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[xhunterko]

So, I'm constantly being frustrated by online shopping sites that only let you have a portion of a book. I'm part of the camp that usually reads something at the store. If I like it well enough, more then not I've bought it. The only online books that I've bought had very good, and thorough reviews, but I was still miffed that I couldn't read a good part of the book. Are sites that afraid of pirating? One book "preview" I found had about 4-5 pages of chapters and not much content. So, what are your habits? Just curious.

[James McCloud]

I usually go on recommendations from friends.  I look for a title they mentioned, and then buy it, and hope it's good (Or get it from the library).  If it's good enough, I'll probably buy it (If I didn't already.)

[forwardresent]

I buy a lot of books online, I usually read a little summary if I haven't read anything by the author before. I rarely read reviews for books. I'd never read anything but the back cover in a store, sometimes that's enough to win me over.

[Paul Eres]

you didn't have a third choice: i never read part of a book before buying it. sometimes i read reviews, but only if i'm not sure whether i want a book or not (usually i'm sure because of recommendations or knowing about the author). i feel that reading parts of a book before buying it sort of spoils the surprise, and would take the fun out of purchasing something

[Superb Joe]

you can buy books on the internet

[Superb Joe]

you can buy lots of other things too. but of all the things you can buy on the internet, books are definitely one of them.

[Falmil]

you can buy lots of other things too. but of all the things you can buy on the internet, books are definitely one of them.

Sometimes the books are on paper and other times they are not. Also, if you plan on reading your book, make sure you select the right language.

[forwardresent]

Also, if you plan on reading your book, make sure you select the right language.

Sometimes it isn't specified, and I have two copies of Albert Camus' The Stranger in French because of this. One has English notes in it, but the actual text is in French. It took me like half an hour to read a page. My French isn't brilliant.

[John Sandoval]

the library is your friend 

[allen]

people read books before they buy them? weird.

I'm like Paul, I usually get books based on recommendations from friends or if I like the author/genre. If I don't like it (which is a rare occasion) I usually give it away to someone else or donate/trade it in at my local book store.

[xhunterko]

people read books before they buy them? weird.

Shopping with two sisters will do that to ya. So, where do you want to go? Uh, the bookstore. And I'd be there reading something for an hour and a half or so.

[allen]

kinda off topic but not really?? idk

a tip someone told me to find books is to go to amazon and read reviews for your favorite books. find a reviewer who gives it the same score you would or writes a good review that you agree with then click their profile and read their other reviews, you'll usually find something decent if you look hard enough.

I often come up with better results doing that than by clicking the stupid "people who like this also bought" links.