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Comment by izgzhen | Hacker News Reader

Sorry for being a complete outsider but can someone explain why DIY bookbinding is interesting and/or useful?

My dad used to bind all our textbooks and also some of the expensive story books. And it was diy, because it saved money, we got to recycle paper lying around the house, like old calendars, and also the textbooks would last all through the school year. We had a roll of good quality binding tapes for the expensive ones. I still have some of the books in our old house which are nearly 30 years old now, and his grandchildren are going to have them. If this is not interesting and useful I don't know what else is :)

The epitome of tangibility.

Thanks! I am asking since I am not sure it this is aligned with some of my childhood memory. Back in my days as a pupil in China, I don't have to bind the book but still need to buy two things for each new textbook:

1. A plastic separate "binder" like thing, which can be attached to the glued together side of the book. Since the textbook are glued together in factory, this additional binder makes the book more solid. 2. A plastic protect wrap to cover the book back/front covers. I used to hand-make these wraps from a very large paper as well, since it looks more "personalized" and cheaper.

It's a craft. People who deal with abstractions all day (especially) enjoy handling the real.

Do they? If they did, they wouldn't their job probably involve handling the "real"?

No the “real” usually doesn’t pay that well.

It's simply fun. I bound a couple books for a bookbinding merit badge back in ancient times. One was a blank book, which I used for notes.

I used thread and sewed it together. It was an easy project. It's like making a metal toolbox in high school metal shop. Sure, you can just go buy one, but it's nice to have one made by hand.

Some of them bookbind taboo material that's outside the scope of "acceptable" works and tend to get pulled by censors and harassors. A bookbinder who I know has a much more eloquent essay on the topic linked on this page: https://armoredsuperheavy.tumblr.com/post/618861265189732352...

Why is home brewing interesting and/or useful? Why is knitting interesting and/or useful? Etc.

Textbooks are expensive and the hardware/software solutions just aren't as low latency, tangible or as cheap as pen and paper. Also, not staring at a screen (especially before bed) is a plus.

Wouldn’t it be nice to turn your book idea into a physical book that you could loan to friends to get feedback?

It can be a very nice personal gift as well.

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