# So, Anybody Else Spending Hours Downloading Online Books? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 15, 2007, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-anybody-else-spending-hours-downloading-online-books/430061 "2007-12-15T02:21:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-anybody-else-spending-hours-downloading-online-books/430061/1 "2007-12-15T02:21:12Z")
I knew that Google has been digitizing books, but I didn’t know how many of them there were, or that Microsoft and others have gotten into the act. I stumbled across a couple of interesting links, and then, well, got into a _serious_ mode of downloading nearly everything I could find. (Hey, they’re free!) [Microsoft’s Machinist collection (part of it, anyway).](http://search.live.com/results.aspx?q=&scope=books#q=THE%20COMPLETE%20PRACTICAL%20MACHINIST&filter=all&start=4) [Universal Digital Library](http://www.ulib.org/) [Internet Archive](http://www.archive.org/details/texts) [Google books](http://books.google.com/) I’ve downloaded about 10 gigs so far, and it’s pretty obvious that when I can get the money up, I’m going to have to invest in a terabyte hard drive. Holy crap are there are a lot of books! ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-anybody-else-spending-hours-downloading-online-books/430061/2 "2007-12-15T02:22:25Z")
Oh my God, what a treasure trove! Thank you, **Tucker**! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-anybody-else-spending-hours-downloading-online-books/430061/3 "2007-12-15T02:27:38Z")
The digitized books on Google are free? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-anybody-else-spending-hours-downloading-online-books/430061/4 "2007-12-15T02:45:08Z")
[QUOTE=Indistinguishable] The digitized books on Google are free? [/QUOTE] Most of them. Certainly all the public domain ones are. ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-anybody-else-spending-hours-downloading-online-books/430061/5 "2007-12-15T02:53:44Z")
Ah. The books I selected from those prominently displayed at the Google books link (randomized, I know) were all outside of the public domain (Wittgenstein’s Tractatus popped up on the first page for me, so I specifically checked it out, thinking it would be in the public domain. Well, of course, the Tractatus is, even the particular translation in the one I clicked on is, but I guess the edition/printing they’ve digitized is not.). Is there any way to get some kind of listing of the free books Google has, or restrict searches to them, or such? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-anybody-else-spending-hours-downloading-online-books/430061/6 "2007-12-15T02:54:41Z")
Excellent, thanks Tuckerfan. ---
**Author:** ![fifty-six](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@fifty-six](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fifty-six)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-anybody-else-spending-hours-downloading-online-books/430061/7 "2007-12-15T02:57:20Z")
For reading electronic books try: [Adobe Digital Editions](http://www.adobe.com/products/digitaleditions/) It is the easiest on the eyes and works great. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-anybody-else-spending-hours-downloading-online-books/430061/8 "2007-12-15T03:07:36Z")
[QUOTE=Indistinguishable] Ah. The books I selected from those prominently displayed at the Google books link (randomized, I know) were all outside of the public domain (Wittgenstein’s Tractatus popped up on the first page for me, so I specifically checked it out, thinking it would be in the public domain. Well, of course, the Tractatus is, even the particular translation in the one I clicked on is, but I guess the edition/printing they’ve digitized is not.). Is there any way to get some kind of listing of the free books Google has, or restrict searches to them, or such? [/QUOTE] You wouldn’t happen to be in the UK, would you? There’s some kind of funky copyright law issues for folks living there. Otherwise, I don’t know any filter (though I suppose there’s got to be one) to sort out what’s public domain and what’s not. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-anybody-else-spending-hours-downloading-online-books/430061/9 "2007-12-15T03:15:39Z")
Look at all the radio shows on Internet Archive! The Shadow! I’ve been wanting to listen to those for ages… Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-anybody-else-spending-hours-downloading-online-books/430061/10 "2007-12-15T03:15:50Z")
The University of Oregon Asian collection (or about 10% of it) has been digitized. You can find it [here](http://e-asia.uoregon.edu/). wanted to read Mao’s red book in either English or Chinese, they have it. Quite a few interesting out of book prints from old China hands and travellers. Some really good books on Tibet from 80-100 years ago (See Sir Charles Bell), etc. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Purl_McKnittington)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-anybody-else-spending-hours-downloading-online-books/430061/11 "2007-12-15T03:17:09Z")
