I want to start reading books, but I can't afford physical copies. Is it a bad thing to read them online for free? Do authors hate it or are they okay with it?
Are you somewhere where you don’t have access to libraries?
returntoglory9 on
A more helpful version of a different comment: many public libraries let you register and check out e-books entirely online. Definitely check out your local one, they’re really good! I was skeptical of it at first but it couldn’t be easier or cheaper
Cangal39 on
You can access ebooks for free through your local library. You can also access free books that are public domain through Project Gutenberg.
A few big name authors have a lot of money, but most are scraping by, or losing money. None of them are okay with piracy.
Figleypup on
And if you don’t have a library near you that has a big selection of ebooks a lot of big libraries (like Seattle public library, New York public library)
They let you buy like a membership for a year (sometimes they’re free if your under a certain age – I think 25 for some of them) some if you’re a resident of that state you can get a library card for free
You can check out as many ebooks & audiobooks that you want for free (or the membership fee which imo would be worth it.)
Literally would never go back to life without – Libby. I currently have 6 books/audiobooks checked out. And 15 holds. & have checked out hundreds this year. And the best part is- it’s good for the library funding to check out books
& you can have multiple library cards with Libby too.
woopsie79 on
Try Libby! All you need is a library card and you can access thousands of e-books on the app for free!
kutti-bitch on
Checkout oceanofpdf
Sea-Librarian-275 on
Project Gutenberg has thousands of classic books available to read for free online.
Status_Reception1181 on
No this is not bad at all! But the lobby app lets you rent the e books
pabalinoo on
If your local library doesn’t have Libby I would suggest looking up libraries in different countries (US, European countries, UK, etc) and trying to join online. Some may offer an immediate digital library card number, which along with the PIN of your choosing, will allow you to access their Libby and/or BorrowBox accounts.
Some library systems will require that you have an address in their locality, others will ask that you verify details, and some will just give you a card number no questions asked.
Necessary-Loss-1175 on
If you are in the states alot have little free libraries. Take a book leave a book. We have at least 4. I try to keep them stocked up. ☺
This is a 2020 site from the UAE listing several online library options, including Libby 🙂
MunchkinBumm on
Libby is good if you have a library card. You can read through the app. You don’t need a kindle. But if you do have a kindle, Amazon has daily deals where books will be on sale for free. It helps to introduce you to new genres and new authors. Then if you like the author, you can support them by buying the next in the series or trying another book by them.
Edit: I forgot that you can also read Kindle books through the kindle app. So you need an actual kindle, just the app!
PogueBlue on
Do you game? Play Minecraft? Minecraft has a HUGE library. You would have to find the server but it is there.
Gryptype_Thynne123 on
One author who encourages people to read his stuff for free is Cory Doctorow. He’s Canadian, and writes mostly speculative fiction about technology and economics. He’s also really funny. His website is http://www.craphound.com. You can download any of his novels and short story collections for free, though he does ask that you donate a hard copy to a school or library if you can.
Others have mentioned gutenberg.org, which is a huge library of public domain works in many languages. There’s also a project called Librivox, which makes audiobook versions of public domain works. The Internet Archive had a large collection of books to lend, though the recent hack may have taken that service offline.
Depending on what you like to read, there are many short story magazines on line which make their content available for free.
Whatever you enjoy, I hope you find plenty of it. Good luck!
Big-Ground-6661 on
Definitely check out Libby. There are some libraries that you can check online, they don’t have residence requirements or costs for library card and you can use it to access Libby in case your local library isn’t a partner with Libby.
If you can afford about 13.00 a month I highly recommend the Kindle app for your phone and get Kindle Unlimited. You can download a BUNCH through Kindle Unlimited. Gutenburg is another source for older books that no longer are held by copyright. Check your area for Little Free Library boxes. You can take a book, read it, return it and get another one just like a library but without a card or due dates it is mostly a community thing. As an author I can say as long as you are using legit, above board resources we don’t get upset. It is downloading and reading pirated and bootlegged books that hurt us because honestly our book sales are how we pay our bills too. Most of us are just regular people with the same bills like rent, utilities, etc. Heck one event my book sales paid my gas for my car for the week so just please use legit sources.
bunnybabybitch on
Prob going to get downvoted for this but if you really can’t afford it I don’t see the problem? You can still contribute to the author by sharing a review on Goodreads etc.. I don’t see why you aren’t allowed to enjoy reading just as much as the next person just because you don’t have the money. I don’t think authors are going to lose out on much if a small percentage of their readers don’t pay for their books.
jasper_ogle on
Hoopla works like Libby, both have audiobooks and high bit rate music as well – movies too. Suggest “The Great Courses” uni level lecture series by some of the best profs in the country.
Single-Aardvark9330 on
Alot of older books are free on Amazon (and alot of indie books)
Amazon also discounts popular books to 99p for a month
You can also get kindle unlimited for free every so often
Pretend-Piece-1268 on
Rudy Rucker provides his Wetware tetralogy for free kn his website under Creative Commons License.
