I’m wondering about this because a hardcover book I been frequently using a lot for university just got its front cover torn out after frequent use for my homeworks across the semester. Granted it was already used when I bought it but the whole reason I chose it over the much cheaper softcover copy was precisely because I’m expected to use this text for multiple semesters.
So I wonder does a book really being hardcover really protect it for longterm use? Are they really worth the extra typical $10-$30 dollar price over softcover and paperback books? If protection is not the reason, why even buy hardcover books? I ask this because of my disappointment of how my textbook didn’t last long in an entacted state?
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.