One of the suggestions to get a legit book is to visit a local bookstore -- I wonder for how many people that's a valid suggestion? My nearest bookstore is around 40 minutes away (which these days means it's around $5 in gas just to drive there), and it's a Barnes and Noble, not an independent store. Until a couple years ago I had an independent shop downtown, but they closed suddenly (before COVID)
And independent bookstore doesn’t even mean much to you because the whole reason to care that it’s independent is because it functions as a community space. All but a tiny sliver of the book profits are still getting slurped out of your community by the publisher anyway.
If it’s not more convenient or cheaper, and you’re not getting value from the space existing then you might as well just buy from Amazon.
It’s like some people got “buy local” hammered into their brains without any thought as to when doing so is actually beneficial.
> And independent bookstore doesn’t even mean much to you because the whole reason to care that it’s independent is because it functions as a community space.
Buying from a local independent bookstore is good for more than just supporting them for providing a community space. Buying from your local bookstore also means giving your money (at least in part) to members within your local economy.
It also means not giving your money (at least in part) to Amazon.
This. There's an indie in DC I used before I moved away and I still use them and rely on them for suggestions and doing a little homework for me. Would rather support a small, local business in the town where I lived for 20+ years. And, when my husband wants a particular book, the kids get a link to that shop and they know we don't do Amazon so they buy from the indie.
