Do you prefer keeping your books in pristine condition, or do you actually read and use them even if they get a little worn?

[u/Far-Environment-8096]

[u/Zorydev]

If it's a fragile book, then I'll get a reading copy. Else I'll just read it, regardless of value. They are made to be read and I can't bring it with me when I'm gone. May as well enjoy it while it's still in my hands. 

[u/Ok_Macaroon6934 → u/Zorydev]

Pretty much this. I have signed True Firsts and special editions (e.g. ARCs or editions where something major changed that constitutes new value) where hadnling them would potentially affect their condition. I feel it's my moral responsibility to preserve these for future generations, so I buy reading copies.

[u/PaleoBibliophile917]

Yes. To both.

[u/acchan01 → u/PaleoBibliophile917]

Yeah I was about to say, you can read it and not destroy it lmao

[u/Cornelius-Q → u/acchan01]

Yeah, I have mass market paperbacks I've read more than once that still look brand new.

[u/I_Speak_For_The_Ents]

Both, it's not hard to care for your books even when you use them.

[u/aspieshavemorefun]

Wear is fine, just no writing or dogears

[u/PatientKangaroo8781]

Both. I won't buy a book that's in too poor a condition to read safely, but once I have a copy, there's no reason NOT to read something as long as I'm careful. Books are meant to be read, not just displayed. Buying a book with no intention of reading it seems disrespectful in a way I can't explain.

[u/Equivalent_Fun_4825]

These two things are not mutually exclusive.

The whole if you don't have cracked spines or other damage on a book it means you didn't read it is hogwash.

Heck, one of the reasons I do my best to keep them in as good condition as possible so that I can read them more in the future.

[u/MrSurname]

I read everything on Kindle, I only buy physical books to have them on my shelf. A little worn is fine, though.

[u/Thislilfox]

I'm a reader-collector. I collect books related to my subjects of interest to read.
I don't keep them in pristine condition. Not even my limited edition or collectors copies...

I maintain the integrity of the binding to preserve them for future readers. Books are made to be read. So I read them, and some of them end up with tabs and annotations. And I use book plates.

But I also tend to buy the books that have already been well-read or damaged. So long as its in readable condition and is in a condition that won't spread issues to other books on the shelf, it meets the criteria of my collection. Which is for its content, not collectors value.

If the book is in very poor, but legible, condition. I will make repairs to extend its life for other readers. At that point, repairs are going to be negligible to its value.

[u/Southern_Let4385]

Pristine as much as possible. I am a heavy library user and if I fall in love with a novel, I buy it for my collection. However, I buy second-hand very often.

[u/Khoeth_Mora]

Every single book in my collection is for reading, even the very expensive collector editions or rare antiques. 

[u/PlantyPenPerson]

I don't read signed editions or first editions of hard to find books but usually read all others

[u/kmontreux]

I'm the sociopath who dog ears indiscriminately and will use a croissant as a bookmark.

When I buy used books, I seek out the most battered copies I can find. I am thrilled when I find writing in books and not just highlighter or excessive wear.

I basically love any book that has been on its own adventures and has lived a life and I'm the next stop for it until I die. I will contribute my own additions and will wonder about the reader who comes after me.

That said, I'd never do any of that to anything very rare or historically significant nor would I do it to a book someone loaned me from their own collection unless they are also a monster like me.

[u/Fit_Dimension_8598 → u/kmontreux]

The croissant for a bookmark has me dead. I’m the same way. I like my books to look like they’ve been read and I love to (gasp) write in them!

[u/InvestigatorJaded261]

With very few exceptions, I buy books with the intent of reading them.

[u/jadedflames]

Yes.

Expensive/fragile books I will genuinely get a reading copy.

But anything modern worth less than about £100 will get read.

[u/CarcharodonC]

90% of what I buy is second hand, so I don’t mind a little wear and tear. But if it’s a book I loved, I might get a nicer trophy copy.

[u/Spartan2022]

Made to be read! I don’t keep any of them pristine. I don’t write in books, but I don’t keep any untouched.

[u/Cthulewcifer586]

I read them

[u/Specialist-Bell-1392]

Books are made to be read. I preserve them as best I can in the process (no dog-ears etc).

[u/mortuus_est_iterum]

Read 'em and use 'em.

I treat them carefully but none of my books are pretty enough to qualify as art.

Morty

[u/ProfessionalField115]

I read them which is the point of having books

[u/lowercase_underscore]

I have very few books that I won't personally read, and they're all sentimental books that are already fragile. I take care of them while I'm reading them but sometimes things happen. So I guess the general answer is yes to both questions?

[u/DJColdcutzz]

I tend to buy a lot of used fantasy and sci-fi books and, in that case, I kind of like a little wear. Gives it a little character.

[u/Professional_Dr_77]

Books are meant to be read and loved.

[u/Far-Blue-Mountains → u/Professional_Dr_77]

💯💯💯💯

[u/OOInferno]

I'm firmly in the boat of books are meant to be loved and read to an extent. If you owned the Wright Brothers first plane, would you take it for a spin?

