seems to be the same for every single booktuber. I think Sanderson used some of his Mormon connections and inspiration while having this special edition made. Because it very much looks like a book from a mysterious religion, cult, or some occult book. Which is the coolest way for a book to look. I don't understand why not more publishers and writers do this. Modern book covers are so damn fugly.... If all books had such editions with such extremely cool covers I'd likely start a book collection. But there is so little you can actually buy. Most book editions are fugly. Most hardcovers are mediocre or ugly. Books should look mysterious, expensive and illusive. Anyway,... so I use a kobo libra... although I really want another, a bigger one maybe with a pen like the kobo elipsa. And I don't really buy any physical books because my ereader is far more convenient and I always dreamed of book shelves full of leather bound books with gilded letters etc. Not of super shiny paperbacks with bright colorful letters, images etc. Although I do love myself an old sci fi or fantasy cover (or modern interpretation of those)
@@Jay-zm9ns after they shipped all the leatherbounds from the kickstarter they put their leftovers on their store. I am subscribed to Sanderson's RU-vid channel and ordered it when he announced that they were on there.
I have to make a small point here. Almost all paper produced today is acid-free, but there is a huge difference between paper and paper. Most paper is made of wood fiber that is neutralized by acid and does not have the same quality as paper with hemp or pure rag (cotton, wool, linen, jute and hemp) fiber in it. The more wood fiber you have in the paper, the faster it yellows and it breaks faster in sunlight. It is also all that is often much weaker than rag paper, it is one of the biggest reasons why banknotes are made of 100% rag paper plus they hold color much better.
I personally like physical books more than digital "ebooks", there's just something about having the book in your hands and thumbing through the pages that is more appealing. I've gotten some paperbacks before and found out that I prefer hardcover a lot more than paperbacks. I don't like it when the paperback warps due to overuse and the binding is really cheap (usually). I have a lot more hardcover books than I do paperback, no leatherbound books (other than religious material) because I just can't afford it. So hardcover are what I have mostly gotten in the past.
This video is recommended to me, and I am pretty sure that the conclusion statement will be on the lines with “it depends on your preferences or budget”.
I really enjoyed your video. I purchase books from Suntup Editions and The Folio Society (not a huge fan of leather bound books, although I do like the B&N LB Editions (yeah, I know they're not real leather). I have friends and coworkers who think I'm nuts when I spend $200 on a book. But when I'm reading it and it's letterpress printed, and illustrated, and signed by the artist and sometimes even the author, on luscious acid free papers, etc., the reading experience is so worth it.
I love to buy and read the occasional (5-10/year) luxurious book. That being said, I’m partial to cloth/buckram to leather, which tends to make my hands sweat. The paper quality, seen binding, well-considered page layout, and often artwork really elevate the experience. But for me, these editions always serve as my reading copy. I would never shell out money for a book I’m afraid to use-speaking only for myself, the reading experience is the point of these books.
My copy of WoK leatherbound should be arriving soon, excited for that. I hope to have a bookcase full of leatherbounds one day, for now I've got a decent few but not even enough to fill a single shelf.
I’ve mostly switched to audiobooks and ebooks, so for me, to add a book to my shelf, I already HAVE it. I’ve read it. It’s an old friend I want to give a home, so we can visit and go on those adventures together over and over. It’s EARNED. I don’t buy them for myself, but they’re always recommended as presents, and that way I can remember, “And it was my mom who gave me this book.” Now, having since lost her to cancer, that means something more than it did. Everyone has their “things.” Loving really nice leatherbound hardbacks just happens to be mine. 🤷🏻♀️ Also, I may send this video to my Dad, who… does NOT quite get it. 😂
I wish I could afford the Brandon Sanderson leatherbound editions, but I'm kind of on a tight budget right now and things like rent, bills, and groceries have to take priority.
You’ve got me second guessing saving $ on the deluxe Tolkien editions now. I only have two (love them) but decided to save money and now I want all the slipcased deluxe illustrated editions. You are so right about the reading experience being so much better.
Leather bound books are very nice, I have many by Easton library and love that they're printed and bound in the USA..... but some of my nicest books are not leather bound, for example my limited run Taschen art books, some of which are $1200 and not leather bound.
