I’m sure this topic will be one that resonates with many readers: the mistreatment of books. The impetus of my writing this topic was because recently I visited my local used bookstore and witnessed an “incident”. I had a lot of books to get rid of and I needed some space. My local used bookstore has always implemented this policy that states that when you’re trading in books, they have to be in fair to gently read condition for credit.
While I was browsing the shelves, the patron at the counter was arguing with the owner about how unfair that policy was because a) many she had traded for credit were that way already when she got them and b) she thought the policy was unfair and ridiculous. The owner later told me that this woman always brings in badly worn and unreadable books. Yep, a book abuser.
I just don’t understand why someone would have to be told that their books are”unacceptable” for credit when they try to trade in their badly abused books at a used bookstore. I’m no book snob but I do try to take good care of my books. I have over the years developed, what some might call,” book ethics.”
I know some of you like to read in the bathtub or jostle your book around in your purse or read while you’re eating dinner. Great. For the really worst offenders, you all really are the perfect candidates for reading ebooks because with the right reader installed, you can highlight all you want in whatever color you want. You can make notes and bookmark to your hearts content. All of this done without defacing the book and making it an eyesore for the world to see.
Then as I was perusing the ‘net, I ran across this article, titled Confessions of a Book Abuser. Read it. It’s a horror story. You might recognize yourself in it and if you do you should hang your head in shame. I know I am sometimes surprised at how many people deface their own property. It’s good to know that libraries and other notable establishments are saying NO who donate mistreated books. Do you wanna know where mistreated books really belong? Mistreated books belong where no one can ever see them. You know, down in the basement for no one to see…ever. My message: develop some book ethics. Here is a list just to get you started:
- Readers should refrain from reading while bathing or eating because of the high risk of their book(s) obtaining food stains and water damage. Note: If you had a ereader you’d be more discerning of where you’re read for fear of your expensive device falling into a tub of water
- Readers should invest in book markers or book darts to avoid dog-earing pages; folded corners are really unattractive
- Readers should refrain from making spelling and grammatical corrections to novels ; that’s what copy-editors are hired for
- Readers should invest in memory enhancement products to prevent the urge to make noteworthy comments in the margin(s) of books (worst offense)
- Readers should never deface their own property and should treat their property with the utmost respect and that includes books!
- Never break the spine! (kidding)
Dennis Lehane's next published novel is a major publishing event. 
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
nath 09.20.07 at 7:47 am
hey there
interesting topic
my only crime is carrying my books in my purse… although, i’m trying to break that bad habit. I do think that it takes a bit out of the pleasure of reading a book when it’s in a bad condition, esp. if it’s the first time.
i have some couple of well-worn books, but that’s because I’ve read them soooo many times. I try to buy copies of those books in better condition for keep-safe :)
Nicole Hulst 09.20.07 at 7:51 am
Oh my, I’ve come across some bad ones working at a used bookstore. Quite frankly, they don’t even belong in an attic or the basement, they belong in the recycling bin, ready to become a NEW book. Or at least something useful.
Shannon Stacey 09.20.07 at 8:03 am
My husband was one of those paperback readers who folded the book around so the covers are touching.
After fifteen years, I still have to put the toilet seat down to pee and unroll his dirty socks to wash them but, by God, I broke him of that book-folding habit within 6 months.
Rosie 09.20.07 at 8:30 am
Most avid readers are probably bobbing their head in agreement when reading this post. I know I was. Food and water stains are the worst.
I’m guilty of carrying a book in my purse, but I always have a side pocket or compartment I carry it in (no hard covers though). They seem to do just fine this way. Of course, I read fast enough that most books only make the trip for a day and aren’t in my purse for days or weeks on end.
Anna 09.20.07 at 11:23 am
I agree with almost everything you say here except writing in books. I used to gasp in the horror at the thought of it, but being an English major now, it’s kind of necessary. I don’t ever plan on selling the books I write in, probably because I love them so much, I actually feel the need to mark sections I love or want to go through later. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.
trisha 09.21.07 at 6:19 am
I wince when I see people doing those things you listed. I get possessive of books even if they aren’t technically mine. As a librarian it totally annoys me to see a battered book with a cracked spine and bent pages when it’s only been checked out once. And those people who underline or highlight passages in library books. What did you do to my book, you anonymous borrower? How dare!
I try (operative word: try) not to care if it’s their own book and they’re planning on keeping it. Their money, they can do what they want. But if you’re not planning on keeping it or it’s not your book, whether it’s a library copy or my personal copy that I’m lending you, please take care of it! Don’t treat it as if it were your own, treat the book as I would.
Great topic!
MMcA 09.21.07 at 8:10 am
I’m not sure. If it’s ethics, there must be a moral principle behind the rules - what would that be?
Of course you shouldn’t dog-ear a library book, or give a dog-eared book to charity, but why’s it unethical to dog-ear my own book? Not that I do, though I do eat when reading: when I’m by myself, I’ll let a meal grow cold while I search for the right book to accompany the break. Where would be the virtue in giving that up? If I spill, it hurts no-one but myself. (Actually quite hard to spill on a book, if you’re eating at a table.)
I think the ethical questions about book reading are more likely those of conspicuous consumpton - if I toddle out this weekend and buy the new Pratchett, as I’ve every intention of doing, presumably there’s a cost in CO2 emissions. If instead, everyone used the library - unless they needed a personal copy - that might be better for the environment.
Could be ethical rules 7&8.
