I see a lot of posts where people say they buy second hands at local book shops or go thrifting or borrow books from the library but I have yet to see how many new books people buy on a regular basis.
I’m asking out of curiosity because I tend to buy new copies through amazon which are half-priced compared to the retail price. That is to say I don’t buy books often but when I do, I buy newer copies through this way. I use thriftbooks every once in a while but that’s the only site I know for second hands.
I guess I’m asking this because I want to see if others have similar habits with new books or whether it ranges and where I sit in this cluster.
by Deep-thinker881
34 Comments
I rarely buy, since I can feed my habit through the library. When I do, though, I often buy from Dover, partly because I want to keep them in business – they have a really affordable copies of the classics, as well as all kinds of strange “forgotten” books— my Christmas list always has some Dover (this year I got a book of classic ghost stories, of World War I poetry, and a book about a woman’s journeys alone to Lhasa from them).
Rarely. I mostly get books from the library.
3-4 new books a year. I don’t have space for a lot of books, and rely on the library for borrowing books to read throughout the year. I try to stick to only purchasing my “favorite” edition of my absolute favorite books (illustrated hardbacks, author preferred editions, beautiful antique or vintage versions of classics, etc). Basically, I buy what I already know I want to keep a physical copy of forever.
Buying a book new to read it for the first time doesn’t work for my budget or living space, unfortunately.
I buy ebooks, around 250 a year? They’re invariably less expensive than hardcopies, and I watch for sales or giveaways, too.
I only buy books I want to keep, books that are in my areas of interest and either not likely to be found in the library or reference-type material. I do buy some genre fiction but usually find used copies.
I have 2 book subscription services and I try to only buy 1 book per subscription per month. But these are discounted compared to what you’d find at a Barnes and Noble.
I will occasionally go a bit wild on buying, but I’d say I probably buy 20-30 new books at full price per year.
I buy new occasionally, but most of my purchases are second hand because I am cheap.
I tend to buy in bursts as I binge a series. It might be months between bursts buts it’s always bursts. Humble Bundle contributes to this. I am currently trying not to buy the entire Discworld set for 28. I don’t like footnotes on ebooks. However, it’s such a nice deal.
I buy almost everything I read. This comes out to about 40 books a year. I buy a combination of used, new, and sale/clearance books.
I personally know a couple of best selling authors. both have considered giving it up to go back to previous work. one was a vet, the other a journalist. as novel writing does not pay well enough, even at their level, so for that reason i do try to buy new books.
That said, they also make a noticeable amount of money each year from library rentals in the UK.
Well I love my kindle and would read much less without it, but love or hate them that does mean I usually buy “new” books from Amazon.
Since I generally don’t feel a need to stockpile books I just keep a list of stuff coming up I want to read and when I’m done with a book I’ll just get whatever is next. I don’t have a huge amount of time to read so maybe 10 books a year.
I rarely buy books from browsing, either new or used; I’m usually always looking for a specific book, and since I read a lot of Classics, I’m looking for a specific translation as well. So I end up buying almost everything that I read. I’m trying to get more on Kindle because getting rid of physical books is a chore.
I used to buy new books often. Now I rarely buy books and prefer to buy 2nd hand.
I buy anywhere between three and ten books a month. There are two main reasons for this. I like going to my local bookstores and want to make sure that they stay in business. I also keep tabs on my favourite less well known authors and get their books in the hopes that they’ll receive more recognition.
I read a lot (60-80 books a year). I buy about two paperbacks a month. I buy used books very cheap from my library. I do borrow books from my library as well.
I am a constant book buyer and probably average 100 books a year… I know I know it’s a lot, but I like the ability to pick them up whenever I want and reference them without going on an ebook or waiting in the hold queue at the library…
I buy some of my most highly anticipated new releases if they have 50+ people on the waitlist at the library and I don’t want to wait. But I’m fairly picky about it because here in Canada, hardcovers are $40, which is *appalling*. I mostly buy any other books used cuz we have a pretty thriving local used book store culture in my hometown, but if they’re easily available at the library, I’ll save that $5 for something else.
4 or 5, only the ones too specific to be found at libraries or secondhand stores
I don’t buy physical books at all anymore. I don’t really have the space and my wife just doesn’t like having “stuff” hanging around. If a book manages to crack my all time favorites, I’d consider buying it but that hasn’t happened in a long time now.
I have a monthly subscription for softcover Penzler America mystery classics, which is a great subscription.
There are a few authors that I purchase new books but only from the inde book stores usually only 5 or 6 per year.
I do get used books sometimes from the library but mostly from ebay or garage sales. These I either give away or donate when I’ve read them
I’m around 60 bought books a year. It should be less this year due to Libby and Hoopla. To be candid I buy the books that are in my wheelhouse so to speak. It’s the space and the chance of relocation that stifles my urge to buy everything.
I’ll use BeterWorldBooks if I can, Powell’s if I have to and never ABE books. A bit overpriced there.
I rarely buy new dead tree editions anymore. I do buy a fair number of used dead tree editions
I buy a mix of new and used. I often get gift cards and like to support my local bookstores. I also have a habit of buying books from target. I go in and end up finding a book I normally wouldn’t have picked up at 20% off. I’ve let myself do it because it has got me to read things I normally would but I don’t need to keep doing that. I mostly use thrift books to buy books though. I do plan on using the library more since the last 4 people to come into my apartment have commented on books being everywhere.
It’s really rare for me to buy a new book, I maybe bought 4 for myself last year. All of which were new entries in various series I’m reading and I couldn’t wait for the waitlist at the library. I didn’t buy many more used books either. 95% of what I read is from the library.
For used books, the Half Price Books flagship store is near me so I go there fairly often, if only to browse.
Yes. Lots of new books on my shelves.
I work at a bookstore so you can imagine my habits. It takes every fibre of my being not to go bankrupt in that store but the 20% off always sweeten the deal 🥲
Most of my books are on kindle and are a mix of Libby, KU, steep discounts, and regular prices. I do choose to buy some physical books, usually those part of an ongoing collection or something I know I will use/reference a lot. I buy around 58 books a year which is about 80% of my total books read, because Libby and our library are pretty limited in a small town but of those books almost all of them are discounted except new releases of which I buy maybe 5 a year.
I buy a few dozen e-books every year, but if one of my favorite authors comes out with something, I have to get it in hard cover. And when I head to a used bookstore, I always come away with something.
Hardcover books for me are either Amazon or a local book store when I get there and I see them sitting on the shelf all shiny.
I suffer from tsundoku
I mainly use my local library, thrift stores, and a second-hand book store (part of a chain, so a little pricey). The only place I buy new books is at a discount store chain called “Ollie’s” which is all over the Southeast US. They get regular shipments of remainders and overruns, so everything is at least 6 months old, and it’s kind of hit-or-miss. But the the prices are really cheap. Hardbacks are typically 3.99/4.99 USD.
Probably 20 to 25 books a year. Some get read, some will get read…someday
I do! I have a monthly book subscription box membership, plus I buy audiobooks and the occasional hardcover/paperback from a chain or indie bookstore.
When I collect a lot, I purge them towards thrift shops, though I’m considering little libraries around me now.
i used the library as much as I could – but i’m at the point in my TBR list that the library doesn’t have the books I want.
I use John King Books – a great used book store in my city – i dont always know what i’ll find there but I’ve gotten lucky many times finding classic novels I wanted.
but I also sadly use amazon a bit too much.
I also go to barnes and noble regularly and have a membership there.
I buy new books, mostly kindle these days, but also borrow from the library.