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Ask HN: Where should I buy my next book?
29 points by pkdpic on Nov 18, 2021 | hide | past | favorite | 29 comments
My local book store doesn't stock the sci-fi I like and they cant handle special orders. I love borrowing books from the library but I like to mark up paperbacks by my favorite authors. Amazon sucks for obvious reasons according to the innernet. Powells is cool but haven't used them in a while and had problems finding what I needed long ago.

Not sure what to do anymore.



I've been buying books primarily from bookshop.org. Every now and then I'll buy something from Barnes and Noble if I can't find it elsewhere. I also tend to buy directly from these publishers:

https://www.nottinghilleditions.com

https://press.uchicago.edu

http://gaspereau.com (specialty titles, letterpress)

But one thing that annoys me across the board, and especially with bookshop.org, is the constant display of social justice reading lists. I was checking out recently and the whole page was plastered with Robin DiAngelo, X Kendi, Hannah Jones, and a bunch of other "celebrating blackness" titles. As if I am going to add these garbage books to my cart.

I wish bookstores would stop cramming the "reading guides for white people" down our throats. There are so many books out there, so many authors, so many topics you could promote! Let's talk about writers, not just "black writers." Show me some new literature, not just "black literature."

Point me to the book shop that doesn't constantly promote this nonsense and they'll have my money.


cherrywood, they aren’t garbage books they are just garbage recommendations.


In fact, both Di'Angelo and X Kendi have written opinionated, arguably racist (reverse racist?) hot takes that both boil down to the self-flagellation of one race. The premise of both books (and yes, I have read them) is that white people are born with an original sin that cannot be cleansed, but only fought against, and the only way to do this is accept the (false) premise that you are intrinsically a racist and you must actively fight against this. By "you", I of course mean "white people". Ascribing negative traits to someone based on their race is racist, QED.

They are both textbook examples of a false premise. Extremely difficult to refute because by design it's created to immediately incriminate people opposed to it. So no one with any sense opposes, lest they become an anti-anti-racist, which somehow means "racist". It fails the freshman logic course test which tells you all you need to know.

They qualify as garbage. If not because the authors have a clear agenda other than (social) science, but because their cases are based on demonstrably false premises that lead to wild, racist, and absurd conclusions. There is very little difference between these books and the racist books of 100 years ago except the premise was altered and the colors changed. They might belong as a times best seller in today's social battlefield but there is no substance in them besides their inflammatory titles and racist conclusions.


> So no one with any sense opposes, lest they become an anti-anti-racist, which somehow means "racist". It fails the freshman logic course test which tells you all you need to know.

Aren’t you “opposing” in your comment? Wasn’t the first person “opposing” in their comment? Is Fox News, American Thinker, NY Post, The Federalist, and the National Review “opposing” when they write countless articles about this idea and these people?

I think we found the real “false premise”.


https://bookshop.org/

A collective of independent bookshops all across the US. They split the proceeds and it seems rather equitable. That or Powells books because they are awesome and local to me.


Ooh, we SO need something like this for the UK.

Edit: Clicking the link, takes me to uk.bookshop.org ... and a search does bring up UK bookshops. Nice!


https://www.indiebound.org/

If you don’t want to use Amazon. There are almost always independents somewhere near you. Big cities are better for this but many small towns can support a bookstore.


You might like what i am building: https://shepherd.com/best-books/changing-your-mind-about-sci...

https://shepherd.com/best-books/scientists-who-write-science...

https://shepherd.com/best-books/realistic-near-future-scienc...

I go to authors and ask them to recommend 5 books around topics/themes they are passionate about. The end result is amazing book recommendations imo!

I am working to add more lists every week and in dec ill be adding search, a real front page, and topic pages. My goal is to make new and unique ways for readers to browse amazing books online.

In the meantime you can do site:shepherd.com science fiction to get lists (or related list is basic but works well)

Let me know if you find it useful :)


Better World Books

https://www.betterworldbooks.com/


In the UK if you like Sci fi books over 20 years old: Heinlein, Asimov, even Banks I'd be looking in 2nd hand books or charity shops. When I buy a book brand new I feel like I should keep it (and I already have too many books) if I buy 2nd hand I'm likely to give it away or put it in a book swap. Plus it normally only costs 1 or 2 pounds and seems more sustainable. Being limited in this way also causes me to buy things I wasn't planning to and try new stuff.


I like buying stuff on gumroad, not sure if sci-fi fits though... https://discover.gumroad.com/


You could buy the book for $10 less from Amazon, and it arrives in 2 days. Then make a $5 contribution to your local bookstore. Everybody wins.


If you’re looking for software related ebooks, I’d really recommend the Pragmatic Bookshelf: https://pragprog.com/support/

Great customer service, less expensive than getting it from Google play books etc (at least in my case), and DRM-free ebooks so you can copy to your other devices if needed.


I'd recommend Kinokuniya if you are lucky enough to have one in your city. Then you can waste some money on all that sexy Japanese stationary you are never going to use. Their stores are huge and anything you can't find you can probably find on their online store. I've never asked them to order anything obscure for me, so I'm not sure how well they do there.


Love Kinokuniya. What stationary do you get? I got some Tomoe River from Kino once upon a time and wasn’t impressed. I’m a big fan of MUJI but they don’t stock that so I normally settle for Rhodia when Michael’s has it on sale.


Penguin is great: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/

The sci-fi section: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/science-fiction-fan...


For used books, which is 95% of the books I buy, I mostly use eBay. Sometimes I'll buy from https://www.biblio.com/, especially when they have 10% or 15% discount codes for 5+ item purchases.


You can try: https://store.poisonedpen.com/. I only know of this place due to some authors I like selling their new books autographed if you buy it through this store (Preston & Child books).


http://bookmooch.com/

It's a great way to trade your books with others. And you can pick and choose from others' collections. Plus it's a good way to get rid of any extra books you have lying around.


I personally love looking through used book stores, finding crazy gems of the early and not-so-early sci-fi (and any other) works: there are one too many good books, and I am happy to go with not-the-latest stuff.


https://www.abebooks.com is great. Amazing selection of new and used books. It connects you directly to book sellers.


Just note that Abe Books is owned by amazon, so if OP wants to avoid amazon, they'd have to avoid Abe too.


My friend has a little bookshop stocked to the brim with sci-fi from the 60s and 70s. You have to explore to find stuff.

If your ever in CT lookup Relay Bookhouse


wordery.com is an online bookstore based in the UK. They offer free worldwide delivery. They have a large selection of titles, but if you're looking for something more obscure or out-of-print then you're unlikely to find it there.

eBay is also a good source for out-of-print and second-hand books if you know the title or author of the book.


Look them up on Amazon and then buy directly from the publisher, it’s usually significantly cheaper.


Maybe buy directly from the publisher? At least some publishers offer that option AFAIK.


Safaribooksonline :) jjk, i like the real thong too, dont get angry :)


Used books are great, try thriftbooks or ebay.


Any suggestions for Europe?




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