Readers should never buy a book they can borrow.
Readers should never buy multiple copies of the same book. (We bought three copies of HP7. Complete self-indulgence.)
(No intention of following those rules either - I like having my own copies. Means I can eat while reading them…)
Avid Reader 09.21.07 at 8:39 am
Hey Everybody and thanks for the comments! A few were cringe worthy. Actually, I’m very anal about my books but more on that later. Let me a address a few of the comments:
@MMcA: One can do what one wants with their books: eat, drink, bathe, use it as a doorstop but what made me write this topic was that particular incident where a patron was bringing in books that she mistreated, horribly, for credit and the bookshop owner responded in the negative. There’s nothing wrong with having a little book ethic in the treatment of your books. I for one never crack the spine. That’s me. I never ever ever fold pages but that’s me. Never would I eat while reading, I will usually just watch TV while I eat and then when I’m done, I go read my book. I never carry books in my purse nor do I write in books, ever. I guess I like having a new looking book. It just looks nicer on my bookshelf. As for buying multiple copies and such, rarely do I do that unless I really, really love the book and I don’t have many books on a list like that. I guess all I’m saying is that one should have some type of ethics in the treatment of their own property including books. I agree with Nicole, that mistreated books, food stains and all, need to be recycled and made into new books.
Ms. Stacy, I cringed when I read your comment about the book folding. One less book folder in the world is awesome news. I forgot to add that to my list, too.
Ana, well, I could never write in my books but as MMcA stated, hey, it’s your book. Most of the books I read are not textbooks and even when I had textbooks I think I only highlighted in them, rarely wrote notes in them.
A huge pet peeve of mine is reading behind people who trash books from the library! I hate that. That’s why I always check the library page for new releases and try to be the first to order then read it, heh, because otherwise, I don’t read it at all if it’s in less than good condition. There are books that I just refuse to check out because some idiot has folded the pages and left food stains and whatever else on the pages. I’d need hand sanitizer while reading it.
MMcA 09.22.07 at 5:09 pm
I suppose I thinkyou’re conflating two issues, Keishon. I agree with you the customer was in the wrong, but she was in the wrong because she tried to sell something not up to scratch - not because she didn’t treat her books well in the first place.
Still can’t see it as an ethical issue - more a matter of personal taste.
Have you read Anne Fadiman’s essay ‘Never do that to a book’?
Very funny. She talks about how you can love a book with courtly love, or carnal love.
The first is where ” A book’s physical self was sacrosanct to her, it’s form inseparable from it’s content; her duty … was … to conserve the state of perfect chastity in which it had left the bookseller.”
And the second, which her family were prone to:
“To us, a book’s words were holy, but the paper, cloth, cardboard, glue, thread and ink that contained them were a mere vessel, and it was no sacrilege to treat them as wantonly as desire and pragmatism dictated. Hard use was a sign not of disrespect but of intimacy.”
(From a collection of her essays called Ex Libris, Confessions of a Common Reader)
Avid Reader 09.22.07 at 9:21 pm
I haven’t read it. I probably should. Of course the treatment of books is never an “ethical issue” but more of one’s own personal taste, behavior, etc. I was just pointing out that readers should try to take better care of their books if they plan to ever trade them or sell them. Or donate them. The absolute worst thing I hate about mistreated books that I forgot to mention is the smoky smell from somebody who smokes. Ugh. This post was more in jest than in any form of a serious discussion about the “ethical” treatment of books. I was just putting it out there and I had fun coming up with that list
I’m sure many readers recognized a lot of their habits. I’m sure I missed some, too.
CindyS 09.23.07 at 3:43 am
If I have wrecked a book or the spine or front cover is a mess I would never consider trading it in. When I culled my TBR pile a few years back I actually had a stack of books that I put in the recycle bin because I couldn’t imagine taking them in anywhere and I thought it would be cruel to use them in charity. The problem is, they are usually books I have bought at a UBS and they were already partially destroyed. So I’m glad that UBS are trying to get the best kind of used book for their patrons.
cindyS (dog-earer)
jmfausti 09.25.07 at 2:10 pm
I started reading your post and was totally in agreement. I’ve begun putting the books that I don’t feel the need to own up on bookmooch. Since I started, I’ve noticed that, after I finish reading a book, it generally looks like it’s never been read. I don’t dog-ear or mangle the covers or spines.
Then, as I went through the book ethics list, as I was patting myself on the back with my adherence to the rules, I started to change my mind a little. I think marginalia is coming into vogue, if there are such things as fads among readers. I even find that I am bothered by the fact that I don’t capture my thoughts right there on the page that inspired them. If I pick up a used book and there is an interesting thought in the margin, I tend to happy to have discovered it.
This list really applies to the person who trades/sells their books. I imagine I am free to do whatever I want with my books and it doesn’t matter whether someone else considers my reading habits to be unethical. In a way, books are like stuffed animals, you should be able to tell the ones that are truly loved. You just shouldn’t think that you can sell them looking that way.
Avid Reader 09.26.07 at 10:42 am
This post was more or less directed to those readers who mistreat their books and then try to sell them or trade them. Again, you are free to do whatever to your books. PS: I rarely reread my books, if ever, no matter how much I loved the story. That’s just me :-) Thanks.
Hey CindS, dog-earer, thanks for the feedback! Hey, I’ve had to buy books that were torn and beat up from used bookstores but you know, that’s a hint that the previous must have really enjoyed this book. Or not.