One of the worst things about audiobooks and e-books is when the author or publisher updates the cover art because the book or series is being made into a television show, movie, or streaming exclusive. An excellent cover art image mirrors the print book counterpart when it first comes out, building consistency with the hardcover, paperback, and digital formats. The Kindle is the only e-reader that lets you shut off automatic book updates. This not only prevents cover art from changing, but due to the political climate, book updates sometimes change the text in the book to make it more politically correct.
It is important to note that turning off book updates can negatively affect only a few things. Suppose an independent author or publisher has made spelling or metadata errors in an e-book with book updates. In that case, it allows users to fetch that new information automatically, often without noticing. This is because, in a Kindle Book, there is a reporting feature where it’s possible to outline concerns, such as errant margins, a name misspelling, or broken links.
However, I greatly disdain book covers that change automatically; the worst offender is The Martian by Andy Weir. I don’t mind looking at a faceless astronaut on a red planet. I don’t want to see actor Matt Damon’s huge face staring at me in my library. What grinds my gears and makes the news cycle from time to time is when old books get updated to remove racist language or fit whatever political narrative is being pushed at the time.
To turn book updates in your Kindle, do the following.
- Login to your Amazon account in whatever country you are in
- Click on the Account and Lists
- View Digital Content and Devices
- Click on Devices
- Click on the Kindle you own
- At the top there are options; Content; Devices; Perferences and Privacy Settings. Click on Preferences.
- The second to last option on the bottom is “Automatic Book Updates.”
- By default, it is set to ON, but click off.
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The post Did you know you can turn off Kindle Automatic Book updates? first appeared on Good e-Reader.