[lovelearning]

I think making books, and knowledge in general, available to everybody is an essential public service. At a time when disinformation is so widespread, actual data and understanding are essential weapons against it.

In that sense, these piracy sites are acting like global public libraries open to everybody with an internet connection.

At the same time, I feel the authors, researchers, editors, and other support staff that gift the world with knowledge should be rewarded for their effort.

It'd be great if there's an honor system that enables readers around the world to pay them some amount to show gratitude.

The current system is of two extremes -- either first pay the price set by the publisher to even browse a book (and that price is ridiculously high in underdeveloped countries), or get the full book without paying anything.

There should be a spectrum of rental and gratitude amounts in between. The publishers themselves can together set up such an online library to make it all legal. Not only will they help humanity, but they'll also get some of the revenue they're currently missing out on. A balance seems to have been struck in the music business with most of it being legal and accessible nowadays. They should do it for books too.