@@TheLegendarium this video inspired me to pick it up and read the preface! Very much agree of the great feeling reading experience. Can't wait to continue!
Easton Press are my favourite book company, especially buying their older books. I just purchased Fahrenheit 451 (from the 90's) and their new Dune and want to get an old copy of Lolita next
I bought the Way of Kings leather bound because it's the book that got me back into reading. Since reading it, I've read over 50 other books, including the entire Wheel of Time and Lord of the Rings series. Stormlight is by far my favorite series in progress, and I hope to be able to get them all as they come
Not every leather bound is 100. If you're in the US you're very lucky you can order Easton Press leather bounds. But barnes and noble and Canterbury classics are also beautiful and only 20 / 30 euro sometimes as low as 10. They are unfortunately bonded leather though
Do you actually read the leather bound editions? I did so with "The final empire" and managed to rub off parts of the gold foil from the back cover while handling the book, which makes me kind of reluctant to continue with "The well of ascension" in the same manner.
I find that when u buy the paperback version of a book and the leather bound I finish the leather bound much quicker, it makes me feel more passionate bout the book I guess.
Why do people put such an emphasis on the cost of something compared to the value it brings to you. I have been collecting them for a few years and have spent over 2000 on them but the quality is amazing, I enjoy the reading experience, and I like have a huge library of nice looking books.
I know I’m 2 years late but I’ve just started to collect J R.R token books and so far I have the hobbit deluxe illustrated edition and the SILMARILLION deluxe illustrated edition and so far they are worth it I’m going to get the LOTR one next and they do look nice on my shelf so I do think expensive versions are worth it and both of them are leather bound ones
It's also nice to think of these like investments. They only increase in value the longer you hold on to them. The signed Way of King leatherbounds for example are selling for 600-1000 dollars, and, since Sanderson won't be signing them anymore, in a couple years they'll definitely be worth even more.
Oh yes, it is.They'll last 5xs longer, and won't wear when reading them. Most of my books have cracks in the spine because I actually read them. My leather bounds are all still in perfect shape. My KJV from Barnes and Noble is pretty limber from having read it so often, but it's still in perfect condition.
When you die, hopefully they will not end up to the dumpster. Go to your local library during their big Summer Sale and buy that $800.00 book for $1.00. I have gotten many $800.00 leather bounds like Brandon Sandersons at my local library for $1.00 to $5.00 even some old Stephen King leather bounds for .10 cents to .50 cents. So leaving those nice books to people does not mean they do not end up cheap somewhere.
Generally, paperback books are smaller and much more portable than the leather bound $100 to $1,000 dollar behemoths you are talking about. You can walk to Starbucks or to the park with a paperback. They seem friendlier to me. Paperbacks are not as heavy. You don't have to be so careful with them. You can read paperbacks in bed. Also, no thief will rob you for a paperback. They will rob you for an expensive Easton Press book signed by the author, however. If you are eating a bowl of spaghetti, or a pizza, or a grinder, it's ok to continue reading if you have a paperback book in your hand. Not so much with an expensive leather bound and gagged Easton Press, or Franklin Library books. You can read a paperback book in public without having to hire a security guard, say the Rock, to protect you while reading. Not so with the Easton Press leatherbound volumes. If you read one at home, then you have to turn on your security alarms, buy a Dobermann, and hire the Rock, or Russel Crowe, or Denzell Washington for added protection. That seems too much for me. I'd prefer getting cheap, lightweight paperback copies, and with the money I save, buy a small island, build several mansions, get a nice Lear jet, while traveling around in style in my new Maseratti or Tesla. Then too, I could buy more bookshelves and buy nearly infinite books, creating my own library of Babel with the money I've saved. Good luck to you, Legendarium. Thanks for showing off your cool books. That being said, I own about fifteen Franklin Library books, and I have two Easton Press volumes as well.
I strongly dislike modern covers. There is absolutely nothing wrong with liking well made timeless looking and feeling anything. Books are one of the highest levels of human achievement. Along with art, architecture etc. There is something holy about a library with beautiful books floor to ceiling. The same as a beautiful church or building, the same as a beautiful painting, poem or song. I seriously don’t understand how publishers don’t capitalize on the fact that readers LOVE their libraries and many if not most want the best quality book they can buy for their shelf. I understand hard backs but they even feel and look underwhelming and cheap on the shelf. I would buy an expensive over built book 100% of the time if it were an option.
