Exactly what do you do with these? What's the supposed function of these things? I see people who take them off immediately after purchase, so my assumption is that printing colored photos on hardcover is expensive therefore they opted for the thin wrap. It doesn't really do anything, so people just throw it away. But I am not sure. Is there anyone who knows for sure?

I use the folded over ends to mark my place in the book so I know where to start.

Originally posted by LionelHutz
I use the folded over ends to mark my place in the book so I know where to start. I do the same thing Lionel. And i just assumed that the thin leaflet was an attempt to provide extra protection against the covers getting scratched or marked accidentally.

I try to keep mine on the book but they end up slipping off all the time so I usually get annoyed and throw them away. Or just buy paperback.

I like paperbacks much better. they're smaller, and lighter, and I can stick them in my back pocket and look all literary. ;)

It's mostly marketing. It's better looking than printing directly on the cover, since printers have a broader choice of paper and ink.

Yeah, Dust jackets are also that; they kinda there for protection, since most people like hardcover books better (like myself). Other than that, I really couldn't say, but I'll bug someone at work today, if I remember (works at Barnes and Noble)...

I'd say they're there for the duel purpose of protection and looking nice. The pictures (or whatever is on the cover) can attract a person's interest to the book. I always keep them, but a lot of time I take them off when I'm reading the book.

Originally posted by WhammyBar
I like paperbacks much better. they're smaller, and lighter, and I can stick them in my back pocket and look all literary. ;)

i also prefer paperback...i have a really sloppy way of reading books, i like when the spine of the book is cracked, and you cannot do that with hardcovers. Don't worry i rarely borrow books and when i do i am extremely careful:D

oh go,d I do the same thing to all of my books, every single one I own has a cracked spine. it's really hard for me not to do it to other people's books ,it's just impulse, it makes them much easier to read.

:eek:
YOU EVIL PEOPLE YOU! That is book murder! I try to be careful with books... except when there's about 5 in my backpack, then they tend to slide into each other and bend... Anyways, BOOK MURDERERS!

I think books that are well worn look well loved. and books need love too. :D what's the point of material possesions if you don't make the most of them?

"Well worn" doesn't have to mean broken spines! A broken spine would either kill or paralyze a person! Why would you treat a book in such a cruel, inhumane, evil manner!

u vegan hippy freak.

Books are vesels of knowledge, and should be treated as such. If you want to destroy something, blow up your local football stadium.