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===== Free eBooks =====

There are many places you can find eBooks on the Internet.\\
Here are a few, and this page is aimed for Kindle (application or device).\\
//Note that some books are free to read on Amazon, but only if you have Kindle Unlimited (beware).// \\

See my [[Tracking Books Read]] page to see an example on tracking a large book collection.

Some of these from [[https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/the-best-6-sites-to-get-free-ebooks/|https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/the-best-6-sites-to-get-free-ebooks/]] -- note that the info may be dated.

This information is correct as of 2018, with a few updates, however it may need updating (please [[mailto:steve+books@toku.us|let me know]] if it needs updating.  Thanks.)
^Service^URL^Notes^Types|
|BookBub|[[http://bookbub.com|http://bookbub.com]]|You choose book categories you like (e.g., Mystery, Romance) and give them your email address, you get daily emails with suggestions of books. Some are pay and some are free. \\ Note that the "free" may be today only (it's a limited time deal). \\ {{:bookbub.pdf|Sample email}} |Kindle, Nook, iBook, more|
|Lexington Library \\ (Overdrive)|[[http://www.carylibrary.org|http://www.carylibrary.org]]|Books are free to read but you have limited time (3 weeks) to read them. (Can you get more time?) \\ **How to use** \\ 1. Search for the book \\ 2. Choose "Ebook" format \\ 3. Check out with OverDrive or Place Hold with OverDrive \\ {{:carylib.pdf|sample search results}}  \\  {{:carycheckout.pdf|Checkout and Install on Kindle}}  \\  {{:bookreturn.pdf|Return the book}} |Kindle, maybe more|
|IfItBreaks|[[http://www.ifitbreaks.com/free.htm|http://www.ifitbreaks.com/free.htm]]|Free Science Fiction books for Kindle|Kindle|
|Project Gutenberg|[[http://www.gutenberg.org|http://www.gutenberg.org]]|Books in the public domain (i.e., published in 1923 (starting in 2019) or earlier)|epub, Kindle, pdf, plain text|
|Open Culture|[[http://www.openculture.com/free_ebooks|http://www.openculture.com/free_ebooks]]|800 ebooks, plus audio books, movies, online courses, more.|Kindle|
|Fussy Librarian|[[http://www.thefussylibrarian.com|http://www.thefussylibrarian.com]]|Get email telling about free ebooks by genre and frequency you choose. \\ {{:fussylibrarian.pdf|sample email}} |varies: Kindle, Nook, iBook, Kobo|
|Free-eBooks|[[https://www.free-ebooks.net|https://www.free-ebooks.net]]|You get 5 eBooks in PDF format per month for free. Cost is $8/month or $25/lifetime for no limits and Kindle etc formats. \\ IMHO not worth it – unless you're ok with 5 books/month and pdf format.| |
|Library Genesis|[[http://libgen.io/|http://libgen.io/]]|search engine, search for a particular book|PDF, EPUB, MOBI, DOC, etc|
|Centsless Books|[[https://centslessbooks.com/|https://centslessbooks.com/]]|Finds books on Amazon for Kindle; some are in Kindle Unlimited \\ there is a MWF newsletter| |
|ManyBooks|[[http://manybooks.net/|http://manybooks.net/]]|offshoot of Proj Gutenberg|EPUB, MOBI, PDF and Flesh-Kincaid score (reading ease)|
|Feedbooks|[[http://www.feedbooks.com/|http://www.feedbooks.com/]]|fiction & nonfiction, free and paid|EPUB, MOBI, PDF; word counts & reading time estimates|
|PDFBooksWorld|[[http://www.pdfbooksworld.com/|http://www.pdfbooksworld.com/]]|Mostly classics|PDF only|
|EbookBike|[[http://ebook.bike|http://ebook.bike]]|large collection of books|ePub only|
|GetFreeBooks|[[https://www.getfreeebooks.com/80-legal-sites-to-download-free-ebooks/|https://www.getfreeebooks.com/80-legal-sites-to-download-free-ebooks/]]|Has links to dozens of sites with free books| |

The following pages are dated 2018.\\ 
[[https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/ebook-formats-explained/|Different Ebook Formats Explained]]\\
[[https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/best-ebook-readers-android/|The 7 Best Ebook Readers for Android]]

==== Buying these free books on Amazon ====

Make sure that the book/listing says "Kindle Price: 0.00".\\
Select your Kindle device under "Deliver to"\\
Then click "Buy now with 1-Click".\\
{{:amazon.pdf|screen shot}}

==== Getting a Kindle Paperwhite ====

I'm not selling…it's just that I have a Paperwhite and I'm very pleased with it.

Today (3/15/2020) I see Amazon selling Kindle Paperwhite for $89.99 and up. The newer model is waterproof, reads audio books, and has more storage than the previous model.

It's best to search Amazon for "kindle paperwhite" to see what options are available. The prices start at around $90.

Note\\
I have the previous 4GB model. It's holding around 300 books waiting for me to read, and despite this still has 2GB space available for more books. IMHO it's not at all bad to get Kindle Paperwhite with "special offers". The offers appear as a screen-saver type screen and sometimes they are decent offers. An offer only appears when you first wake the device up, and you can get past the offer by swiping across the screen to get to your book(s).

Comment\\
I use the Omotion Kindle Paperwhite Case Cover to protect my Paperwhite. Cost is $6.99 today (3/15/2020) and it's very thin and protective, I've had it since 12/2016 and it's working fine. Comes in a variety of colors, I have Black. ([[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EYW9DSU|https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EYW9DSU]])

==== Formats ====

See [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_e-book_formats|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_e-book_formats]] for details and a more complete table.

As of this update (2024), the .epub format is supported by probably all devices, including:
Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle readers; Kindle app on PC, Macintosh, Android, etc; 
Kobo; iBooks on Macintosh and iOS devices; Nook; and more. 

=== Using Calibre to convert format ===
If you have a book that's not .epub:
  * Copy the book to the Calibre main screen
  * Select the book in the list, and click Convert Books
  * Choose output format. For Kindle paperwhite or Kindle on iPad, use ''epub''  as output format (see below for other alternatives)
  * When the conversion is complete, the book will be stored in your user directory/Calibre Library/Authorname directory. \\ If you're user=george and the book is by Margaret Mitchell, you'll see the book in ''george/Calibre Library/Margaret Mitchell''
  * You can then email this converted file to your paperwhite's or iPad's email address.
  * You will get an email from Amazon asking you to verify that you want to download the book(s).
  * Go to your device and enjoy your book!