If you can buy the ebooks in a different format (either DRM-free or with a compatible plugin), you can use Calibre to convert them to PDFs.
this post was submitted on 14 Aug 2025
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Who would you recommend for a good ebook provider with good author/publisher returns?
Have you tried Archive.org or https://www.gutenberg.org/? And Calibre.
If you’re on MacOS, you can use Books to convert it or Preview specifically to pdf. These are both Apple stock apps.
There are plenty of resources online on how to convert to pdf. You can also check out Kobo, Smashwords, ebooks and this old article from https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/buy-ebooks-best-ebook-stores/). Have fun.
a) Anywhere you buy that book from that isn't using DRM, isn't paying the author.
b) If they're using DRM you'll have to use some sort of proprietary software to use the book (i.e. not a straight PDF you can open with any PDF reader)
c) Owning the physical copy doesn't give you any more right to scan the book than it does downloading it DRM-free or bypassing DRM. Depends on the country, but making your own copy is a grey area. (so if you're going to scan it or crack it, just download it from the internet archive or something - otherwise you're just wasting time, money, and resources and contributing unnecessarily to the heat death of the planet/universe.)
VitalSource provides lifetime digital licenses but requires their proprietary software (Bookshelf) which is available on a lot of different devices. They work with publishers to pay royalties which should go to authors. I think they have a return policy if you try it out and it isn't working for you. (I've never used it myself)
It's also on Kindle 🤮 and Kobo and a bunch of other places. The publisher probably provides links to sites where you can get it.
You can also check your library for a digital copy and take it out whenever you want to search it, I suppose.
Anywhere you buy that book from that isn’t using DRM, isn’t paying the author.
That’s not always true—many authors request that that their publishers sell their ebooks without DRM.
That's why I said "that book", not "any book".
I'd suggest contacting the publisher and see if they can work out a special deal for you.
You probably will need to be a bit persistent as the first person who you reach will probably be following a script to reject you.
Buy a physical copy and there are book scanning services companies like blueleaf and bookscan. They range from cheap to extremely high quality for about $20 more.
Your local library might also have a "book edge" scanner that lets you scan books easily.
Just know it's a pain in the ass and slow as hell so maybe it's worth it to pay someone else to do it.
Guess I never considered that. Is that a common service at a print shop? I've owned the physical copy for decades
You could also buy a physical or digital copy or donate to the author directly and then still just pirate the pdf. That would be morally unquestionable imo.
I somehow missed the part where you said that you already own the book. You should definitely just pirate the pdf, there is nothing wrong with that when you already own it.
The link to its page on the archive https://archive.org/details/blackholes-time-warps-throne-hawking
Dont worry, only the cover is low resolution, the rest is nice and crisp. Even the internal references are working.
Smashwords offers their ebooks in a variety of formats, including pdf.
Just buy it from wherever and pirate it.