As an avid reader, I often ask myself various questions pertaining to bookish related content. Do I prefer my kindle, or a handheld book? Are books better off as movies, or as a TV series? BookTube or Bookstagram? But most importantly, are hardcovers better than paperbacks? 

The simple answer is no, which might come as a surprise to some and especially those in the book community. It is typical for people to prefer hardcover books, which is why they are often pricier on the market. As an example, The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, written by V.E. Schwab is currently selling for $20.40 on Amazon in hardcover. The same book being sold on Amazon, but as a paperback, is being sold for $17.99. That may not seem like a big difference, but for those who buy books regularly, it can prove quite the difference. 

Still, don’t let the price differences fool you into thinking that the average reader prefers a hardcover: there are a variety of reasons why paperback books are superior. For example, I love how they look aesthetically pleasing on my bookshelf. 

Paperbacks are much easier to display on shelves because hardcovers have dust jackets, which serve as foliage wrapping around books. Dust jackets will often get torn or crumpled when being displayed, whereas paperbacks rarely get bent if handled properly.

In addition to their cheaper price, paperbacks are easier to carry around. Almost everywhere I go, I can be seen with a book in my hand, whether it be a paperback, a hardcover, or even my phone, which is connected to my kindle. Where paperbacks are easy and light to carry around, hardbacks are heavier. 

This is not to say that paperbacks are the perfect option. As someone who prefers an aesthetically pleasing bookshelf, it can sometimes be difficult to find the same type of paperbacks. Some paperbacks are taller in size and some have gloss covers. Others are shorter and have matte covers. Of course, I am in favor of taller sized books with matte covers because glossy covers ‒ no. Most avid readers know that it is almost impossible to avoid fingerprints on glossy covers, so matte is the better option. 

Anyway, while this may seem like a meaningless opinion and debate, students should consider the fact that it is especially important for high school students. You may or may not have noticed, but choosing copies of books in English class always proves to be a silent competition amongst students. Who is going to get the few and far between hardcovers? Who is going to get the books in the worst condition? It seems a bit dumb to be quite honest, but it happens! 

Hardcovers versus paperbacks is a controversy that many brush off, but is definitely a serious debate to some, including myself. When you go to Barnes & Noble next, or plan on buying a book from amazon, consider everything above. Paperbacks are the better option. I challenge you to convince me otherwise.