Do you lend people your books?

Question: Do you lend people your books!?

I'm always quite reluctant to lend people my books - so often they end up ruining them or not giving them back!.

The last book I lent someone (Naked Lunch by Burroughs) I didn't get back!. I lent it stupid one of my flatmates and then she moved out and took it with her!. Cow!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

yes, because i want to share all the emotions and feelings i get when i read, and i like to talk about them with my friends, too!. In fact, sometimes i almost force them to read a certain book, if i feel that it would, for example, help them look at things from a different point of view or something!.
Although i will never again trust my little sister with my books after what she did to one of my Harry Potters!.!.!. it was in an AWFUL condition!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

I understand your reluctance!. I like to keep my books nice (if it's a book I no longer want I will give it away) and many people just don't seem to understand how to look after a book, especially when it's someone else's property!. I can't stand it when people dog-ear pages instead of using bookmarks, or when they squish bugs or food or unidentifiable substances inside (this most often occurs with library books), or crack the spine so that it becomes weak and illegible, or never give books back without an awkward reminder!.

That's why I only lend books to my family members, who I know will look after them properly!. I am reluctant to borrow books from my sister, because she is even fussier than I am!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Every time I have lent someone a book I always get it back!.
But I know how that must feel!.!.!.maybe you shouldn't lend your books out to people unless you know that you can trust them to bring them back in the same condition as when you lent it to them!. Or you could just give them the name of the book and tell them (nicely) that the library has it or they can get it at Barnes and Noble or Borders or whatever your local bookstore is!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yes I do, because I think reading is a real enjoyment and as many people as possible should be encouraged to read!.
I can see your reluctance if your books get ruined or lost and this happens to me as well, but the way I look at it is that if someone hasn't the good nature to look after and return a book, they don't want to be your friend and you don't need to be theirs!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I have lent The Cities of the Red Night by Burroughs to a couple of people, I always get Burroughs' work back without asking for it!.

Generally though, a friend who I borrow off just tells me to keep the book, and I do the same!.

Stories are a wealth of knowledge and enjoyment to be shared, not selfishly hidden away!. A story is only alive when it's being read or told, if it's hidden away, it might as well not exist at all!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I do lend my books to people but I have learnt to be particular about who I lend it to!. I have already lost so many of them!. It’s very very very irritating when they do take you books, then ruin the pages or the cover; but it is downright enraging when they simply do not return it!. So now I lend to those who are careful with books and those who I am sure won’t run away with them!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yes, I'm also hesitant in lending people my books!. Even if they're the most trustworthy and careful people I know!. It's just that you never know what might happen while it's with the borrower!. Accidents can happen, right!?

I only lend the books that are already worn out in time!. Otherwise, I kindly tell them how precious my books are to me and that I don't like to lend them!. My books are like my kids!. I'm so protective with them!.

LASWww@QuestionHome@Com

i share a lot with my 2 sisters, who also share theirs with me!. but we all have a respect for books of our own, even more so if they are someone else's, but other than my sisters and occasionally my mum (very different book tastes) i tend not to share my books!. sorry if that makes me sound mean, but i buy books because i enjoy them, not for other people to lose and mistreat!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Hey, I read that book lol!. No I do not lend books to anyone, not even a relative!. I don't why, but people think your giving them the book, its like some unwritten law were suppose to know about but forgot, lol!. I have had a book returned that I lent someone, so no more of that crap, lol!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

i only lend my books out to people i know that will actually read them!. and then i make it very clear if anything happens to my book i will beat them!. but most readers are respectful to books!. i just cant stand the thing where people bend the page to keep there place!. hello you can use any scrap paper for a bookmarkWww@QuestionHome@Com

omg i loan people my books all the time
and i really shouldnt!. I lent two books to my 6th grade english teacher and he never gave them back Dx
i mean!. what the heck!. your an english teacher give me my books back! Hes had them for three years now!.
One of my friends borrowed a book, and it was in her locker and it was all bent and torn and i was like WTF!!!
Moo >_____<Www@QuestionHome@Com

know who you are lending the book to and give them a time limit on the book!. say that you have to have it back at a certain time!. or write a little note in the front of the book saying that the lender has to replace the book if they loose/destroy it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I lend books out but usually ones I hope they keep and pass along to others like it was done to me!. Some books are better for passing to others than for keeping in a shelf!. Other books you recommend people buying because you don't want to lose your copy!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I only lend them to people who I know will return them in good condition, I also hate it when you lend a book to someone and then a month later you ask them if they enjoyed it and they still haven't read it!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Only to people I trust, otherwise, I dont!. Well, books aren't like a pen which you can just lend it to people!. Books for me are like money, so do you lend your money to the "cows"!? lolWww@QuestionHome@Com

Depends on the person!. I've lost books too, f*cking annoys the **** out of me!. However, lending someone a book that they may enjoy is just wonderful pro-human stuff!.!. so I keep doing it :)

Whatevs!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

I do lend people books, but only if they are close friends and I am sure they will take care of them!. I also tell them not to put any marks in them !.!.!. only I get to do that!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

You spend all that money collecting you should keep them all to yourself!. less trouble to keep the book in the first place!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

me and my neighbour always swap books and also some of my friends do too!.infact my friend brought me round a large carrier bag full of books!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I always give away books that I have read!. They just accumulate and waste space!. Not too many wants them so a lot winds up in the garage sale!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I will on occasions with relunctance but I have lost a few too!. I tend to get lots of books from charity shops etc so don't mind passing them on unless its one I really want to keep!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

No!. Lost too many favourites!. If anyone asks I tell them my copy is from the library!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

i do lend my books, and my collection gets smaller but i buy new books read that then pass on the enjoymentWww@QuestionHome@Com

I lend my books,some get returned others don't!.
It is nice to share!.Www@QuestionHome@Com