# Which dead-tree book format do you prefer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 16, 2011, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-tree-book-format-do-you-prefer/592953 "2011-08-16T21:11:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-tree-book-format-do-you-prefer/592953/1 "2011-08-16T21:11:47Z")
Mass-market paperback, trade paperback, or some form of hardcover? Personally, I prefer trade paperbacks to any other format. Mass-markets are almost always printed on the cheapest paper available, with the cheapest ink. I’m not hating on them - mass-market paperbacks make books available to, well, the mass of consumers, and I’d never hate on that - but I prefer not to get ink-smudges on my hands, and I prefer larger pages. Hardcovers look and feel nice, but can be somewhat awkward to carry. Trade paperbacks, though, combine the best of both worlds: large enough pages to not be comfortable, decent-quality ink and paper most of the time, but often slender enough to fit in a large pocket. And they’re not as pricey as hardcovers, so you don’t feel as bad about spilling things on them. Thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-tree-book-format-do-you-prefer/592953/2 "2011-08-16T21:23:14Z")
Hardcover. Mass-markets are hard to read, because the type is small and lots of the words are almost down in the binding. Trade paperbacks are fine, but not as sturdy as hardcover. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-tree-book-format-do-you-prefer/592953/3 "2011-08-16T21:37:08Z")
I’m not sure I’ve ever read a trade paperback, but I prefer paperbacks to hardbacks, especially at the beginning or end of the book. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-tree-book-format-do-you-prefer/592953/4 "2011-08-16T21:42:38Z")
Trade paperback (not that I’ve bought more tahn a couple paper books in the last three years, but before the Kindle Era I would generally spend the extra money to get a trade paperback if it was available and it would be a rare book I was willing to buy new in hardcover). ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-tree-book-format-do-you-prefer/592953/5 "2011-08-16T21:43:01Z")
I prefer hardcovers. They’re the most durable, the easiest for me to read, and they look best on my shelves. Only problem is, they won’t always fit in my purse. I do like trade paperbacks, because at least you can usually read them without breaking the spine. I \*hate \*breaking the spine on a shiny new paperback! But sometimes you can’t read them comfortably without doing that. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-tree-book-format-do-you-prefer/592953/6 "2011-08-16T21:55:04Z")
I really like the tactile experience of well-made hardcovers. The best trade paperbacks are nice though. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-tree-book-format-do-you-prefer/592953/7 "2011-08-16T21:56:47Z")
hardcovers ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-tree-book-format-do-you-prefer/592953/8 "2011-08-16T22:11:09Z")
Aesthetically and vicerally, I vastly prefer hardcover; for practicality I prefer paperbacks: they’re less expensive and easier to find. I’ve only had one mass-market paperbood that I took an active dislike to because of the way it looked (bright, white pages and harsh black ink), so I’m generally fine with mass-market paperbacks, though trades would be my preference. ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-tree-book-format-do-you-prefer/592953/9 "2011-08-16T22:25:13Z")
I prefer reading trade paperbacks, but most of the dead-tree books I buy are used so I have to take what I get. Hardcovers are too heavy for my ancient metacarpals and most of the stuff I like doesn’t come out in mass-market paperback. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-tree-book-format-do-you-prefer/592953/10 "2011-08-16T22:39:27Z")
Scrolls ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-tree-book-format-do-you-prefer/592953/11 "2011-08-16T22:54:45Z")
Due to space considerations, I like best hardbacks that pack the most words possible into their size. Like for example, Library of America, Complete novels by Dashiell Hammett > **[Dashiell Hammett: Complete Novels | Library of America](https://www.loa.org/books/134-complete-novels)** > > Library of America or small books, like this one: [Don Quixote](http://www.amazon.com/Quixote-Mancha-Oxford-Classics-Hardcovers/dp/0192100327/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1313534479&sr=1-1) (hardback, but paperpack size) Or like Barnes and Noble’s “[Collector’s Library](http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/?store=book&sid=350025)” series which are also approximately paperback size, but hardback. On the other hand, some books are improved when accompanied by a large number of illustrations. For example, I have a special illustrated edition of [_Seabiscuit_](http://www.seabiscuitonline.com/deluxebook.asp) and the extra photos really make the story more exciting. But for some books, I would be happy (again for space considerations) getting them in eBook format. e.g. getting the complete detective novels of Agatha Christie, or Rex Stout, or Georges Simenon as eBooks: that would be a cool addition to my library. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-tree-book-format-do-you-prefer/592953/12 "2011-08-16T23:01:26Z")
Hardbacks are lovely, but pricey and huge/heavy, so I’ll typically go for trade paperbacks. I like their paper quality, the binding, and the larger size. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-tree-book-format-do-you-prefer/592953/13 "2011-08-16T23:37:47Z")
Hardcover is my first choice. ---
**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:** [August 16, 2011, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-tree-book-format-do-you-prefer/592953/14 "2011-08-16T23:58:17Z")
A wellbound paperback. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Woodhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@Miss\_Woodhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Woodhouse)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-tree-book-format-do-you-prefer/592953/15 "2011-08-17T00:03:07Z")
Hardcover for the durability. If I’m going to add a book to my library, it’s because I love it and want it around awhile. I even buy my children’s chapter books in hardback when I can. My children are re-readers (some of them to the extreme) and by the time they’ve all read a book multiple times, even the hardback is looking a bit ragged. Book three of Harry Potter is looking more than a little over loved. For price, I like trade paperbacks. They hold up to rereading well and are priced so I don’t mind buying them new once in a while. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-tree-book-format-do-you-prefer/592953/16 "2011-08-17T00:03:51Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > A wellbound paperback. Yeah, I hate it when sigs fall out of my books. When I was a kid (60s -70s), I could get paperbacks from the library that had been checked out scores of times and they were still in readable condition. Now, unless I buy the slightly pricier trade PBs, I can’t even finish the book myself with bits falling out of it. Grrr. Even tho I have e-books for my tablet and laptop, I still like holding a plain ol’ simple paperback when by the pool. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-tree-book-format-do-you-prefer/592953/17 "2011-08-17T00:13:20Z")
It depends what it is. If it’s a book I want to keep and read again or a non-fiction book to which I will refer over and over, I’ll buy a hardcover book. If it’s a novel which I will read only once, generally I’ll buy a paperback. Small, cheap and easy to give away. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-tree-book-format-do-you-prefer/592953/18 "2011-08-17T01:31:53Z")
Mass market PB. Easier to read in a variety of couch positions. Joe ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-tree-book-format-do-you-prefer/592953/19 "2011-08-17T01:43:26Z")
For prose, mass-market paperbacks. For comics, trade paperbacks. Hate hardcovers. Hard to hold open, especially if the book is thick. Awkward to carry, even with a backpack. Due to the expense and rigidity, they’re worrisome to handle - I fear I’ll damage them with any real abuse (paperbacks will get damaged, too. But they won’t be damaged if they’re bent a bit, and they’re not as expensive, thus it’s not so scary to damage them). ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-tree-book-format-do-you-prefer/592953/20 "2011-08-17T03:25:30Z")
For really special books, hardback. But for most books, the cheaper they are, the more of them I can buy. And more books is good. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-tree-book-format-do-you-prefer/592953.md?page=2)