B1 Easy News

World15 Aug 2026

Secondhand book sales are booming. Is it because of AI?

Booksellers are reporting mysterious bulk orders. It's thought the books are being used to train AI - and ending up pulped.

Image: Daily English Reader / Local generated SVG (Project-owned local asset)

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Booksellers are reporting mysterious bulk orders. It's thought the books are being used to train AI, and ending up pulped. Something mysterious has been happening in the world of secondhand books. In a typical week, Stuart Manley, from Barter Books, in Northumberland, would sell two or three thousand books. He says he has "never seen the like of this after 30 years in the second-hand book trade". Booksellers from around the world have been reporting similarly unusual mega orders. They aren't sure what the final destination for their books is. The idea that the secondhand sales boom is being driven by the explosive growth of AI can be traced back to a court ruling in the US.

ประโยคและวลีที่ใช้ได้จริงจากเรื่องนี้

Useful phrases from this story

are reporting mysterious bulk ordersCollocation

มีรายงานการสั่งซื้อจํานวนมากที่ไม่น่ารู้.

From the storyBooksellers are reporting mysterious bulk orders.

are being used to trainCollocation

ใช้ในการฝึกอบรม.

From the storyIt's thought the books are being used to train AI, and ending up pulped.

ending up pulpedCollocation

ปลายเป็นกระดูก.

From the storyIt's thought the books are being used to train AI, and ending up pulped.

Something mysterious has been happeningCollocation

มีบางอย่างที่ซึ้งเกิดขึ้น.

From the storySomething mysterious has been happening in the world of secondhand books.

would sell two or threeCollocation

จะขายสองสาม.

From the storyIn a typical week, Stuart Manley, from Barter Books, in Northumberland, would sell two or three thousand books.

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