What's the big deal about a book being a 'book club edition'?

Question

I see people auctioning off a book or books like on ebay and someone will always ask is it a book club edition. Can someone tell me why it matters? Unless you are like collecting them for some reason...I can't see why it matters. Thanks!

Answer 1

If all you're bying a book for is to read it, then you are absolutely right , it doesn't matter if you have a book club edition, since the text will be the same. (Unless, of course, the book has been abridged, in which case you're not getting the entire text). If you're buying as a collector, however, it matters a great deal.

A book club edition is made of cheaper materials than books sold through book stores. Book club books are also usually smaller in size than their book store counterparts, and will not have the same detail on the dustcovers; for example, if a cover has embossed printing on it, a book club edition of that book will not have the embossed printing. Also, book club editions are generally printed in bulk, which makes them less valuable in terms of limited print runs, etc.

Answer 2

It killed the WCW World Title, just killed it. It took away all semblance of any credibility it had had up to that point (and this is the belt that had the lineage of the NWA World Title, held by such all-time greats as Lou Thesz, Harley Race, and Ric Flair). Hogan and Nash just pissed all over that, giggling the whole time. It was blatant public proof that Hogan and Nash were the ones really running WCW, not Bischoff (or Russo or anybody else supposedly "in charge") and they were going to do anything they wanted. Hogan and Nash took the most respected and prestigious championship in wrestling history and made a mockery of it, laughing about it while they did that Fingerpoke Of Doom bullshit. It showed the fans that THEY didn't care about the heritage and lineage of that championship, that it was just a prop they could play with. How are the fans, ANY fans, supposed to take a promotion seriously and respect the performers, if that promotion's biggest stars don't respect the promotion? As Clark illustrated above, the Fingerpoke Of Doom was just one of a laundry list of big problems in WCW. It wasn't WCW's biggest problem by a long shot, but it killed their top championship. And what's a big-time wrestling promotion without their own version of a "world" title?

Answer 3

I've dealt with some of the book clubs out there so I think I can help you. A"Book Club Edition"means that it's the same book overall,except there is no retail price on the cover sleeve,the cover sleeve will probaly be different(i.e.if there is raised lettering on the cover when you get it at the store,it won't be there on a book club edition book),and it may be shorter or thinner in height or weight than the store bought book. So when looking at a"Book Club Edition"book,be careful&check before you buy it.

Answer 4

That's exactly why it matters---because some people do collect books. So if someone is selling one, collectors may be looking for it, and they want to know what edition it is. A book club edition is not worth as much as a first edition of the same book.

If all you want it for is to read it, then it doesn't matter what edition you get.

Answer 5

Book club editions often have stickers or something of the like showing that it came from a bookclub. Some people don't like that, and don't want to buy a book with one on it.

Answer 6

They offer a slew of questions in the back of the book that can be used as topic in your book club meetings.

Answer 7

It usually means there are "study questions" or some other information at the end of the book to help with understanding and for further exploration and there is often an author interview.

Answer 8

yes what you say