The other books I could get.
@myfb2009 (8296)
• Malaysia
6 Jan 12
Hi Marg, when i was still a student before, i remembered buying quite a few second hand books from senior students. It is because i need a lot of reference books for my final year revision. In order to save my parents from financial burden, i decided to buy second hand books. At that time, i don't know much about the anti-virus and germs spray, so just follow my mother's method, that's drying out all those old and second hand books to the sun, to kill those germs. I only buy new books when it is necessary to me and when i am unable to get hold of the same book in any second hand bookstores.
1 person likes this
@myfb2009 (8296)
• Malaysia
8 Jan 12
Yes, washing hands very often is a good way to free us from germs attack. If i have the chance to visit you in future, i would like to see your collection of books. Do take care always...
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
7 Jan 12
I have not bought a new book for me in ages. I do buy new books for presents though. I don´t much care about dirt in old books, but I wash my hands very often so I don´t think that germs will surround me.
@velvet53 (22523)
• Palisade, Colorado
6 Jan 12
I buy second hand books too. I can't afford the price of the brand new ones. I also swap books with people. I believe like you do.....Share!
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
6 Jan 12
In my country, new books are VERY expensive. Most of the money does not reach the writer, but goes to the editors and bookshops. I swap books with friends, borrow and lend, you name it.
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
2 Feb 20
@velvet53 We have fought for many years so that books don´t have taxes. But they still do.
@velvet53 (22523)
• Palisade, Colorado
15 Jan 12
I don't blame you one bit. The price of books are outrageous. I used to work in a print shop so I kind of know what the prices are.
1 person likes this
@fantabulus (4000)
• India
16 Jan 12
I like second hand books if the condition is good but if book is not in good condition then I not purchase the second hand book then I purchased new book. I collect my old book also.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
16 Jan 12
I will agree that new books are better In my country books are expensive so most of the people who love to read are also fond of public libraries and old book stores. I always check that they have all the pages besides being in an apparent good shape. !
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
2 Feb 20
I have lots of books. I´m sure more than half of them are second hand. I like classics and they are often only in second hand stores.
@yahnee (1243)
• Philippines
6 Jan 12
I only buy second hand books most of time and usually at a book sale. I can no longer afford the brand new books because they are too expensive and I have to live within the budget. I have been buying second hand books for years and have never encountered any bugs whatsoever. Neither have I thought about the danger of buying those second hand books because my only goal was to have something interesting to read. Anyway, most of what we touch with our hands are always unclean with bacteria and viruses and that includes money. We just have to strengthen our immunity system in order not to be severely affected by what we touch with our bare hands. For sure, we book lovers would not want to sacrifice reading because of the fear of dirt, don't we?
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
6 Jan 12
Right you are!!! If I was so afraid of bugs, my life would hve a very low quality. I like to garden with bare hands and I like to browse old books. But I also like my kitchen and bathroom very clean and I wash my hands when needed. That´s more than enough.
• Australia
12 Jan 12
i will definitely buy second hand if it's in a readable condition...I love books so much so that the majority of the books I own, I have never read...I am starting to read them now & get rid of the ones i will never read again.
• Australia
15 Jan 12
I am having fun doing that...i am up to book 4 of the year already but I am only reading my romance (mills & boon) novels first as I know i will never read them again...they are quick reads too so this will be a little chunk of my book collection gone when I finish them (about 50 or so)
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
12 Jan 12
I read in one of your posts that you have a big reading task. I bet you are having fun reading alll those books you have hoarded for so long. Take care!
@dodo19 (47007)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
10 Jan 12
I personally prefer buying new rather than old. It's a preference. I'm not saying that I wouldn't or haven't bought used books, as I'd be lying if I said that I never have. However, I generally tend to buy new.
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
11 Jan 12
Sometimes it depends on the amount of money you have and the amount of books that you read. In my country books are expensive. If I had to buy them new, I could not read more than one every one or two months.
@larish (2191)
• Philippines
11 Jan 12
Yes, I still buy second hand books. I am more concern on the topic than the dirt it possess. I just make sure that it is readable and no torn pages. Just like you I can spray lysol or wipe it out first before I read it.
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
11 Jan 12
For me old books have been in my life since forever and lysol is something new. So I mostly wipe them as you say. Lysol is a good idea for people too afraid of germs.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
10 Jan 12
Much like you, I am quite a bookworm and I do get a lot of my books second hand, either from a second hand book store or from yard sales. The only thing that will keep me from buying a second hand book is that the book is not in good shape. If the spine of a book has been broken, then there is no way that I'm going to buy it. With that said, I think that the reason that a lot of people don't read second hand books is because they mostly want to read newly released titles.
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
11 Jan 12
Most of the new released titles are the best sellers. And most of the best sellers are not very good books. I could count with the fingers of my hands those best sellers that have really made a difference later. At second hand book stores and yard sales, on the other hand, you can find all sorts of jewels.
• United States
7 Jan 12
Hi! Yes I think that the book bug is a bit much but if he is really apprehensive, see if a book cover will alleviate his fears.
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
7 Jan 12
I was wondering how you related with books. My brother was just an example. I´m not worried about him. He is a great reader but has enough money to buy all the books he wants new from the store.
• United States
7 Jan 12
Hello. Oops--I'm sorry for the misinterpretation! It depends on the subject matter in the book and how clearly it's written before I can really relate to it. Sometimes I can really connect with the material if I really understand the person or an issue that both of us have been through. For example if someone had to rise to an occasion, I can relate to it in a much better way than if I had not gone through something like it myself. What books does he relate to?
• Mexico
16 Jan 12
I prefer new books, or ebooks to read on my ipad. Old books give a creepy and obnoxious sensation. I hate to feel their aged rubbing pages, yellow-blemished paper, smelly appearance and filthy texture. there's nothing like a store brand-new book, the cleanliness of their colour, their new and sophisticated covers, their clean smell, their cream-foam pages, their deep-black printed letters. It's a great experience with no comparison.
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
16 Jan 12
I will agree that new books are better, privided that you can get what you want and that you have the money to buy all you want. In my country books are expensive so most of the people who love to read are also fond of public libraries and old book stores.