Buying Books...
Hi! I go by if they have been rated with five stars and have been rated several times with at least 4.5 stars. Then I know that my chances of liking the book goes way up. Also I will check what others said about the book.
I have read self published books before and have read some amazing stories. Also I get a ton of books from the library to read regularly --stacks of them!
My criteria for buying a book is whether I want to read it - that's it. If I want to read a book I'll buy it, because I don't want to borrow books (usually). I buy non-fiction only, and often reference-type books or books written by well known and reputable people, of someone like a historian who has written a book about history.
To be honest, it never even occurred to me to buy a self-published book, because I guess I'm thinking there's a good chance it could be some of the questionable stuff we often see in online writing - only a big, load, of it.
I know that't not fair, and I've even pondered the idea of self-publishing, myself (aiming, of course, to make sure it's solid and professional). Still, I guess I come from the generation of people who do attach a stigma to self-publishing. At the same time, there's a part of me that thinks it makes all the sense in the world for someone to self-publish, rather than go through the whole process of finding a publisher. Basically, I suffer from outdated thinking and prejudice and know it. 
- Nelle Hoxieposted 14 years ago
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