FREE/BARGAIN: Less than $3.00 Non-Fiction Books

[GtrsRGr8]

Originally Posted by GA Russell

How to Declutter Your Home Daily in just Minutes - free
https://www.amazon.com/Declutter-You...dp/B07T3GSRGY/

I've bought so many decluttering ebooks that I don't have enough space in my house, anymore, for all of the Kindle readers to hold all of those ebooks.

[ReadingManiac]

Originally Posted by GtrsRGr8

I've bought so many decluttering ebooks that I don't have enough space in my house, anymore, for all of the Kindle readers to hold all of those ebooks.

Hahahahahha!

[GA Russell]

How to Self-Publish - free
https://www.amazon.com/How-Self-Publ...dp/B07T1671FM/

[GtrsRGr8]

Originally Posted by GA Russell

How to Self-Publish - free
https://www.amazon.com/How-Self-Publ...dp/B07T1671FM/

There are so many "how to self-pub"-type books out there, I wonder why the quality of self-pub books has not improved (seemingly) over the last ten years ago or so that I've been buying and reading ebooks.

I'm genuinely asking for opinions, because I don't know the answer(s). Or maybe I'm wrong--maybe the quality has improved, but I just have not picked up on that fact.

[Little.Egret]

Originally Posted by GtrsRGr8

There are so many "how to self-pub"-type books out there, I wonder why the quality of self-pub books has not improved (seemingly) over the last ten years ago or so that I've been buying and reading ebooks.

I'm genuinely asking for opinions, because I don't know the answer(s). Or maybe I'm wrong--maybe the quality has improved, but I just have not picked up on that fact.

The cover images (or at least the top quartile) have improved a lot.

Proof reading for typos can now be more than aspiration today.

[GA Russell]

I think the publishers (like Kindle and lulu) should be "selling" those books for free, in order to drum up business.

[GtrsRGr8]

I thought about the cover design improving, but in my opinion it hasn't been a lot. I think that 9 times out of 10 I can detect a self-pub from the cover alone. I think that almost all self-publishers _have_ to use "stock photos," and maybe even free Creative Commons photos, for budgetary purposes--the authors' and/or the publisher's. The publishing "big boys" can afford to have professionai, in-house graphic design people.

Your point is interesting, GA; I don't have a good feel about what approach is better. I don't know if you saw my post about landlocked Hungary having its own battleship. The item was more like an article than a book, and I didn't realize it. Well, I got into a conversation with the author and found out that he _gives away_ _all_ of his _articles_, hoping that people will like what they see, and _buy_ his _books_ as a result.

[GA Russell]

Random Facts & Fun Knowledge about the United Kingdom - free
https://www.amazon.com/Random-Knowle...dp/B07RVNQC2T/

[GtrsRGr8]

Originally Posted by GA Russell

Random Facts & Fun Knowledge about the United Kingdom - free
https://www.amazon.com/Random-Knowle...dp/B07RVNQC2T/

Not being critical . . . . I was thinking about buying the ebook; I still may.

Observations:
1. "Bill Trivia"--is this an attempt (if so, you decide if whether it's successful or not) at humor? The book seems to be exactly what the author's last name is--trivia. I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with it if it is trivia. The game show "Jeopardy" has probably made billions of dollars with it.
2. A self-pub. Again, not being critical, just making an observation.
3. The "look inside" feature doesn't work correctly (maybe the ebook is actually the problem?), on my computer. The text is turned 90 degrees to the right, and there is exactly one line on each page. I didn't download the ebook, so I don't know if the problem is with the ebook or if the problem is with the preview. Or maybe my eyes are going bad ).

[GA Russell]

Contractor Heaven: Bringing Out the Best in Your Home Improvement Contractor - free
https://www.amazon.com/Contractor-He...dp/B00MYR4030/

*****

Networking for Beginners : Be Familiar with Computer Network Basics. - free
https://www.amazon.com/Networking-Be...dp/B07TY9WHMH/

[ReadingManiac]

Originally Posted by GtrsRGr8

There are so many "how to self-pub"-type books out there, I wonder why the quality of self-pub books has not improved (seemingly) over the last ten years ago or so that I've been buying and reading ebooks.

I'm genuinely asking for opinions, because I don't know the answer(s). Or maybe I'm wrong--maybe the quality has improved, but I just have not picked up on that fact.

There are a lot of authors getting meticulous about quality. Professional editing, proper artist covers, story quality, the works. There are also always noob authors who don't get it yet. This is why I always read samples before buying anything. Amateur looking covers I don't bother with. Cover and blurb often give away how much care went into the book.

[ReadingManiac]

Originally Posted by GtrsRGr8

Not being critical . . . . I was thinking about buying the ebook; I still may.

Observations:
1. "Bill Trivia"--is this an attempt (if so, you decide if whether it's successful or not) at humor? The book seems to be exactly what the author's last name is--trivia. I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with it if it is trivia. The game show "Jeopardy" has probably made billions of dollars with it.
2. A self-pub. Again, not being critical, just making an observation.
3. The "look inside" feature doesn't work correctly (maybe the ebook is actually the problem?), on my computer. The text is turned 90 degrees to the right, and there is exactly one line on each page. I didn't download the ebook, so I don't know if the problem is with the ebook or if the problem is with the preview. Or maybe my eyes are going bad ).

Just looked and found the same. Sent for a free Kindle sample so I'll see how that looks. Might be meant to be read landscape. Not free anymore in any case.

[ReadingManiac]

Originally Posted by GtrsRGr8

I thought about the cover design improving, but in my opinion it hasn't been a lot. I think that 9 times out of 10 I can detect a self-pub from the cover alone. I think that almost all self-publishers _have_ to use "stock photos," and maybe even free Creative Commons photos, for budgetary purposes--the authors' and/or the publisher's. The publishing "big boys" can afford to have professionai, in-house graphic design people.

Your point is interesting, GA; I don't have a good feel about what approach is better. I don't know if you saw my post about landlocked Hungary having its own battleship. The item was more like an article than a book, and I didn't realize it. Well, I got into a conversation with the author and found out that he _gives away_ _all_ of his _articles_, hoping that people will like what they see, and _buy_ his _books_ as a result.

You haven't been looking at the right books. No, they don't have to use stock photos. The better authors get artists to do original covers.

Some self-pubs with covers I like:
https://www.amazon.com/Force-Chaos-C.../dp/172915316X
https://www.amazon.com/Wake-Dragon-S.../dp/B0080UVQIW
https://www.amazon.com/DANCE-INTO-WY.../dp/9082322994
https://www.amazon.com/Dreamtime-Dra...dp/9082323885/
https://www.amazon.com/Ephraims-Curi.../dp/B00ARO6OQS
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005MDD0PC

That's just a few of many!

[GA Russell]

Discipline Decoded - free
https://www.amazon.com/Discipline-De...dp/B07STSJLB9/

*****

Finding the Courage to Retire - free
https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Coura...dp/B07L9K78D3/

[GtrsRGr8]

Originally Posted by GA Russell

<snip>
Finding the Courage to Retire - free
https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Coura...dp/B07L9K78D3/

Self-pub. Sounds interesting. Quite a few pages (181?).

But what I need is a book on finding the money to retire. The money.