Talk me into selling my books.

Tish_P

Hey, we're supposed to be talking the OP into selling books, not out of it!

Old textbooks - the exact number of years varies by field, but certainly over 20 - can almost certainly be got rid of. Even if the subject matter hasn't changed then the emphasis and the means of teaching it will have done. (Not to mention social changes. I picked up a maths book from the 1970s and it began with the phrase "Primitive man probably invented number to count his wives"!) If you are lucky enough to have kids who are into maths they deserve up-to-date books.

Most importantly, loving books is not the same as owning them. You don't become less of an intellectual, or less of an avid reader, if you take some books you never read and give or sell them to someone who will read them. Plus, if you're constantly giving books away or lending or swapping them rather than hoarding them, you will become even more likely to be that person friends come to for book recommendations, because the recommendation will so often come along with an actual book!

Lirin

I know, I'm terrible.

I have separated out books before- normally I'll borrow/share a lot with friends.

Anything you haven't read in a while, or didn't really like, get rid of!

bylromarha

No I won't!

Books are amazing things. yes, they take up space, but you'll hardly get any money for them and you'll be giving away hours and hours of pleasure.

Savvy_Sue

aliasojo wrote: »

Well theres a good reason to get rid if ever I heard one. :rotfl:

Have to admit to not thinking about that angle. :D

I think ours will subside first. Honestly, we have one room with shelves all round, most are double stacked on that, 3 or 4 floor to ceiling in the hall, and 'odd' bookcases elsewhere in the house. Not to mention boxes which have never been unpacked in 10 years!

thorsoak

You can be very MSE and join GREEN METROPOLIS (www.greenmetropolis.co.uk). Register online, list your books and the condition they are in.

You sell for £3.00 per book (plus postage (I think!! - haven't sold on in a couple of months) - you are sent details of purchaser - and money goes into your greenmetropolis/paypal account.

Of course, you can buy books too ...at £3.95

But at least you list what you hve to sell!

aliasojo

OH finished his shift early today and stopped by the supermarket to pick up a few bits. One of those 'bits' was a new book for me. *sigh*

:rotfl:

I'm not ungrateful, I'm just fighting a losing battle.

Tish_P

bylromarha, the OP already said that the books aren't going to be reread. So selling them isn't depriving the OP of any pleasure in reading them, it's letting someone else have that pleasure! Of course the OP may take pleasure simply in owning them...

Obviously the perfect compromise is to sell'em and spend the money on MORE BOOKS.

Lirin

I'll admit now that last time I tried to count my books, I stopped around the 4000 mark....

Most I have reread quite a few times. They're neatly in alphabetical order (not obsessive, they have to be, otherwise I wouldn't find them!), looked after, and have rendered our study half-size as a result.

That said, I could get rid of some that either I've picked up cheap and hated, or have been given....

juno

I listed some books on Amazon last night at 11ish, and I've just come home to a sold, dispatch now email :j

Lunar_Eclipse

We have a neighbour who makes his living supporting his family by (buying &) selling books.

He takes his regular paperbacks to our local carboot sale most Wednesdays & Sundays and takes about £100 a time doing so. Does that tempt you?

Whilst I love books, shelves full of them make me feel slightly claustrophobic and whilst I can't get rid of good house/architecture magazines, I find it easy to pass books on to friends or donate them to charity shops.

I keep some (non fiction) books for reference and the occasional fantastic book I read that I will read again. Those that aren't extraordinary only collect dust and make the room looked cluttered!

Do it; you might be surprised how pleased you are with the increased space and extra money!