Chopping up books when they're physically too big
Cutting oversized books into smaller, handier volumes provokes strong reactions, from horror at “mutilating” cherished objects to admiration for a pragmatic hack that makes long texts easier to read. Commenters contrast the tactile, collectible value of physical books with the convenience and customizability of e-readers, raising issues like ownership, durability, ergonomics, and the risk of digital texts being silently altered. Underneath is a broader tension between treating books as artifacts to preserve versus tools to adapt for personal use.
Reactions to physically cutting books
- Strong split: some see chopping/rebinding as clever, practical “hacking” of an object you own; others view it as desecration or “sickening.”
- A few describe doing similar things already: splitting textbooks, dictionaries, giant fantasy novels, or trail guides to reduce weight or improve usability.
- Others argue you should instead buy/use an e‑reader, or borrow from a library, or buy a second cheap copy for “surgery” while keeping one pristine.
- One subthread frames it as a mindset divide: shaping objects to suit you vs adapting yourself to objects; another reframes it as “respect objects” vs “make objects useful.”
E‑books vs physical books
- Pro‑ebook points: light, one‑hand reading, bookmarking, sync, dictionary, adjustable layout, quick search, built‑in light, no arm fatigue with huge books.
- Pro‑physical points: tactile and sensory experience; easier random access and “flipping”; better for reference and dense material; less distraction than a networked device; presence on shelves makes you more likely to read.
- Many note they love physical books aesthetically but use e‑readers for convenience, especially for very long novels. Some explicitly reject the idea that physical use is mere nostalgia.
Book size, formats, and ergonomics
- Nostalgia and frustration around the decline of small mass‑market paperbacks; trade paperbacks seen as bulkier with little content gain.
- Complaints about modern layouts with large margins/leading making books artificially thick, possibly for perceived value.
- Some praise pocket‑sized hardbacks and multi‑volume editions; Japan’s multi‑volume norm for long works is cited as pragmatic.
Annotations, learning, and language study
- Several enjoy heavily annotated, worn books and now write in their own. Others can’t bring themselves to mark margins, especially for language learning, and use separate paper instead.
- Physical marginalia is seen as more “immediate” than digital notes.
Preservation, ownership, and authenticity
- Physical copies are viewed as more resistant to silent revisions, deletions, or DRM issues; e‑book ecosystems raise trust concerns.
- Others counter that print also varies by edition; no single text is uniquely “canonical.”
- A few emphasize thinking about future readers: keeping originals intact vs treating books as consumable tools.
Bookmarks and navigation
- Many inventive page‑tracking strategies: photos of last page, memorizing numbers, low‑tech Japanese-style or sticky‑note bookmarks.
- Physical books remain superior for quick back‑and‑forth referencing; e‑readers excel at never “losing” your place.