Books should be made to last for many generations

A book is an enduring artifact of human endeavor, and I believe they should be made to last for many generations. A well-made book should survive through multiple paperback lifespans without issue.<br><br>Unfortunately, many books on the market are made of very low quality paper. Most of the paperbacks I buy from large retailers tend to have pulpy paper that's more like newsprint than the quality of a good novel. I've also opened brand new paperbacks and found the paperback to be cracked and partially separated from the paperback cover.<br><br>I feel that a book should be a quality item that you can hand down to your grandchildren. It's not meant to be read once and thrown away. If you make a book correctly, there's no reason it can't last for 100 years or more.<br><br>A lot of the used bookstores I visit have book dating back to the early 1900s that look almost brand new. They are hand-bound with quality paper, well-designed covers, and have thick and sturdy covers. They're beautiful to look at and a pleasure to read. <br><br>Unfortunately, publishers these days don't usually produce books that are of a high quality and are made to last. Most paperback novels for example are made to be disposable. If it gets wet, it's ruined. If you bend it too much or drop it, the paper will crack and separate from the cover.<br><br>I would rather pay $25 for a quality book made to last for multiple generations than to spend $15 on an inferior mass-produced paperback made to last until I finish reading it.