Do you buy bookazines? And do you keep them?
May 31, 2021 8:30 AM Subscribe
I was in the magazine section of Barnes & Noble yesterday and was noticing the "bookazines" -- special one-shot issues that aren't tied to the regular subscription. I don't mean the timely ones about Biden's election or the anniversary of "Friends." I mean non-fiction, sort-of books.
There was "Tigers" (Life magazine), "Pirates" (National Geographic), "The Moon" (Popular Science), and various titles from All About History, like "The Silk Road" and "Roman Emperors."
I'm fascinated by these, but I can't quite see the point of them. Are they meant to be bought and kept and collected, like "real" books? There are plenty of books about tigers and pirates. Are they meant to be introductions before you take the plunge and buy a book? I thought maybe they were for kids, but flipping through them shows they're not.
Do you buy these? Do you keep them like books or discard them like magazines? There seem to be a lot of them these days, and some of the topics are intriguing to me, but I'm not sure they're worth the money when I could find a book on the same subject in the B&N discount section.
There was "Tigers" (Life magazine), "Pirates" (National Geographic), "The Moon" (Popular Science), and various titles from All About History, like "The Silk Road" and "Roman Emperors."
I'm fascinated by these, but I can't quite see the point of them. Are they meant to be bought and kept and collected, like "real" books? There are plenty of books about tigers and pirates. Are they meant to be introductions before you take the plunge and buy a book? I thought maybe they were for kids, but flipping through them shows they're not.
Do you buy these? Do you keep them like books or discard them like magazines? There seem to be a lot of them these days, and some of the topics are intriguing to me, but I'm not sure they're worth the money when I could find a book on the same subject in the B&N discount section.
I adore these. Life and National Geographic historically have the best photographers on the planet, and I’m a history buff. I buy one if the subject is interesting or related to something I’ve been reading lately.
posted by Melismata at 9:11 AM on May 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Melismata at 9:11 AM on May 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
Bookazines are much more visual than books, generally speaking. The kind of books that have many full colour photographs tend to be very expensive, versus $10 for a special edition magazine. So if you want beautiful visual information on the subject, a bookazine is likely a better choice. I buy them occasionally, usually food ones.
I feel more able to recycle them if they don't prove to be all that useful (ie, I don't make the recipes) than I do with books, which is another thing I consider an advantage. Getting rid of books I no longer want seems like a hassle. Getting rid of a magazine I no longer want, is just recycling. There isn't a huge practical difference -- you can recycle books in my town, though I think you have to take the covers off if they are hardcover -- but it feels more momentous and I feel like I have to try to rehome them first.
posted by jacquilynne at 9:27 AM on May 31, 2021 [3 favorites]
I feel more able to recycle them if they don't prove to be all that useful (ie, I don't make the recipes) than I do with books, which is another thing I consider an advantage. Getting rid of books I no longer want seems like a hassle. Getting rid of a magazine I no longer want, is just recycling. There isn't a huge practical difference -- you can recycle books in my town, though I think you have to take the covers off if they are hardcover -- but it feels more momentous and I feel like I have to try to rehome them first.
posted by jacquilynne at 9:27 AM on May 31, 2021 [3 favorites]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mook_(publishing)
posted by sebastienbailard at 10:12 AM on May 31, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by sebastienbailard at 10:12 AM on May 31, 2021 [4 favorites]
They're the print version of a pop-sci or history basic-cable TV show's single episode introducing ____ topic.
I've bought "bookazines" as gifts as recently as last week: Popular Science's "The Moon" went in the mail to a senior in a residential physical therapy program. These publications have really outstanding photography, with bite-sized bits of trivia and history in a large, easy-to-read print (while not being at all heavy to hold). They're perfect for adults when attention spans are lacking, though "The Moon" has a few longer, wordier sections, too. (This senior is a mythology fan, and the lunar mythology "chapter" runs a few pages; they'll be interested in reading it when they're feeling up to it.) When I've given these one-shot issues before, the recipient has either left it at the facility for other patients or brought it home for their coffee table.
Some commemorative-themed editions (not the Friends reunion, but historical events) are good bets for older adults with dementia, too, to spark early memories and good conversation. (Depends on the adult and the event, obviously).
You're right. If you're in the bookstore looking for in-depth info on pirates/tigers/the moon, pass right by the magazine racks and head to the discount book section.
posted by Iris Gambol at 11:07 AM on May 31, 2021
I've bought "bookazines" as gifts as recently as last week: Popular Science's "The Moon" went in the mail to a senior in a residential physical therapy program. These publications have really outstanding photography, with bite-sized bits of trivia and history in a large, easy-to-read print (while not being at all heavy to hold). They're perfect for adults when attention spans are lacking, though "The Moon" has a few longer, wordier sections, too. (This senior is a mythology fan, and the lunar mythology "chapter" runs a few pages; they'll be interested in reading it when they're feeling up to it.) When I've given these one-shot issues before, the recipient has either left it at the facility for other patients or brought it home for their coffee table.
Some commemorative-themed editions (not the Friends reunion, but historical events) are good bets for older adults with dementia, too, to spark early memories and good conversation. (Depends on the adult and the event, obviously).
You're right. If you're in the bookstore looking for in-depth info on pirates/tigers/the moon, pass right by the magazine racks and head to the discount book section.
posted by Iris Gambol at 11:07 AM on May 31, 2021
My kids have always loved bookazines. More pictures, smaller chunks of info. And as they are somewhat educational, they have figured out they can always con me into buying one!.
posted by Ftsqg at 11:25 AM on May 31, 2021
posted by Ftsqg at 11:25 AM on May 31, 2021
I like them!
I own the Sinatra one, and the most recent Godzilla one.
They're fun, have great pictures on shiny paper, and seem to be built to last.
Was temped to get the Star Trek one; if I see it again, I'll probably fold.
posted by Bill Watches Movies Podcast at 1:57 PM on May 31, 2021
I own the Sinatra one, and the most recent Godzilla one.
They're fun, have great pictures on shiny paper, and seem to be built to last.
Was temped to get the Star Trek one; if I see it again, I'll probably fold.
posted by Bill Watches Movies Podcast at 1:57 PM on May 31, 2021
On the few occasions I've gotten one I do tend to keep it. Weird, interesting way of trying to keep the presses running—I've even seen (and have always regretted not buying at Safeway that night) a KJV New Testament in this format.
posted by Polycarp at 2:09 PM on May 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Polycarp at 2:09 PM on May 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
They are easy for magazine publishers to spin out as they mostly reuse material from the usual run, but charge a premium and are printed (generally speaking) on higher quality paper and in a slightly larger format (so they stand out on newsagent racks). I have bought a few throughout history, don't still own any of them, but don't see the harm in them if the subject interests you or interests someone in your life.
posted by turbid dahlia at 3:14 PM on May 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by turbid dahlia at 3:14 PM on May 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
Bookazines are basically "special compendiums" of articles on a particular trendy subject. I've bought a few if they look interesting, but I haven't bought one in years when I switched to almost all e-reading. I can easily find more stuff to read on Wikipedia and keep exploring the links.
posted by kschang at 1:56 AM on June 1, 2021
posted by kschang at 1:56 AM on June 1, 2021
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I appreciate these themed magazine issues because they give me a multitude of voices and perspectives, all centrally contained and focused, and edited in a way that brings all the individual parts together.
Do I buy every one I see? Nah. Do I pick them up from time to time, if the subject interests me? Yup. They also make great gifts (I gave a Bob Ross one recently to a family member who is an incredibly talented painter).
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 8:49 AM on May 31, 2021 [2 favorites]