Join any of the book clubs listed to the right and receive free or deeply discounted bestselling books (as low as 17 cents each, plus shipping and handling) with your membership. You may use your credit card to pay for your introductory order, or many clubs allow you to ask to request a bill. As an example of how it works, Doubleday Book Club offers each new member his or her choice of six hardcover bestsellers, including the latest Harry Potter, John Grisham, Tom Clancy, Danielle Steele, Tim LaHaye, Mary Higgins Clark, Stephen King and many other popular series and authors for a total of 99 cents plus shipping and handling. After clicking through to the club (or clubs) of interest, you are invited to select one or more books, depending on the offer, from a selection of about three dozen popular titles. You then provide your name, address and email address and, if you choose, a credit card number. Your introductory books will arrive within a few weeks (select express shipping and you'll receive your introductory package within a week for an additional charge of $4 per order, which must be charged to a credit card). With the Doubleday clubs, the total cost amounts to, on average, about $2 per book. If you're not satisfied, you can return the books within 10 days at the club's expense.
If you're not familiar with book clubs, they're similar to music clubs. Every three or four weeks you'll receive a catalog filled with about 180 current books: New York Times bestsellers, romances, self-help, health, mysteries, history, biography, nonfiction, etc. The prices are typically much less than what you'd pay in a store, especially when you factor in your introductory books. Unless the club specifies otherwise, the contents of the books aren't abridged or changed in any way (you may have seen club editions in used bookstores). The clubs also sometimes arrange with publishers to offer exclusive editions of certain titles, so that the clubs are the only place you can get them.
By joining the club and taking the free and discounted books, you must agree to buy more titles at regular club prices within a certain period of time. With the Doubleday clubs, for example, it's usually four books within two years. Each is priced at up to 65 percent off the publisher's suggested price. You can order your selections by returning a card that comes with each paper catalog or through the club's web site. The offers listed on this page are available only to U.S. residents and those with APO/FPO addresses. Most club charges sales tax on orders from Indiana, New York and Pennsylvania. If you live in the Canada, visit our list of Canada book clubs. If you live in the United Kingdom, Ireland or Europe, visit Book Clubs UK for a variety of clubs.
Once you become a member, the standard shipping charges for are $4.99 to $5.49 for the first book in an order and $1.99 to $2.19 for each additional. New York and Pennsylvania.
To reach customer service for the Audio, Black Expressions, Christian, Doubleday, Literary Guild, Large Print, Mystery or Science Fiction book clubs, phone 717-918-4120 or send email. Doubleday does not offer gift certificates or gift memberships. To reach the Book-of-the-Month clubs, phone 717-918-2665 or send email.