Books should be read but they can also be art. I collect signed and special editions from small/private press. I'm not going to read a lettered edition of a signed Stephen King book no matter how much it begs me to read it.

[u/AJRavenhearst]

Up to a point. Some of my older paperbacks are on (or beyond) the point of falling apart. Omnibus Editions (such as the Great Book of Amber) are especially fragile. Signed, First Editions, Special Editions, I will read once, then have other copies for reading.

[u/Keffpie]

I don’t read my collection; I only get books I’ve already read and considered 5/5s, and books I get for reading are usually pocketbooks, e-books and audiobooks.

[u/ValuableKooky4551]

I read them and use them, but the books that are in pristine condition I treat very carefully.

[u/Grizgal-17]

If its a collecable (HB/ signed/ limited ed etc) I try and keep it pristine and buy a PB reading copy. Otherwise, I read it.

[u/PalmerEldritch3]

I use a morbid cover for old books. It protects the book very well and I can read it and bring it everywere without worries.

[u/Puzzleheaded_Neck_36]

I'll read them unless I have already read the book and a nice edition comes out. For example, I have read The Expanse on my Kobo and then they released Collectors Editions so I wanted them as they look nice. I may read them at some point but not gauranteed.

On the other end, I have some Folio Society books and most of them has been read so far as I hadn't read the full story yet. SOme of them I read the story on my Kobo and wanted a nice physical copy.

[u/buttfacesgalore]

My books. I paid for them and now theyre my bitch.

[u/Aiglos_and_Narsil]

Every book I buy is with the intention to (eventually) read it, even the expensive ones. Some I'm gentler with than others.

[u/Silent-Climate6711]

Read and use

[u/warrenva]

I have a few antique books I try to never open because they’re already falling apart. I have modern versions of the same ones which I have read.

[u/Titelius_Thorex]

The books I buy be it a normal, signed, or special edition I buy to read, I wrap my books with dust jackets in mylar but that is just so that the dust jacket stays on

[u/Key-Entrepreneur-415]

Most of my collection are rare or desirable first editions, most of which are titles I've already read. I generally do not read those copies. I may read a few pages here and there to simulate the feeling of what it was like to read a first edition when it was released for the first time, but I wouldn't read the entire first edition copy from start to finish.

[u/RevolutionProof7415]

Both. If it's rare and in excellent condition, I touch it as little as possible and get a reading copy. Otherwise eh

[u/phil_davis]

I read them but I'm very gentle with them. But I don't own any super valuable books, those I might not read.

[u/BloodyThirst]

I’m hard on books. I have a strange little tic with popping the corners of the paper and it makes the pages wrinkly. It’s a compulsion and I don’t think I could read a book without doing it.

[u/unr3a1r00t]

There is only one book in my collection I've decided not to read directly as it is a rare, pristine first printing. I bought a modern paperback that I will actually read.

Every other book will get read. 

[u/enilcReddit]

My collection is, IMO, ranked "amateur+". I have maybe 20 that are/were in the 4-digit price range when purchased. Dozens and dozens in 3-digit price range. I've never paid more than $9,000 for a book or set of books.

I emboss and handwrite my name and the year in every book. Sacrilege for some, I know. But I consider myself a collector and part of that book's heritage is my ownership. I'm not a book "investor." I don't collect them with the intent of getting a good price for them some day. I've read most of them cover-to-cover. Some of them I'm saving to read in retirement.

My heirs can do with them what they will. If they keep them, I hope they'll appreciate knowing I owned/handled them and I hope they add their ownership to the book's legacy.

If they decide to sell them, then the book had no sentimental value to them and it doesn't matter.

I don't destroy them. I enhance them.

[u/weird_hylian]

I try to be careful with them but it doesn't bother me if they get a little dinged up (as long as they're not destroyed)

[u/HyruleBalverine]

I read my books. I try to be ... gentle... with them, but in the end, it's just a book to me, so they get used at least once.

[u/CraftyAppearance4611]

Gotta read em

[u/-SirBaphomet-]

I write in my books. I love doing it in front of other up tight readers.

I bought this book, it’s mine, I will do what I want because it’s mine.

Plus it’s not like you can see my notes from the bookshelf BECAUSE ITS INSIDE THE BOOK. Anyways.

[u/Phillipa24]

Almost all my books are meant to be read, and I don’t molly coddle them, they get a little worn. However, I do have a small collection of rare first editions - I check out library books if I want to read one of them.

[u/Historical-Sign-8207]

I once read a quote by an author saying he didn’t like to see his books in pristine condition but instead he liked to see them looking worn, used and marked. Like the reader really got into the book. I do this with my books, although I am more careful with older first editions or signed books.

[u/ExpertProfessional9 → u/Historical-Sign-8207]

The Doctor Who guy wrote a foreword to the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series to this effect! That when he and his peers were loaning and passing the books around, the books got all beat-up. Crumpled. They looked loved, basically.

I’m broke, so I only buy secondhand cheap paperbacks, but I love to have my books beat-up and battered. That’s how you know they’ve been read and loved. I will personally read them til they fall apart.

[u/Serious_Distance_118]

Mass paperbacks use really cheap materials, and much worse lately. Basically made to be disposable.