No, they are just fancy copies that are supposed to look like the quality is better. Probably just using a thicker protective plastic bookcover will be more durable than it, but it wouldn’t look as fancy.

Hardcovers are somewhat more durable, but not that much—they won’t forever stay in mint condition either. I personally see them as fancier editions, is all. Nice for collecting purposes, say, if you want an extra pretty edition of your favorite book that will sit on the shelf nicely. Textbooks… I wouldn’t, honestly. Too expensive, bulky, and I don’t see the point.

I work in a library and have found softcover books usually show more superficial wear and tear (frayed corners of the cover, yellowed pages) but ultimately last longer than hardcover books. Hardcovers have a habit of tearing at the spine and totally detaching or ripping. This is in a public library where books are handled sometimes roughly by many people.

Hardcovers are great for the books that you want to look nice and can keep them safely on a shelf, rather than a high use item.

Lots of different views here!

A good-quality hardback will last almost forever, because the pages are properly sewn in - they won’t just peel off like a paperback. The hard boards [the covers] protect the book from wear and tear. I have hardbacks my parents had since college and they are still in good condition. [the books, not the parents! ;:)

One the other hand, poor quality hardbacks are as bad if not worse than paperbacks. I got a cheapish hardback textbook on history, the spine is already coming apart and the pages have been sewn in too tightly.

Best option: buy hardback, used, and only buy the ones described as ‘very good condition’.

I’ve only ever had hardcovers fall apartment on me. The cover itself might be more durable, but the (glued) spines tend not to be. Maybe it’s because it’s a flexible spine is attached to an inflexible cover? I don’t beat them up but I do try to read in lots of different positions and I’m always fighting the hardcover to get comfortable. IMO they’re not worth it unless you want a display item. I usually buy trade paperbacks these days because they’re cheaper and more comfortable to read and I’ve never had one fall apart.

I have a ton of mass market paperbacks (the small format that is often used for popular genre books). The pages tend to turn yellow and get brittle over time. Hardcover books are often printed on better paper, so they last longer.

Textbooks are wildly overpriced and kind of a scam. I worked at a library in college and it was shocking how quickly these (very expensive) books fell apart.

Imo hardcover is for collecting, storing, and reference while paperback is for frequent use, reading, enjoying

The books I have in the worst condition are all paperbacks. I’ve got a hardcover from 1923 that’s in great shape.

Of course I had a hardcover of the third Harry Potter book which is so far the only book I’ve ever had where 200 pages just came out of the binding.

Ultimately I think it’s the binding plus the owner who determines quality. But I mean almost all my books are secondhand and the ones that aren’t are all old, and the paperbacks are all in the worst condition, the hardcovers are fine.

It matter little if your books were printed between the 1850s to 1980s & part of the 35-70% of publications printed on acidic papers. In those cases the pages will eventually become brittle & fragile.

I personally hate hardcovers and only buy paperbacks. I do find American ones to be a little cheaper quality then UK covers, but I’ve generally never had an issue with them lasting. Maybe if we’re talking years, like I have hardcover Charles’s dickens books from the 1870s and the binding is just starting to come out and my oldest paperbacks are only from the 1950s and the paperback binding is starting to come out. But I don’t think that most people are keeping books that long so you’re fine getting paperbacks if you like the look/price more.

No. I have mass market paperbacks from the 80s that have been thrown in backpacks, and suitcases for decades that are in good condition. I have never had a hardback that survived that kind of treatment.

Paperbacks might look faded but the binding holds. Hardbacks just fall apart at the spine.

I all depends on the quality. If the hardcover uses non acid-free paper and glued binding, it is going to last almost as long as a paperback (not worth the price at all). If a hardcover is bound in cloth or leather, has acid-free paper and smyth-sewn binding, then it will probably outlive you while still being in excellent condition.

I buy hardcovers simply because they are more likely to survive shipping.