Keep the Mind...
You love books. And isn’t it just perfect that they are readily available anywhere now more than ever?
I myself was a voracious reader when I was a kid. Moving from mom’s Mills & Boon to the thicker, more seductive books, all hand-me-downs from I don’t know where (or did mom buy…?). I was hooked. But there was not enough books. And buying more, well, was certainly not in the stars for the young me. There were other priorities. So I did not have a book budget then, like I try to have now, but I think it was okay because I would have been lost with so much to select from (i still find myself lost now – sometimes, books/authors do not meet expectations)
Another plus I did not realize, until fairly recently, is that reading keeps the mind sharp. I mean literally. I mean, instantaneously. One of my favorite lawyer-bloggers (who does not blog about the law), Connie Veneracion, does it first thing in the morning. And she is right – there is no better way to start the day than to have the mental gears spinning and working and creating and understanding and visualizing. While I have yet to inject reading at my first waking moment (baby commands my every attention, would wake when I wake), I do find that if I read before a very important meeting, I am able to think, and think creatively, or launch the questions that would lead to the solutions, and it seems to improve my verbal skills (okay, caffeine helps too).
I am appropriating again a list by Andrea Woroch of online book sellers (thanks, Andrea). Personally, I prefer touching and smoothing and rubbing my nose between the pages of a book and reading a chapter before I buy it, but online is great too.
1. Amazon.com, of Course
The retail giant’s prices are often outstanding. For example, a paperback copy of “The Help,” by Kathryn Stockett, is presently priced at just $8.80 and the Kindle edition is available at 60-percent off the list price, at $9.99.
Note: I bought books that are unavailable in the local bookstore (like Grimm’s Fairy Tales) via Amazon and it is amazing. Not as much PDF books as I want, though.
2. Barnes & Noble Marketplace
It’s sometimes a gamble buying from a Barnes & Noble reseller as you can’t always be sure what you’ll get, but the prices are stellar. New and used versions of “The Help” are presently available starting at $6.75, or 57-percent off the face value. Register for a Barnes & Noble free express shipping membership and buy a minimum $25 worth of books to save even more.
3. FetchBook.info
This free website allows you to search by title, author or ISBN for the cheapest price on any book. In just six seconds, FetchBook.info found a copy of “The Help” priced at just $4 via eBay, a savings of 75 percent. If you’re looking for a rare, out-of-print or international book, check out BookFinder.com.
4. Go Gutenberg
Project Gutenberg was launched in 1971 by e-books inventor Michael Hart as a way of providing free digital access to the classics. Today, readers can download over 36,000 free e-books to PCs, Kindles, Androids, iOS or other portable devices.
Note: I have this and reread Wuthering Heights (and other classics) through this initiative. Wonderful!
5. Knowledge for Rent
If you’re a compulsive reader but not much of a collector, renting via BooksFree.com is a good option. Pay $9.99 per month and receive two books at a time with free shipping both ways.
6. Swap or Trade
If your one of those people with a stack of books in every room, consider swapping or trading for unread books on websites like BooksfreeSwap or Chango Books. Each site offers free membership and the cost of doing business is limited to postage, paid for by the book recipient.
7. Read and Return a la Paradies
The Paradies Shops offers a unique program to book buyers on the go, allowing readers to return books at any shop location and receive 50% of the purchase price back. With over 500 shops in more than 70 airports and hotels across the U.S., this program is tailored to travelers who need to feed their reading addicition without taking up valuable luggage space.
8. This Place Called the Library
This may come as a shock to some readers, but there are these places called libraries that allow you to borrow books and return them after reading. The selection and value of most libraries is tough to beat, plus the facility itself provides an excellent getaway when you’re in need of some “me” time.
Note: This is one of the things I loved about San Diego, California. And one of the things (we used to do) the daughter misses. Sadly, not very many impressive libraries in our home country.
But do keep reading, everyone!
Article and Photo by Issa. Copyright 2009-2011.
Website: www.YouWantToBeRich.com
Email: issa@youwanttoberich.com
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