Money Moral Dilemma: Should my friend pay for the book he borrowed from me?

jaycee999

You learn your lesson on this one.   Now - I tell my friends/family that I do not loan my books out (unless I don't care whether or not I get it back). I simply give them the ISBN number and tell them that they can get a second-hand copy from Amzon et al!
Problem solved.

MovingForwards

I lent a book to my sibling, that was lost and never replaced.
I purchased another copy and someone borrowed that, never my book again, nor the person.
Purchased a third copy and will never lend it or any other books again, unless it's one destined for a charity shop anyway.

It's not exactly something which the person with the problem, can't make their own decision about.

crowlands

It’s not the money, it is the principle. My mum’s mantra was ‘Never a borrower or lender be’. There is a lot to be said for her wisdom. It is up to you if you wish to remain friends with this person but I personally think it will cloud your friendship and you may drift apart. You certainly won’t lend them anything again.

Milie

My Dad’s old story: he and his friends were great bookaholics. He lent a book to a friend and it was not returned. Years later, he was browsing shelves of said friend and saw the book. He decided not to make an issue because he’d forgotten from whom he had borrowed it himself in the first place. 
I think it’s important that books get read so I do let them migrate. Perhaps others will read your book now.  I’ve got some bookmarks on which you can write ‘name, date, borrowed from ...’  But as others have said here, people’s attitudes vary and I think I would probably not lend something I really wanted to keep.
It looks as if there’s no point in nagging this ‘friend’ but I think real friends would know you were the sort of person who would want the book back and would respect your property. 

Fleur_Baladine

As a matter of principle, I would always offer to replace a friend’s property if I had lost it. I would discuss it first, because maybe the friend is not that bothered about getting a replacement. In that case, I would go on Amazon (spit) to get a value and then get the friend something else. But the essential principle is, if you lose or damage a friend’s property, you make amends. You might as well push this issue with your friend, because if you don’t, it will rankle for ever. You seem to have different values so I suspect the friendship is well and truly poisoned already.

Fairness_and_Decency

Do you like your friend....YES...forget it. Move on. Don't lend them anything again...none of us are perfect
                                        NO....forget it. Move on from book and friend gradually so you don't look petty!
GENERAL RULE      If it is worth a lot monetarily or sentimentally or you don't want to NEVER have it again, don't lend anyone anything but if you do, because you're generous, explain you'd like it back though because in the past you've lost a few things this way.
:-)

meknowalot-51

He clearly isn't your friend and the only positive you should take from this is to be thankfull it's only £20.This person has little or no respect for you and most likely laughs at you to others.Steer well clear of him.

sharon1900

Perhaps use it as an opportunity to declutter and replace your books with ebooks.

sarahsays

Swings and roundabouts in our house - some friends have borrowed things and forgotten to leave them back or have left them back broken, or broken them and discarded them - but then they come out to rescue you at 11pm when your car's broken down 20 or 30 miles from home, or help you with building work, or comfort you after the death of a parent, or buy you dinner or a few pints when you're broke - and vice versa - we would never put material things above a friendship and neither would they - if we lost or broke something of theirs, it would be no big deal either - just a minor irritant and then forgotten. True friendship doesn't have a price tag.

Terry10R

Not much of a friend, is there no honour left in this world.
Irrelevant whether you have already read the book or not, you loaned it out in good faith and it needs to be replaced.
Makes my blood boil 😡😡😡