When you scroll through Pinterest, Instagram, and designers websites, one thing you will find in common is the use of books in decor.


Take this photo below by Studio McGee. This is just one example of how pretty a stack of books can be in decor.


{click on the BOLD type to take you to the sources throughout this post}

I too love the look of a neat stack of books. I more times than not will toss the book jacket leaving the pretty bindings to show. 


I used to, and sometimes still do, scour thrift shops for inexpensive decor books. While they do make great filler, don’t get me wrong, some books I’d actually like to be able to look at for their contents as well, not just the pretty cover.


The photo below shows a great stack of coffee table books. 

But what does very good mean? It could mean different things to different people. So then I scroll down to see the condition written out in the Item Specifics category.


I look to see if it mentions any damage to the cover because that is important if you are going to display them on a shelf. 

If I were to buy this book on Amazon it would be brand new and get to me the next day with Prime shipping. It would cost me $30.24. The book is brand new.

On Ebay it would cost me $27.22 with shipping. and get to me in 3-10 days. The book is like new.