How to Find Books on Translation Without Spending a Fortune

It doesn’t take an interpreter to work out that books cost money! Whether you’re in Great Britain or the People’s Republic, reading brings pleasure but also eats into the budget.

If you’re looking to bring worldwide texts to audiences who don’t speak the language, then finding the right book at the right price seems extra complicated.

Or is it? The principle of buying smart to save pennies is the same no matter what the lingo. Doing it on a global scale might sound daunting, but it’s simpler than you think.

You could be an educator inspiring young minds, a professional looking to improve your craft or just someone trying to get hold of a great book from further afield.

Our guide takes you through the basics, so everything starts off on the right page and without straining your finances…  


Big fish

Sometimes the most obvious places are the easiest to overlook. Major outlets such as Amazon and eBay are huge companies. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be good for a particular subject… and a cheaper option at that.

The world’s your oyster. Although they are country-specific, the big fish of online sales cover a lot of ground. You can search all lesser-priced results from anywhere across the planet.

Now, they aren’t specialist sites - it is possible to track down obscure texts here, but
locating an out-of-print tome is far from guaranteed. Make your search options as precise as possible!

And we may be preaching to the converted here, but another easy-to-forget tip is specifying price and postage costs (P & P is often free) in the search bar of the site.

If you’re ready to venture beyond the big names, our next section is required reading…


Smaller ponds

Books are big business anywhere in the world. Though you’d be forgiven for thinking the English language was everyone’s page-turner of choice!

Learn the language of bargains. One of the best ways of doing this is thinking outside the box and contacting people who know exactly what you’re looking for.

Book buying shouldn’t be about extras, or dodging free subscriptions to Amazon Prime. There are various places that are only too happy to provide an alternative experience.

You could check out the best of what Europe has to offer. Or go anywhere else on the planet you like. Hard-working translators ensure everyone has access to inspiring reads.

You’ll have enough on your plate learning to translate, or brushing up on your existing skills. Getting everything as clear as possible from the outset is crucial.

Most importantly, you want that transaction to be on the affordable side. Which is where our next section comes in. How to ultimately find the cheapest books…

Buy second hand

Books are packed with information. Yet for a medium where content is everything, people place an awfully large emphasis on the condition of their purchase.

We get it. A fresh, crisp book not long from the printers is a thing to treasure. Until the first crumpled page or accidental coffee stain comes into play!

Deep down everybody knows that second-hand books will usually be the best for smaller budgets. And their image has sky-rocketed in recent years.

Charity shops are naturally a great place to find pre-owned volumes. Avid readers of multi-lingual releases are a few clicks away, recommending the best places to visit.

However, staying in and logging on is proving to be the most effective method of obtaining the book you need. Especially material you are looking to translate.

So, we’ve shown you where to find the least expensive books. But our next chapter shows you the fine art of searching…


Bar necessities

Apologies for the play on words. The Disney adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s ‘Jungle Book’ provided inspiration… did you hear about how the book was translated into Italian?  

We’re getting sidetracked. Something easily done when roaming the vast resources of the internet for valued volumes. You need to optimize your searching ability.

What’s the best way to do that? Place your trust in a reliable website. Many have search bars enabling you to narrow things down according to author name and other key details.

Don’t forget searching by ISBN - International Standard Book Numbers have become lifesavers for buyers when keywords just aren’t enough.

Ideally, a specialist resource with a comprehensive search engine is what you want for beating those translation blues. Using a price comparison search such as usedbooksearch.net means that much of the heavy lifting is done for you.


In summary

Don’t get bogged down in an elaborate online journey. All the tools you need to crack open a treasure trove of great books on translation is right here.

You might want to start with a site like Amazon. Or a smaller scale site could make you more comfortable. Wherever you set off from, with our tips you’ll proceed in the right direction.

The world should come together. In good times and bad, a universal language unites us all. A good read, accessible to everyone, is a small step toward achieving this…

Article provided by usedbooksearch.net March 2021