Nathan Franklin // Unsplash
The price of books has risen exponentially over the last decade.
Book prices have increased exponentially since the late 2010s. Today, it is difficult to go into a bookstore and enjoy the first few pages of a book without your judgment being skewed by the prices.
Six years ago, a normal paperback’s price ranged from $8.99 to $13.99. Today, these values reach $16.99 to $24.99, just for a 200 to 300-page book. So, how did it come to this? What economic fluxes caused this? What secret society decided to make books unaffordable, forcing the masses to switch to Kindle, thus making it easier to read our minds? The last question is exaggerated, but it’s true that many factors led to this downturn.
There are multiple options to purchase books. Online shopping is convenient but causes a lot of stress for retailers. Certain websites utilize discounts to garner more sales; however, this requires publishers to increase prices, meaning these “discounts” are sold at the normal price. And of course, there are bookstores — some with coffee bars, some with board games — where the perusal of numerous genres is at one’s fingertips.
Inflation is also a huge factor in this process due to the cost of materials and production. The political and monetary status of the economy dramatically influences the sale of books. This difference creates an extra weight placed on bookworms’ shoulders; they may cough up the price for a book only to find it dissatisfying.
The best way to combat these expensive dealings is to support local businesses. Purchasing a book at the bookstore not only aids the retail owner but also the author and the publisher.
Used bookstores are always a fabulous option, especially if you are into older books. Greenville, Travelers Rest, Easley and Pendleton have some fantastic locally-owned bookstores that feature new and used books.
Some local spots even host book events. For example, near the end of every month, a warehouse in Easley opens up to the general public, where the books are on sale at 70% off.
Libraries are an easy choice, especially if you are looking for a free option; just ensure to bring back a checked-out book by the due date to avoid an overdue book fine.
Finally, there are used book websites like ThriftBooks, World of Books and PangoBooks where one may discover more recent books at inexpensive prices.
Whichever option you choose, know that the book prices may fluctuate, but fortunately, the stories are not going anywhere anytime soon.
Karis Easler is a senior world cinema major from Greenville, South Carolina. Karis can be reached at [email protected]