John Scalzi posted his first novel, Agent to the stars, for free on his website
19 Comments
Are you somewhere where you don’t have access to libraries?
A more helpful version of a different comment: many public libraries let you register and check out e-books entirely online. Definitely check out your local one, they’re really good! I was skeptical of it at first but it couldn’t be easier or cheaper
You can access ebooks for free through your local library. You can also access free books that are public domain through Project Gutenberg.
A few big name authors have a lot of money, but most are scraping by, or losing money. None of them are okay with piracy.
And if you don’t have a library near you that has a big selection of ebooks a lot of big libraries (like Seattle public library, New York public library)
They let you buy like a membership for a year (sometimes they’re free if your under a certain age – I think 25 for some of them) some if you’re a resident of that state you can get a library card for free
You can check out as many ebooks & audiobooks that you want for free (or the membership fee which imo would be worth it.)
Literally would never go back to life without – Libby. I currently have 6 books/audiobooks checked out. And 15 holds. & have checked out hundreds this year. And the best part is- it’s good for the library funding to check out books
& you can have multiple library cards with Libby too.
Try Libby! All you need is a library card and you can access thousands of e-books on the app for free!
Checkout oceanofpdf
Project Gutenberg has thousands of classic books available to read for free online.
No this is not bad at all! But the lobby app lets you rent the e books
If your local library doesn’t have Libby I would suggest looking up libraries in different countries (US, European countries, UK, etc) and trying to join online. Some may offer an immediate digital library card number, which along with the PIN of your choosing, will allow you to access their Libby and/or BorrowBox accounts.
Some library systems will require that you have an address in their locality, others will ask that you verify details, and some will just give you a card number no questions asked.
If you are in the states alot have little free libraries. Take a book leave a book. We have at least 4. I try to keep them stocked up. ☺
https://dct.gov.ae/en/media.centre/news/maktaba.at.the.department.of.culture.and.tourism.abu.dhabi.enhances.its.list.of.approved.digital.platforms.by.adding.overdrive..aspx#:~:text=Users%20of%20public%20libraries%20in,devices%2C%20as%20well%20as%20Chromebooks.
This is a 2020 site from the UAE listing several online library options, including Libby 🙂
Libby is good if you have a library card. You can read through the app. You don’t need a kindle. But if you do have a kindle, Amazon has daily deals where books will be on sale for free. It helps to introduce you to new genres and new authors. Then if you like the author, you can support them by buying the next in the series or trying another book by them.
Edit: I forgot that you can also read Kindle books through the kindle app. So you need an actual kindle, just the app!
Do you game? Play Minecraft? Minecraft has a HUGE library. You would have to find the server but it is there.
One author who encourages people to read his stuff for free is Cory Doctorow. He’s Canadian, and writes mostly speculative fiction about technology and economics. He’s also really funny. His website is http://www.craphound.com. You can download any of his novels and short story collections for free, though he does ask that you donate a hard copy to a school or library if you can.
Others have mentioned gutenberg.org, which is a huge library of public domain works in many languages. There’s also a project called Librivox, which makes audiobook versions of public domain works. The Internet Archive had a large collection of books to lend, though the recent hack may have taken that service offline.
Depending on what you like to read, there are many short story magazines on line which make their content available for free.
Whatever you enjoy, I hope you find plenty of it. Good luck!
Definitely check out Libby. There are some libraries that you can check online, they don’t have residence requirements or costs for library card and you can use it to access Libby in case your local library isn’t a partner with Libby.
If you can afford about 13.00 a month I highly recommend the Kindle app for your phone and get Kindle Unlimited. You can download a BUNCH through Kindle Unlimited. Gutenburg is another source for older books that no longer are held by copyright. Check your area for Little Free Library boxes. You can take a book, read it, return it and get another one just like a library but without a card or due dates it is mostly a community thing. As an author I can say as long as you are using legit, above board resources we don’t get upset. It is downloading and reading pirated and bootlegged books that hurt us because honestly our book sales are how we pay our bills too. Most of us are just regular people with the same bills like rent, utilities, etc. Heck one event my book sales paid my gas for my car for the week so just please use legit sources.
Prob going to get downvoted for this but if you really can’t afford it I don’t see the problem? You can still contribute to the author by sharing a review on Goodreads etc.. I don’t see why you aren’t allowed to enjoy reading just as much as the next person just because you don’t have the money. I don’t think authors are going to lose out on much if a small percentage of their readers don’t pay for their books.
Hoopla works like Libby, both have audiobooks and high bit rate music as well – movies too. Suggest “The Great Courses” uni level lecture series by some of the best profs in the country.
Alot of older books are free on Amazon (and alot of indie books)
Amazon also discounts popular books to 99p for a month
You can also get kindle unlimited for free every so often
Rudy Rucker provides his Wetware tetralogy for free kn his website under Creative Commons License.
John Scalzi posted his first novel, Agent to the stars, for free on his website