after seeing the post on how inventing reality is $100 on amazon, i want to share my very crude method for making physical copies of ebooks. unfortunately, i use linux for this, but i'm sure someone can provide substitutions for other operating systems.

I. preparing the pdf

software:

  • boomaga
  • calibre

files:

  • epub of book (http://libgen.rs/ or any other source)

steps:

  1. open the epub in calibre and print to pdf
  2. open the pdf file in boomaga
  3. select the booklet option in layout -- this provides you with a booklet that's also composed of sub-booklets, each made of 20 sheets. if you'd like to use smaller sub-booklets, go to preferences and change the number of pages
  4. file > export to pdf
  5. print pdf double-sided with a short edge flip

you have two options after this. you can keep the sub-booklets independent if you want, in which case, you fold the sub-booklet down the middle, staple through the middle on the outside, and bend the staple legs on the inside. make lots of them! give them away!

II. "binding" the sub-booklets

materials/tools:

  • twine
  • drill
  • clothespins

steps:

  1. stack your stapled sub-booklets and use clothespins to keep the spines together
  2. drill three holes along the edge of the stack
  3. thread and tie off a separate piece of twine through each of the holes you drilled

sorry if this is cringe or obvious, but it's been really helpful for me with reading theory and taking away the commodity fetishism involved with books. can write whatever you want in the book and mistreat the book itself (fold into pocket, throw wherever) without worry of exchange value. plus it's a great way to give your friends theory.