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A used book is often frowned upon. It isn't fresh from the printing press. Perhaps someone has written on it or highlighted some parts. And worst of all, used books are usually not aesthetically pleasing. But, if you need to purchase a used book for any reason, there are a few guidelines that you can follow to make sure that you are getting what you paid for.

First, always check that the book can be handled. This means a few things: checking the spine, checking that all the pages are intact, and making sure that no pages are ripped. Checking the spine is not a very involved procedure. All you have to do is see that the spine holds the book together. If it doesn't, the book is in bad condition. That's because the spine is basically what keeps the book together. If it is deteriorating, you know that the book won't last for very much longer.

Second, check that all the pages are intact. This means that no pages are missing. Most people, when they purchase a used book, will gloss over this procedure. They will flip through the pages casually, and conclude that all the pages are there. But, what if you are missing one page in the middle of the book? Of course, it also isn't a good idea for you to check that every single page is there. The best thing you can do is to gloss over this procedure, but be aware that you might be missing some pages (though this isn't the case if you check that the spine is intact. Usually, good spines will indicate good-quality, used books).

Third, make sure that no pages are ripped. Next to having pages missing, ripped pages make a book just plain awful. Most people who have ripped pages in a book will usually use tape to make them whole again, but occasionally you will find a used book with a lot of ripped pages. Don't even think about buying it. You will spend lots of hours, tape, and patience just making it look aesthetically pleasing, not to mention readable. If you can, find another copy. It's not wise to spend a little less for something that isn't in minimum-good condition when you can spend a little more on something that won't take up further time or money.

Finally, whenever you buy a used book, judge it by how the outside has also been treated. If the outside looks almost pristine, almost brand-new, then you can infer that the inside has been treated the same. However, don't use this piece of advice for every used book you plan on buying. Make sure that you look at both inside and outside in order to make your judgment.

Learn more about this author, Joan Inong.
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