Paperback

Paperbacks are books with a flexible, soft cover and bound pages, typically produced using glue-based binding rather than the rigid boards used for hardbacks. The cover is usually a thick cardstock, sometimes with a wraparound design, and the interior pages are printed on relatively inexpensive paper. This combination makes paperbacks lighter, more compact, and cheaper to manufacture and purchase than hardcover editions.

Two main varieties are widely distinguished: mass-market paperbacks, which are small, inexpensive, and widely distributed through gift shops, supermarkets, and airports; and trade paperbacks, which are larger and usually printed on higher-quality paper, offering a reading experience closer to a hardcover and often sold through bookstores at a higher price. There are also pocket-sized editions and other special formats.

History: The paperback format began to emerge in the early 20th century, with Penguin Books introducing affordable paperbacks in 1935 in the United Kingdom, and Pocket Books launching mass-market titles in 1939 in the United States. The format helped accelerate the global distribution of fiction and non-fiction by keeping prices down and enabling wider circulation.

Production and market: Paperbacks typically use cheaper paper stock and economical bindings, which makes them less durable than hardcovers but more accessible. They remain popular for genres such as fiction, romance, and genre fiction, as well as for reprints of classics, textbooks, and reference materials. In the digital era, paperbacks continue to coexist with e-books and audiobooks, offering a tangible reading experience and resale value.