[QUOTE=Indistinguishable] Ah. The books I selected from those prominently displayed at the Google books link (randomized, I know) were all outside of the public domain (Wittgenstein’s Tractatus popped up on the first page for me, so I specifically checked it out, thinking it would be in the public domain. Well, of course, the Tractatus is, even the particular translation in the one I clicked on is, but I guess the edition/printing they’ve digitized is not.). Is there any way to get some kind of listing of the free books Google has, or restrict searches to them, or such? [/QUOTE] Go to the [Google book search](http://books.google.com). Search for whatever you’re looking for. Right under the search bar on the results page, there’s a line of links that say “All Books, Limited Preview, Full View”. Click on the one that says “full view” and it will take you to results with the entire book available. I’m not sure if the book you’re looking for is available or not, since there are five pages of results that mention Wittgenstein and Tractacus. I’ve been looking at a lot of fashion magazines from the 19th century, and I’ve been saving knitting, sewing and crochet patterns to my Google Notebook. Unfortunately, all the magazines come with the entire year’s worth of issues, so the file sizes are between 50 and 70 megabytes, which is more than my dial-up can handle. I’ve tried to download some books around 5 MB, but even those time out. Google has no patience for anybody without high-speed internet. It’s very frustrating. ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-anybody-else-spending-hours-downloading-online-books/430061/12 "2007-12-15T03:32:26Z")
[QUOTE=Miss Purl McKnittington] Go to the [Google book search](http://books.google.com). Search for whatever you’re looking for. Right under the search bar on the results page, there’s a line of links that say “All Books, Limited Preview, Full View”. Click on the one that says “full view” and it will take you to results with the entire book available. I’m not sure if the book you’re looking for is available or not, since there are five pages of results that mention Wittgenstein and Tractacus. [/QUOTE] Ah, thanks. The Tractatus was just an example which caught my eye (it’s readily available elsewhere electronically, such as at Project Gutenberg, though just as plain text), but it does appear Google has no free version of it available. ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-anybody-else-spending-hours-downloading-online-books/430061/13 "2007-12-15T06:19:45Z")
More downloadable books: [Bartleby.com](http://www.bartelby.com/) -Fiction, Non fiction, Verse & Reference [Arthur’s Classic Novels](http://arthursclassicnovels.com/) [Gaslight](http://gaslight.mtroyal.ab.ca/gaslight/) - Mysteries from 1800-1919 [Project Gutenberg](http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/) [Many Books.net](http://manybooks.net/) ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-anybody-else-spending-hours-downloading-online-books/430061/14 "2007-12-15T06:23:03Z")
I’ve got to check this stuff out, thanks. It’s smaller and more specialized, but the [Baen Free Library](http://www.baen.com/library/) has a bunch of free downloadable sci-fi and fantasy. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-anybody-else-spending-hours-downloading-online-books/430061/15 "2007-12-15T06:48:52Z")
Being a published, but unroyaltied, author, it’s not that I would endorse a violation of American copyright laws, but Australia’s laws are different and assume that, fifty years after the holder’s death, said has stopped caring that his/her decendents receive royalties and should go out and get a REAL job. [http://gutenberg.net.au/](http://gutenberg.net.au/) Which I would agree. Ferchrissake, the long future I am DEAD! Get a real job and quit suckling at a teat you never knew! ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-anybody-else-spending-hours-downloading-online-books/430061/16 "2007-12-15T09:00:53Z")
[QUOTE=Indistinguishable] Ah, thanks. The Tractatus was just an example which caught my eye (it’s readily available elsewhere electronically, such as at Project Gutenberg, though just as plain text), but it does appear Google has no free version of it available. [/QUOTE] If you want any of the books, just let me know. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-anybody-else-spending-hours-downloading-online-books/430061/17 "2007-12-15T09:11:53Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] [Universal Digital Library](http://www.ulib.org/) [/QUOTE] Gotta love people who, like SDMB, hate 3 letter literals. So no searchs for silly things like _tao_ or _zen_ or \*art \*or even _car_ \*\*Tuckerfan \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-anybody-else-spending-hours-downloading-online-books/430061/18 "2007-12-15T09:34:50Z")
[QUOTE=don’t ask] Gotta love people who, like SDMB, hate 3 letter literals. So no searchs for silly things like _tao_ or _zen_ or \*art \*or even _car_ \*\*Tuckerfan \*\* [/QUOTE] Well, you can always console yourself by reading [**Wake Up Alone _and_ Like It! A Handbook for Those With Cold Feet**](http://search.live.com/results.aspx?q=&scope=books#q=%22The%20Industrial%20press%22&filter=free&t=phdpa4CXiX2y8q5saV2k_w&sq=%22The%20Industrial%20press%22&start=1) (specifically the chapter entitled “Fun in Bed.”). ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-anybody-else-spending-hours-downloading-online-books/430061/19 "2007-12-15T09:44:58Z")
I can’t read a book on a computer. I have to have it in my hand. I love the way books feel, the way new ones smell. I just can’t read a book on a computer. It feels like an abomination. And yes, I AM an old fogey, dagnabbit. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-anybody-else-spending-hours-downloading-online-books/430061/20 "2007-12-15T10:10:43Z")
Well, you could print it out. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-anybody-else-spending-hours-downloading-online-books/430061.md?page=2)