I know I'm dating myself as a child of the 20th century, but I can't read any of this thread without constantly screaming internally.

I’ma similar boat. I’ve decided that I’ll buy the physical book of after a while I still feel like the book I’d meaningful to me. I’ve got a short list of books I’ve read digitally that I’ll buy physically.

I don't re-read books but I absolutely buy physical copies of books I've bought digitally or borrowed from the library/a friend.

A book that really touches you is a special thing, and it's nice to have a physical object on your bookshelf which you can see and be reminded of. It's also nice to go "YOU HAVEN'T READ X? HERE PLEASE READ IT"

I read a lot of manga on my phone as it is very accessible, and I buy the ones which stand out the most. That is how I got into buying manga and my bank might not approve of the direction I am going XD

Yeah, I usually like to have a physical copy of something I really enjoyed. I like the reminder as in the barrage of content these days even things dear to me can get memory holed. Also any time I'm traveling I like to take a physical book with me, so it's always nice to have old favorites on hand when it comes up.

Absolutely.

I used to buy every book physically (perhaps due to the whole being a child of the 20th century thing), but have started relying more on epub these days. Despite that, there is something really meaningfull about simply having a shelf of literature that has moved me and changed my life in some way. Through the course of the day I find myself noticing the titles on my book shelf and recalling that period of my life and the impact it had on me. You just don't get that kind of memory connection with a digital book that you never see unless you open your reader to intentionally re-read it.

Also, I have never re-read any of my ebooks. I have however found myself moved to re-read my physical books 3, 4 or even more times. Each time they take on a new significance. I'm sure this is due to the physical presence that they have in my life, and books that I only have digitally just don't seem to have that same effect (with a few notable exceptions.)

Like one of the other comments mentioned though, do make sure to get a copy of the book that has a visually interesting and tasteful cover/spine. Publishers don't always do well with the cover and that can be unpleasant.

Edit: one more thing: being able to reference certain page numbers for quotes and knowledge bases is really valuable. This is really only feasible in a physical book as the page numbers in ebooks shift higher or lower depending on your chosen font size. If you never change your font that may not be an issue, but with non standard font rendering in ebooks and possible device transfers, any notes that involve specific page numbers can be made entirely useless very quickly.

I don't really read books digitally (my poor eyes now I'm in my 30s...) or listen to audio books. However, I do have multiple copies of the same book. I have four editions of The Hobbit, for example.

This is something I find interesting because it brings up the question: are books art in their own right, not simply a format for the story? My answer is YES! I love the look and feel of my Folio society edition, I love the smell and memories of my grandfather's worn copy, I love the annotations in the second hand copy I got from a closing down sale (like the last reader was sharing the experience with me). And I love having a copy I'm willing to give/lend to friends and family that won't break my heart if it's lost.

I have bookshelves in my office for my library of Hardcover Star Wars books. I bought a couple digitally when I was traveling that I have since bought physical versions of. I think if the book really resonated with you having the physical book seems like a no brainer.

I buy copies of books that I have read, and are worth buying. More likely, I will buy an e-book copy of a book worth buying. E-Books are preferable because I can carry my library with me. But, there are the books with exquisite photos, graphs or diagrams that need the full experience. I lost a large book library in a natural disaster, over a decade ago. I won't get caught that way again.

Edit add: I seldom read fiction. I jam too fascinated of science, architecture, gardening, programming and math. Fiction doesn't reach me the same way. I currently am stuck in a morass of predictable-plot fiction that feels formulaic, and have not found a book that is worth reading for quite a while.

These days, Almost exclusively.

I went through a phase of buying an enormous number of used paperbacks, before I had my first Kindle or iPad. At one point I had almost the whole Wheel of Time stack, along with stacks of other titles. It just wasn't sustainable. I don't have the space for all those books, nor the time to dust them, nor the money to buy books that I may only read once.

These days, I'll only buy a book if I want to study it, or to keep it as an object, because I'll still probably end up reading it digitally, or listen to the audiobook.

Yes.

I buy physical copies of anything I'm likely to reread. I prefer physical books but if I want to fit everything I read into my flat I'd need to throw out bot my partner and everything we own.

Herself(my partner) on the other hand buys books she never intends to read. She'll buy books with pretty looking spines or covers. Or she'll buy something she enjoyed before but doesn't intend to read again as a physical reminder of the emotions she experienced whilst going through it the first time round.

These opposing purchasing priorities have resulted in an 8 year argument which I have dubbed the Bookshelf Schism.

I should also note that I typically have at least 3 or 4 copies of the Hobbit at any given time on the off chance I can convince someone to read it for the first time.

I only buy books I have already read. Keeps the pocketbook full and my library is only stuff I love.

I don't generally, but I've often wanted to buy some as ornaments. I've also bought one to support the author after reading the book online.

Certainly. I'm often in the habit of re-reading books, so if there's a book I really like I'll buy it if I run across a copy. I mostly borrow books from libraries and that's a good way to find titles to acquire. I also buy books to recommend and lend to others.

I don't read ebooks because of DRM concerns.

Yeah, I get a lot of my reading from the library so I'll buy the books that I'll like enough to read a second time or wanna lend out

I buy books that I have already read if I would like to: have one around, reference, reread, recommend/loan/give, or to start conversations.

If a book was important to me intellectually or emotionally, just having a copy around and just noticing it occasionally reminds myself of whatever was important about it, and that can be valuable to me.

Reading a physical book is a different experience to a digital one and often people collect them as well like anything else.

1. did I pay for the ebook/ have I read a lot of the author's work for free? do I feel like it's worth giving them money?

2. do I want other people I know to read this book?

if either of these is true, I buy it, even if it's unlikely I'll reread it. if it's 1, I try to buy a book I haven't read of theirs instead, but that's not always an option.

