The most obvious place to get books free for a period of time is the public library. Most libraries have a wide selection of books that appeal to every taste that can be borrowed for a minimum of 3 weeks. Sometimes, however, borrowing a book is not enough. Many like to collect the books they read.
Free Books From Publishers
Most publishers have Twitter and Facebook accounts. They often announce giveaways to their followers for free books. There are legitimately free. One publisher who has offered free books to the first responders via their Twitter account is Penguin Books. Sometimes these books will be uncorrected proofs, but more often than not they will be fully published volumes.
Another way to get free books from publishers is to request review copies. They do expect those who ask for review copies to have some experience with reviewing books, or at least a standing website that they can refer the publisher too. Those who write reviews on Amazon.com are often approached by publishers and offered free books to review.
Contests
Several websites have contests periodically where the prizes are free books. The website Vibrant Nation often offers free books to people who respond to blog posts by authors. BookCrossing.com helps to facilitate free books; members “set free” books by leaving them in public places for anyone who comes across them.
Free Books Online
There are many websites where copyright-free digital books can be had for free. The granddaddy of them all is Gutenburg; they have over 30,000 free books that can be downloaded, many of them include the illustrations. Librivox offers the downloading of both audio and text digital books. Google Books offers the full text of copyright-free books and limited views of those that still have valid copyrights.
A search of Google turns up many other sites that offer free digital books; the reader should make sure the books are legitimately available for download as not all of those websites can be trusted. The odds are if the newest Stephen King book is available for download free, the website is not legitimate and illegal.
Free Books From the Authors
Several authors are beginning to do this, but Cory Doctrow was first and he currently offers all his books as free downloads on his website. He believes eBooks sell print books.
Free Books for All
As noted above, there are many ways in which to get free books, both print and digital. Sometimes it might take a bit of detective work or luck, but free books are there for the taking.
Susan Keeping - Susan has been writing online for over 10 years and is currently developing a website for women.
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