[PuxyYunm]

There are several methods of obtaining books that leave the author uncompensated such as stealing them (including illegal downloads), borrowing from friends or libraries, and buying them second-hand.

I have no comment about any of the above and I certainly don't want to get mired in the tedious debates of right vs. wrong, moral vs. immoral, legal vs. illegal and so forth.

But if one reads and enjoys a book obtained without any channel of recompense between the reader himself and the author, it would be nice to be able to make some sort of direct compensation to the author.

Would authors who made a PayPal account available for donations, for instance, be likely to be compensated by readers who have come across their books through "non-standard" channels?

Are there other kinds of compensation authors would welcome from those who can't afford the sometimes appalling prices charged for new books and who must choose between "alternate" sources or not reading the author at all?

I'd welcome the opportunity to put something directly in the author's pocket, even if it were just a chance to thank him personally.