Ebook Buying Addicts' Support Thread

[CRussel]

Thanks, pooh! That's an interesting idea for avoiding retail therapy. (And for me, it's Lee&Miller's Liaden Universe, Ian Hamilton's Ava Lee series, and the classic English mystery authors who are not Agatha Christie that stay on my Kindle. Just in case!)

[issybird]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

And I share your attraction to 'retail therapy' -- one strategy that has worked for me is to put shortcuts on my desktop to those titles I'm tempted to buy, rather than click the buy button. Having them on my desktop reduces the impulse to buy them - esp. at full release price while in hardcover, and checking them periodically lets me delay clicking on that pesky buy button.

I suspect my Amazon wishlist serves much the same purpose. It's true, at least for me, that constant exposure can reduce the yen; at least it serves to help me keep my wishlist pruned. After a while, I find I can let at least some titles go.

[issybird]

I'm thinking about what I reach for when I'm seriously stressed and it's my DTBs. And not because the paper holds any appeal, but because they go even further back with me.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by issybird

I'm thinking about what I reach for when I'm seriously stressed and it's my DTBs. And not because the paper holds any appeal, but because they go even further back with me.

I've really gotten to where I can't easily read my DTBs. Between my eyes and my joint issues, I find old paperbacks unreadable, and old hardbacks too heavy. But what I have managed to do is to acquire many of those old favourites in eBook versions.

What I find interesting is that the three of us each have the same response to stress -- we reach for an old favourite. Our particular choice of old favourite is different, but the need is the same -- something we know we'll enjoy. And that won't tax us or require deep attention, since we've been here before.

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by issybird

I suspect my Amazon wishlist serves much the same purpose. It's true, at least for me, that constant exposure can reduce the yen; at least it serves to help me keep my wishlist pruned. After a while, I find I can let at least some titles go.

I have a folder on my desktop "Books to Buy" that I move the shortcuts into as they lose their appeal ... it's huge ... and not in my TBR list.

[ekbell]

Originally Posted by DNSB

I'm not sure about no addiction for certain definitions of addiction (*). I've been addicted to the printed word since before I can remember. Ebooks are simply a lighter way to feed my habit as compared to my 2000 hardcover and bog alone knows how many paperback books. The only reason my TBR pile is pretty much non-existent is that I read a lot and I read fast.

(*) This since the definition of addiction I use at work involves rewarding effects (I do enjoy reading!) and adverse consequences which are hard to find in reading however other definitions do not force the adverse consequences and William Glasser has an interesting book about positive addictions (oddly, the book title as well).

I don't think that I could deny being addicted to books under that definition.

My desire to read has had negative effects on my life at times, times when I've read instead of dealing with any number of things that really needed to be dealt with starting with schoolwork and chores when young. I also get seriously twitchy on the very rare occasion when I can't read for an extended period of time (defined as hours). The very thought of being without reading material is unsettling.

I do need the reminders that I don't need to buy every appealing book within my price range as I've over 450 books I've bought and not yet read plus thousands of interesting books acquired for free (mostly public domain). Fortunately I enjoy organizing my books and thus my library is not overwhelming.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by CRussel

What I find interesting is that the three of us each have the same response to stress -- we reach for an old favourite. Our particular choice of old favourite is different, but the need is the same -- something we know we'll enjoy. And that won't tax us or require deep attention, since we've been here before.

One of my favourite reads is Three Men in a Boat which I blame Robert A. Heinlein for. I will blame H. Beam Piper for my collection of James Branch Cabell books. My collection of Thorne Smith books is, sadly, all my own fault. Looking back, the Pentiction Public Library and several used book stores for allowing an impressionable teen to read anything he choose should carry part of the blame for my addiction.

[CRussel]

First ever job was as a page in the local library. I was 14, and they figured they might as well put me to work, since I practically lived there anyway.

Charlie.

[pdurrant]

Perhaps the only way is to go 'cold turkey', like issybird, and not buy any ebooks.

New releases will certainly still be available later, and older books a=on special offer are likely to come on special offer again.

I don't think I could stop buying my regular magazines, but perhaps I could try a month or two of no other purchases. Something to consider for next year's 'reading' challenge, perhaps.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Perhaps the only way is to go 'cold turkey', like issybird, and not buy any ebooks.

New releases will certainly still be available later, and older books a=on special offer are likely to come on special offer again.

I don't think I could stop buying my regular magazines, but perhaps I could try a month or two of no other purchases. Something to consider for next year's 'reading' challenge, perhaps.

You give me too much credit, but I'll witter away anyway.

As with any true addict, none is easier for me than controlled. Giving it up altogether is my best strategy with a lot of things, not just ebooks.

But beyond that, FWIW, I was finally able to internalize the realization that I'll never be able to read everything I'd like to read. Somehow buying books seemed to check off something in my emotions, almost as if buying meant reading. But at last I seem to be able to look at a book I'd like to read and realize that buying it won't make the difference in the context of all the other books I already own. Hence my rule of thumb regarding whether or not I'll get to a book soon. If not, I can (usually) let it languish. Almost nothing on my wishlist is better or more appealing than books I already have and once something sits on my wishlist for a bit, I've lost that first rush of enthusiasm.

I slip up. But I seem to be able to get back on the wagon (knock wood), whereas before a spree could go on and on. "Just one more, then I'll stop."

I hope this wasn't obnoxious; I'm not trying to pat myself on the back. Obviously it's a topic that interests me and to which I've given a lot of thought over the course of my addiction.

//Hopping off my soapbox now!

[pdurrant]

If I bought nothing other than my magazines, I'd get through my TBR in about ten years.

Of course, I don't want to eliminate my TBR completely. It's very good to have a choice of authors/genres from which to choose my next book.

I'd be happy with a TBR 1/10th of its current size.

Perhaps I ought to take a good look at my TBR pile, eliminating those which I don't think I want to read any more. And then attempt to be even stricter about ebook buying.

So many good books to read! So little time!

[ReadingManiac]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

I have a folder on my desktop "Books to Buy" that I move the shortcuts into as they lose their appeal ... it's huge ... and not in my TBR list.

I keep mine listed on Ereaderiq, so I only buy them when there's a price drop.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by ReadingManiac

I keep mine listed on Ereaderiq, so I only buy them when there's a price drop.

Me too! Of course, if all 369 on my list dropped in price....

[issybird]

I try to keep my wishlist pruned; I figure it's like everything else, the longer it gets the less useful it becomes.

As a side observation/rant, some of my Goodreads friends have an absurd number of books on their want-to-read list. One is at 6,000! Which renders it useless. It's her business, but mildly annoying when it's someone I'm trying to compare my books with and our matches are heavy on books unread by them. I keep my Goodreads want-to-read list at 50, no higher. I try to do the same for my wishlist on Amazon. After a while, the yen for a lot of books abates.

[Fbone]

Good gravy!
Do we now need a support group for wish list titles also?

Just when I thought I had all this licked you create something new!