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Sorry for being a complete outsider but can someone explain why DIY bookbinding is interesting and/or useful?

by izgzhen 6y ago

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
quercusa 6y ago
It's a craft. People who deal with abstractions all day (especially) enjoy handling the real.
- smabie 6y ago
  Do they? If they did, they wouldn't their job probably involve handling the "real"?
  - trianglem 6y ago
    No the “real” usually doesn’t pay that well.
kradeelav 6y ago
Some of them bookbind taboo material that's outside the scope of "acceptable" works and tend to get pulled by censors and harassors. A bookbinder who I know has a much more eloquent essay on the topic linked on this page: https://armoredsuperheavy.tumblr.com/post/618861265189732352/process-pics-books-pictured-war-children-and https://armoredsuperheavy.tumblr.com/post/618861265189732352...
riazrizvi 6y ago
Wouldn’t it be nice to turn your book idea into a physical book that you could loan to friends to get feedback?
esalman 6y ago
My dad used to bind all our textbooks and also some of the expensive story books. And it was diy, because it saved money, we got to recycle paper lying around the house, like old calendars, and also the textbooks would last all through the school year. We had a roll of good quality binding tapes for the expensive ones. I still have some of the books in our old house which are nearly 30 years old now, and his grandchildren are going to have them. If this is not interesting and useful I don't know what else is :)
- pstuart 6y ago
  The epitome of tangibility.
- izgzhen 6y ago
  Thanks! I am asking since I am not sure it this is aligned with some of my childhood memory. Back in my days as a pupil in China, I don't have to bind the book but still need to buy two things for each new textbook: 1. A plastic separate "binder" like thing, which can be attached to the glued together side of the book. Since the textbook are glued together in factory, this additional binder makes the book more solid. 2. A plastic protect wrap to cover the book back/front covers. I used to hand-make these wraps from a very large paper as well, since it looks more "personalized" and cheaper.
pmiller2 6y ago
Why is home brewing interesting and/or useful? Why is knitting interesting and/or useful? Etc.
WalterBright 6y ago
It's simply fun. I bound a couple books for a bookbinding merit badge back in ancient times. One was a blank book, which I used for notes. I used thread and sewed it together. It was an easy project. It's like making a metal toolbox in high school metal shop. Sure, you can just go buy one, but it's nice to have one made by hand.
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
noobly 6y ago
Textbooks are expensive and the hardware/software solutions just aren't as low latency, tangible or as cheap as pen and paper. Also, not staring at a screen (especially before bed) is a plus.
Imanari 6y ago
It can be a very nice personal gift as well.

Sorry for being a complete outsider but can someone explain why DIY bookbinding is interesting and/or useful?

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

quercusa 6y ago

It's a craft. People who deal with abstractions all day (especially) enjoy handling the real.

smabie 6y ago
Do they? If they did, they wouldn't their job probably involve handling the "real"?
- trianglem 6y ago
  No the “real” usually doesn’t pay that well.

kradeelav 6y ago

Some of them bookbind taboo material that's outside the scope of "acceptable" works and tend to get pulled by censors and harassors. A bookbinder who I know has a much more eloquent essay on the topic linked on this page: https://armoredsuperheavy.tumblr.com/post/618861265189732352/process-pics-books-pictured-war-children-and https://armoredsuperheavy.tumblr.com/post/618861265189732352...

riazrizvi 6y ago

Wouldn’t it be nice to turn your book idea into a physical book that you could loan to friends to get feedback?

esalman 6y ago

My dad used to bind all our textbooks and also some of the expensive story books. And it was diy, because it saved money, we got to recycle paper lying around the house, like old calendars, and also the textbooks would last all through the school year. We had a roll of good quality binding tapes for the expensive ones. I still have some of the books in our old house which are nearly 30 years old now, and his grandchildren are going to have them. If this is not interesting and useful I don't know what else is :)

pstuart 6y ago
The epitome of tangibility.
izgzhen 6y ago
Thanks! I am asking since I am not sure it this is aligned with some of my childhood memory. Back in my days as a pupil in China, I don't have to bind the book but still need to buy two things for each new textbook: 1. A plastic separate "binder" like thing, which can be attached to the glued together side of the book. Since the textbook are glued together in factory, this additional binder makes the book more solid. 2. A plastic protect wrap to cover the book back/front covers. I used to hand-make these wraps from a very large paper as well, since it looks more "personalized" and cheaper.

pmiller2 6y ago

Why is home brewing interesting and/or useful? Why is knitting interesting and/or useful? Etc.

WalterBright 6y ago

It's simply fun. I bound a couple books for a bookbinding merit badge back in ancient times. One was a blank book, which I used for notes. I used thread and sewed it together. It was an easy project. It's like making a metal toolbox in high school metal shop. Sure, you can just go buy one, but it's nice to have one made by hand.

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

noobly 6y ago

Textbooks are expensive and the hardware/software solutions just aren't as low latency, tangible or as cheap as pen and paper. Also, not staring at a screen (especially before bed) is a plus.

Imanari 6y ago

It can be a very nice personal gift as well.