Not really worth it really. I have like 10 of those expensive, illustrated books. They're super heavy and u can't take them anywhere or read in bed. Sure, they look good on the shelf but I wanna read them not just look at them and keep them as heirlooms.
"In what world does a $100 book make sense?" How about specialty books? I have a whole shelf of music reference books, most of which were well over $100 per volume. Almost all of my books were bought simply for their contents. I don't care about the binding as long as the books stay together.
Was hoping you'd get into actual specifics on the cost of each of the elements you listed. Like the cost differences between: 1) Bonded leather vs genuine leather vs hardback vs paperback 2) Regular paper vs acid-free paper 3) Illustrated vs non-illustrated 4) Sprayed edges vs not This video essentially just says 'if you love a book, feel free to spend whatever you want on a special edition'. When this video should be saying 'taking into account the extra $ costs of these elements, spending x is worth it but spending y is not'
i feel like that may have been beyond his intended scope/extent for this video, and he may have just wanted to touch on why one would want one of these types of books in general. those are good points though! if you’re passionate enough to create it i would watch a vid/read an article on those topics!
for me tbh I dont think they dont even look that good, the way this book looks and feels is cheap, not worth the high price at all. but whats looks great appealing, and gorgeous are covers by juniper books or kraken books, like stormlight, red rising, lord of the rings, percy jackson, throne of glass, or wheel of time all of those look absolutly gorgeous and well worth the money.
Sure, if you want over-priced sheets of paper (that only display well on the spine yet don't have information about the book on them) put on other publishers book they charge sometimes over double the price for 😂 If they were reasonably priced and reasonable quality and still practical functionally it might be a different story. Go with Folio, similar modern vibe but at least you get closer to what you pay for.
@@radroatch bro whats wrong with you why are you so pressed, the books just dont look good for their price. and you are here getting pressed about something you have no affiliation with. and learn to use these (). and those
@@1treps197 Just giving you some genuine advice, juniper are definitely worth steering clear of if you don't want buyer remorse (or having to do some mental gymnastics after the fact). Sorry if you have already sunk your money on them. I haven't spent money on either. I use grammar to convey what I want the way I want so quit the policing.
if you don't like juniper dust jackets or other stores dust jackets that doesn't mean that they are suc kor you'll have remorse, and the fact that over 99% of reviews of these companies are positive concludes that your opinion is in the minority. @@radroatch
@@1treps197 Reviews by who? Booktubers dependant on the freebies/sponsors. They're comparable quality to dustjackets on regular priced full books (with the huge costs that come with actual publishing). A fairly priced dustjackets market would be a good thing, but juniper charge heavily for very average quality, and poor editing, to make a quick buck. And, unacceptably charge over double the RRP on others books. Aesthetic uniformity and lack of competition is all they have got going. They are basically only good curating libraries based on aesthetics for the rich (the other side of their business).
Spending a lot on quality books with stories that have stood the test of time is one thing. But, these commercialised new books are mostly going to read very cringe to later generations when tastes change, so I hope anyone sacrificing $$$ for them is doing it from a mentally healthy enough place to understand that. That is to say, wearing the facsimile of longevity will likely still age poorly idealistically. That's why these kind of books show the uncanny absurdity of consumerism vs capital L 'literature'. Excluding the 1 in 1000 chance it might be the next one that makes it into canon.
You know what’s even cheaper than paperbacks? The internet lol. Nonetheless I’ve already spent thousands on leatherbacks of my favorite books with gorgeous illustrations. They are something to behold.
Definitely not worth it because those books are for show ONLY.. They are usually never opened let alone read.. People who collect books like this are just trying to put on intellectual airs "look at me I'm so smart i have all the classics"
Definitely not worth it because those books are for show ONLY.. They are usually never opened let alone read.. People who collect books like this are just trying to put on intellectual airs "look at me I'm so smart i have all the classics"
For the feel and heft of them, I purchased a number of my favorite books in leather, but when I developed wet macular degeneration reading them became quite arduous, tiring and therefore slow. Investigating the physiology and psychology of the reading process, I found that compensating for impaired vision gave me more time to comprehend and enjoy what I was reading; I read books several times anyway.
