Trade Your Kindle For Traditional Books

Bookstore Offers Traditional Books For Kindle Trade-Ins

January 27, 2011

In a move that's decidedly backward in the minds of many ereader adopters, one bookstore in Portland, OR, is offering to exchange your Kindle for its worth in free books. Its website reads:

"Do you love print? Do you still read books? Did you get a Kindle for Christmas? Do you want to trade in your soulless faux-literary technology for its worth in good old-fashioned books?"

Since I love my Kindle, there's no chance I'd let it go, but I suppose this is an appealing option for people who don't want to hang onto an unwanted ereader. Still, it's worth mentioning that even this devout ereader fan thinks that traditional ink-and-paper books are a wonderful thing!

Would you ever ditch your beloved ereader to go back to the originals?

5 Comments

bethinabox 2 years

...Nahh, I like my Kindle. There are still some books I will buy in physical form (mostly just series that I've already started in paperback so I plan on finishing them that way) but the convenience of my Kindle is magical. :)

2 years

I think the reference to 'soulless' is referring to the absence of two things 1) community- buying a book from a bookstore, interacting with staff, discussing books, getting suggestions etc. (although I think this is also lacking with large bookstore like Chapters/B&N/etc.) 2) History- if you have any appreciation the history of printing, bookmaking and bookbinding, an ereader can be a pretty disgusting thing. I've worked with bookbinders and designers who can tell you the weight and style of a piece of paper just by touch. With an eReader, you lose the connection linking you to the trail of people who helped create that object and moment. I think ereaders are great for people who want to read a book and move on to something else or when traveling or in school when you might need to carry a lot of books at once but for most people who have affection for the printing process, it does appear quite soulless because it's a much more singular experience. As for this idea that it's 'greener', I don't believe it. Sorry. If ereaders are anything like phones, people will dispose and buy new ones regularly. eReaders now exist as part of the culture of obsolescence. I have books that were used by my grandfather and great grandfather as school children. That won't happen with an eReader. I'd be shocked if the models that were being sold right now were still being used in five years. Plus, few of the parts can be recycled and all the waste created in the manufacturing process. Just because something is greener on the surface (eg "it saves paper!!1!"), doesn't necessarily mean it is through each stage of creation and existence. If one breaks, either you pay a lot of fix it or buy another one (usually at a cheaper price). With a book, a bit of tape and you're good.

Ms2QuteDiva 2 years

I just got the NookColor and I must say that I'm in love with it. I wouldn't trade my reader for traditional books. They are nice to have, but I get much more enjoyment out of reading on an eReader. Plus, books were beginning to take up a lot of space in my house. Not to mention it's "greener"; that's always a plus. And I agree... how is reading on an eReader "soulless"?

scissorz 2 years

to me it is the words that matter, not the paper they are printed on. i do not see how reading on an ereader is "soulless."

groovyspecs 2 years

Agreed, traditional ink and paper books are magical, but I would be hard pressed to trade my ereader. Perhaps if they offered me double it's worth in books ;)

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5 Comments