# Is there a name for this paperback format? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 25, 2008, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-paperback-format/435029 "2008-01-25T23:30:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-paperback-format/435029/21 "2008-01-27T05:21:27Z")
[QUOTE=SmackFu] I imagine librarians hating paperbacks in general. They can’t last long. I’ve checked out ones that were losing pages. [/QUOTE] Actually, we love paperbacks because they’re typically 20-25% of the price of a hardcover. Anytime you can stretch the budget like that, it’s appreciated. And I can’t speak for every librarian, but I’ve noticed most paperbacks don’t start really falling apart until after their popularity has wanted. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-paperback-format/435029/22 "2008-01-27T15:09:21Z")
I have a hard time finding books in “regular” paperback sizes anymore. Seems to me that it’s mainly romance novels, sci fi, and mysteries that come in that smaller, more affordable size. ---
**Author:** ![Morelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Morelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morelin)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-paperback-format/435029/23 "2008-01-27T16:20:18Z")
[QUOTE=lorene] I have a hard time finding books in “regular” paperback sizes anymore. Seems to me that it’s mainly romance novels, sci fi, and mysteries that come in that smaller, more affordable size. [/QUOTE] A lot of the newer mystery and romance books are coming out in this larger size MM. Especially the big names like Hiaasen, Brown, Clancy, and Steele. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-paperback-format/435029/24 "2008-01-27T17:10:54Z")
Hey, ebooks are really cheap! Mine retail for just five bucks! Readable on most handheld devices, so they’re as portable as a paperback. C’mon, take the plunge, you know you wanna … ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-paperback-format/435029/25 "2008-01-27T17:35:22Z")
[QUOTE=Evil Captor] Hey, ebooks are really cheap! Mine retail for just five bucks! Readable on most handheld devices, so they’re as portable as a paperback. C’mon, take the plunge, you know you wanna … [/QUOTE] But I don’t want to be chained to a handheld device. It would make me a slave to electricity to be tied down to an outlet all the time because I would forget to charge it. And then my wife would probably whip me. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-paperback-format/435029/26 "2008-01-27T18:46:13Z")
[QUOTE=Justin\_Bailey] …chained …slave…whip me. [/QUOTE] Now that’s just mean. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-paperback-format/435029/27 "2008-01-27T19:32:44Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] Now that’s just mean. [/QUOTE] He’s a sadist. He can’t help being mean. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-paperback-format/435029/28 "2008-01-27T21:46:07Z")
[QUOTE=Justin\_Bailey] But I don’t want to be chained to a handheld device. It would make me a slave to electricity to be tied down to an outlet all the time because I would forget to charge it. And then my wife would probably whip me. [/QUOTE] Well, see there’s batteries that mean you don’t have to be tied down to an outlet. That’s kinda the POINT of handhelds. And I’m sorry to hear that your wife has you whipped. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-paperback-format/435029.md?page=1)