"How Many Physical Books Did You Buy Last Year?" Topic

I blame many of my purchases on the 'We have ways of making you talk' podcast. Maybe blaming Al Murray for me buying 17th Century history from Helion is a bit of a stretch…

I put 10-20, Most non-wargaming in my case.

If you know how many books you bought, you didn't buy many books. "51+" seems awfully low for a top range.

At this point in my life each book has two costs, first the actual dollar amount and second the storage cost for the shelf space. Every year or so I purge books that I no longer have interest in owning.

How can you know that? For me, books are like the drops of rain falling from the sky, can you count them? Too many and not enough! I like books!

My local library likes me. All the books I read and don't keep, go to the local library. They can use them as they see fit.

Do Ospreys count? How about rules?

Most books I buy are in electronic format even Ospreys. Rules I go 50/50 PDF hard copy. Last year I bought several well-presented hardback rulebooks. Lion Rampant 2nd edition being an example.

Bought six, was given another three. Of the six, three are outright wargaming books and two military history.

Of course, physical books are firmly in the minority among books I've bought in recent years.

Why can't you read an e-book in the bath?

I have a kindle stand on the tray that spans the width of my old people massage tub.

Certain reference books (whether reference books or books you know you will reference) and books you collaboratively read with small children are better as physical books. Also graphic novels. In a good GN, beyond serial art/storytelling, the artist and author have planned for a very specific presentation. I suppose certain tech references have that in common with GN.

Ospreys definitely count.

I get more than 10 easy, ebook and hard copy. Got first ebook Osprey other week.

If it wasn't for Ospreys, my count would be way less.

It depends

I bought about 30 last year but 25 were gifts – only 5 for myself

My book purchases are adds to my research library. As such, they are always there for me to access and search for that certain passage. For the last 3 years, I have sent money to the likes of Helion, Soldier Shop and Ken Trotman Books. I stopped buying Ospreys as I want more detail than just an overall view. Not really knocking them (as I own literally over 200 MAA, Campaign, Elite, etc.) as I discovered that for just a few dollars more, I can get more in-depth knowledge that covers more than just the elite units. I always was left wanting for more granularity on the line, rank and file and history- which I had to search for anyway! So, in a way, skipping the Ospreys on a subject, helps to defray the eventual costs of the additional info I am after. Osprey is great for someone who wants to sample a subject at a lower cost (new period, country, battle, etc.) when an overview suits your need. The companies above provide me what I seek. Your mileage may vary, but I have spent more on physical books than I care to admit to!

Bought a sum total of 2.

Different story with e-books/PDF, they numbered 30 to 40.

Since buying a 14" tablet I'm definitely done with physical books, the previous 10" tablet was OK but the larger screen has nailed the coffin shut on hard copy.

If you know how many books you bought, you didn't buy many books. "51+" seems awfully low for a top range.

We are the special people – with 10% buying 50+ breaking that down into 51-60, 61-70, 71-80 etc seemed like it would end up with a lot of cases of 1 or 2 people only in each band. And, although I'm in the 51+ that's not an accurate figure – I know it's more than 50, I often leave my local book store with 4 or 5 books and I visit often. But the exact number? Hard (and perhaps unwise) to say.

Probably just short of 10. Last year I purged my library of some 250+ books and I'm trying not to replace them with new purchases. So less than 10 is a successful year.

Dye,
I also stopped buying ospreys for the same reasons as you until I found their combat and duel series; now I am hooked.

Joe