Tiny print in books

JosephK

Is it just me or is the font size of print in some books becoming too small to read comfortably?

Spent this morning indulging in one of the two forms of shopping I like, browsing the local bookshop (the other is music). Found some books to buy, hooray, but found a couple of others I would have liked to buy but the print was simply too small, boo!

Anyone else encountered the same problem? In the meantime, I'll have to remain in ignorance of the detailed history of the English Civil War until find a tome with suitable size font.

Woodstok2000

1 - This definitely isn't a new problem, I picked up a box of books from a jumble sale and many of them have tiny print, going back to some classics from the 1930s.

2 - Have you tried reading glasses? Or a magnifier?

Brie

Oddly I can't read books with my glasses on even though they are varifocals and meant to be used for reading. I need them for computer work or when I'm transcribing something from a page on to the computer but anything else they have to be off. Which is difficult as if I forget where I've put them I can't see well enough to find them.

twopenny

It's always been a problem. Cheaply produced for mass sale?

I have a pair of reading glasses which I use for needlework and drawing etc. I love them.

If I'm watching TV and doing close work I have used some old single lens pair with the reading glasses over the top so half and half.

But no, it's never been comfortable to read tiny print.

You can use your libraries order system to see what type form the book comes in.

JosephK

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82030515#Comment_82030515

I've worn glasses from childhood, never had a problem before even with old books. The thought of ploughing through several hundred pages using a magnifier - no thanks🤐

BridgetTheCat

I usually find modern books fine, but picked up some of my old 80s penguin paperbacks recently and the print was really small by comparison. But that’s fiction. I bought 2 history books recently. One had print so large it was like reading a ladybird book, while the other (more academic) is so incredibly small the whole thing is like reading Terry Pratchett’s footnotes.

GrubbyGirl_2

Exactly why I use a kindle so I can set the font size myself

born_again

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82030993#Comment_82030993

Echo the above & reversing colour, so background is black & text white. So much easier on the eyes.

To me sounds like OP needs to visit another optician for a eyetest. As the whole point of varifocals is to cover a wide range of use. Or pop to cheap shop & try a pair of cheap reading glasses with a book in hand 👍

Albermarle

In my experience if you have an eye test for reading glasses, they set the prescription so you can read very small font size close up.

This has a knock on effect, that it is difficult to read anything very clearly more than a couple of feet away with them on, but at least you can read the small print.

Or pop to cheap shop & try a pair of cheap reading glasses with a book in hand 👍

Good idea, sounds like their reading glasses need to be stronger.

infj

It will depend on the type of book too - OP indicates it was a history book - so could easily be an academic book. These are expensive to produce for a small market (particularly if they have illustrations) and using less of paper, ink etc is what the publisher will want. Publishers claim poverty but are totally money driven and make massive profits (google how much profit Elsevier make!). Hardbacks usually have much bigger font than paperbacks (and cost quite a lot more too) as do the popular genre books such as crime and thriller. These will sell more, so can afford to use a bit more material.

If I'm borrowing from the library, I will usually try to get the hardback if I'm lucky enough that the library have bought one 😉

Okell

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6671975/tiny-print-in-books

"Is it just me or is the font size of print in some books becoming too small to read comfortably?…

My experience is the opposite.

I've recently read Michael Connelly's latest books plus I've re-read several of his books from 15 - 20 years ago. The typeface in the later books is noticeably much bigger than in the more recent books.

I think it's done deliberatly (ie they use larger typeface now) in order to make the books look bigger/longer than they really are. I think this also explains the much shorter chapters writers seem to prefer these days.

I've just checked my 1990 reprint of the 1983 Corgi edition of "The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail".

According to the edition notice/copyright page it's set in "9.5 / 10 Mallard".

I had no difficulty reading it unaided in 1991 but now the print is wholly illegible without at least a 2x magnified pair of reading glasses and a very good light source. It's my eyes that are the problem, not the typeface

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82030602#Comment_82030602

The fact you've worn glasses since childhood doesn't mean you've got the right ones for reading now. And you don't necessarily need a magnifying glass

Why don't you try a pair of magnifying reading glasses off-the shelf from a supermarket or pharmacy? I have an optician's prescription for distance but rely on supermarket magnifying spectacles for reading.