The niggly creases that are the hallmark of paperbacks find no place in a hardcover. Also, they don’t develop dark spots as much as their cheaper counterparts due to the high quality of paper used. The printing of a hardcover is done on acid-free paper, so the discolouration is kept at a minimum. They often come with a dust-free jacket that forms a protective envelope around the book to keep away dust, coffee spills and random external damage. After all, taking care of a hardcover is a breeze as compared to a paperback. Libraries are particularly fond of hardcovers and they make for great collectibles. Did you know that most established reviewers don’t accept paperbacks? Most publishing houses would rather publish fewer hardcovers than more paperbacks since the profit margins in printing softcovers are lower. Despite the availability of book-binding equipment, they take longer to bind. They are expensive because of the higher quality of the raw materials used. There is an element of elitism associated with hardcover books. These books are smaller, the font is more compact and the paper quality is quite shallow to reduce the price of the book. Then there is the third cousin of both these covers- the mass market paperback which receives the least amount of attention from the publishers. It is only in very rare cases that the hardcover version follows the paperback since publishers are aware that it could affect their profit margins. Unless the book is a much-awaited copy and one wants to read it immediately, most readers prefer to wait for the paperback versions to be released. The publishing houses cash in on the readers’ apathy by introducing only hardcover versions, at least for the first year, if they expect the book to do well. ‘But one could buy three second-hand books in pristine condition for the same amount’- is how the brain rationalises this debate.
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Most bibliophiles that I have come across are hesitant when it comes to spending their money on luxuries like hardcover books.