I've bought multiple copies of some books because I keep shoving them at people. I've given away at least 3 copies of Feed by Mira Grant, for example.

I buy some physical books, but mostly either borrow from the library or for some rare stuff I aquire backup copies from various places online.

If there is a graphical element to a book, like an atlas, or even books like "House Of Leaves" or "pallbearers club" where the ebook is inferior due to the formatting and typesetting, I'll buy the physical copy.

Recently I've been buying really premium versions of books I reread like the deluxe slipcase of LotR and other tolkien stuff (histories box set is next on my list) and the Akira box set. These are things I read every couple of years so I just like to have and hold the really nice stuff.

I also usually like to get physical copies of RPG books because it's faster to use at the table and I don't get distracted by a tablet. The physical version of Mork Borg (and feretory + heretic) is in itself a work of art.

I have never read an e-book. I either read library books and/or buy a new copy off the shelf if I really like it, although I only read one or two novels a year right now.

I tried audiobooks, but they're not for me. I need to read at my own pace because I constantly get lost in my thoughts, and must re-read sentences to actually register them in my brain.

Born in 1997 if that matters to anyone considering my habits.

Yes. In fact, i oft treat ebook versions as a try-before-you-buy

Only very occasionally. Masters of Doom and Ubik are examples. I like being able to hand copies of books to friends and family to borrow and I can't do that with an ebook.

I tell myself I will reread some books, but I can't imagine ever really doing that. Maybe when my brain is less plastic some day.

Yes, especially books I want to lend to friends because I thought they deserved attention.

Sometimes, yeah, particularly if it was a copy I let someone borrow but they never returned for this or that reason, or if it was a book I initially read through the library and wanted my own copy (digital or physical) to review whenever.

As of late I've been reading more nonfiction though, where one may be more inclined to review them for learning/reference purposes.

Yes. Some books I remember so fondly, reread from time to time. If I lose such a book, I'll replace it. Some of these books:

Flatland

The phantom tollbooth

Wrinkle in Time trilogy

I’ve repurchased very many physical books. Sometimes it was because they were read so often that they started falling apart. Sometimes it was because they were so good that I wanted copies on hand to give out to people. Sometimes it was because I lent out my only copy and it was never returned.

I’ve also bought many ebooks even if I already own the physical book. It’s more convenient to read, easier to take notes, and I can resize the text as needed. I’ve bought ebooks for which I have the audiobook, and vice versa. I’ll still buy physical books if it’s an art book or a special edition, but even then I don’t mind it. I think I have four different copies of Wicked, and I would have a hard time estimating the number of Tolkiens I’ve been through.

Several times. Because I forgot that I'd already read it. This has happened at least three times that I remember.

Yes, I've bought two versions of the same book I read years ago. I loved it, and I like to see the differences between the different editions and what they might consider relevant. The thing that doffers the most is how many pages they have.

The book is El Periquillo Sarniento

If I genuinely absolutely adore a book that I've read digitally I'll usually go in for the paperback. And, this might be the snob in me, but I'm more likely to make that purchase if it's a nonfiction book.

I do now cause i want to read them to my kids or have them on the shelf if they want to read them one day..... i've never thought i would want to re read a book but I just finished up The Wheel of Time and am looking forward to reading it all again in 5-10 years.

No. I used to be a die-hard supporter of physical books, but completely changed my mind after seeing the pollution caused by a paper mill first hand.

I now buy digital copies exclusively, and thanks to the reMarkable 2 I can also get textbooks and take handwritten notes and stuff as I would in a physical book.

If it's something I think I'm going to reread, sure. If it's something to complete a collection where I already own volumes, maybe.

I read a lot of books from my local library. But like all underfunded local libraries, the selection is rather hit and miss; there are quite a few examples of series where they don't have the complete set. If I continue the series past what they have, I need to buy them. On a few occasions, I've gone back to buy the ones that I've already read just because it pains me to own a partial series.

But in general, I buy fewer books than I used to. Partly because money isn't as free and easy as it used to be, partly because my house is already full of books and I can't just keep buying them until I'm buried alive.

Yes sometime, I do read some novel/light novel online.

But when there are official release (translated by local publisher and legit), I will buy, for 2 thing:

• For collection purpose. for enjoyment, because book will come with stuff, art, diagram, ...
• Support the practice of bringing that type of book local. If no one buy, then publisher will stop doing so

I read the whole thread and didn't find anyone saying they read digital exclusively for functionality reasons.

First, I'll say that kids' books are the exception. We have hundreds of children's books, and regularly borrow heaps from the library and buy used (for both environmental and financial reasons).

But for my reading, I exclusively read* digital books, mostly with text-to-speech. As someone working more than full time with kids and family responsibilities, my reading time is driving, doing chores, or right before sleep. Right before sleep, I like to read with my eyes along with reading with my ears*, but I shift to ear reading pretty soon so it's completely dark. I fall asleep with a book playing (on a timer) almost exclusively.

I have a few textbooks and course notes packages from university (half a small box), photo books, and unread physical books that were given to me (I read digital versions instead). That's the full list.

Even if I want to take notes on a book, live links to page references and embedded text in Logseq is so much better. I get the quote, its context, and direct links to the other idea/thought that I connected ideas with in my Logseq "Second Brain".

* "Reading" is the correct verb for consuming books regardless of medium. It's ableist gatekeeping to say otherwise, just like deaf people can talk, people in wheelchairs can go for a walk, and blind people can say they're "seeing a friend later."

I used to buy used books all the time, and I read most of them. However, now that I have a decent e-reader (Kobo Libre 2), I'll probably only buy a physical copy of a book if I really enjoy it and think I might read it again or if it has otherwise left an impact on me.