Books: Dover Thrift Editions

This is sort of a unique entry in the "Books" category of Shangrila Towers, since I'm not referring to any particular title here. Instead, I'm featuring Dover Publications' "Thrift Editions" - a line of inexpensive paperbacks intended for people who might want a copy of an important literary work, but can't afford a fancier edition.

It's a good concept (especially for ensuring that every student in a classroom has a particular book), helped along by striking cover designs and interesting physical dimensions. Unlike the majority of mass-market paperbacks, the Thrift Editions are typically published in a thin 5-3/16" x 8-1/4" format. The prices are gradually creeping up, though - you used to be able to buy most of the books for one dollar or less, but nowadays the prices for the Thrift Editions are comparable to the book lines published by the brick-and-mortar stores.

I like the whole idea of a low cost paperback; it's the communication of information from one generation to the next, unfettered by pixels or processors, in a very small physical space. The Dover Thrift Editions are books for your bomb shelter, printed material that can be consumed even in the worst of times. If you're an avid reader, it's a comforting thought.