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Comment by habosa | Hacker News Reader

Just wondering what people think: I’m lucky to be able to afford all the books I could ever read (high pay, cheap books, medium reading speed) so I choose to buy books rather than borrow them so that I can support authors.

Is this a common opinion? Should I just borrow from the library, does that support the author in some way I don’t know about?

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I also often buy books! Especially if I really like the book or the author. I don’t think this is an unpopular opinion.

I don’t think that borrowing from the library supports the author in some way you don’t know about — it shows interest in the book and leads to copies being purchased but buying the book directly definitely seems like it would have a bigger impact. But borrowing from the library does support the library! And libraries can be really great for their communities :)

I like to buy books, but mainly because I like having a physical book collection. In the past year, I've probably ordered 40 or 50 books from Thriftbooks (yes, I am a fast reader). My bookshelf is now getting full with quality books that I can read again and again, or loan out to friends if they want to read one of my books.

I often borrow books to "try" them and then buy if I like them. Also a surprising number of Library ebooks I can't find otherwise.

What happens when you move? Or are you buying ebooks.

You donate them if they are physical books.

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