Wow, a lot of comments about taking and reading without actually paying. I expect that at slashdot, but I guess I expected more from Hacker News readers.

Some of us write books and do expect to be remunerated for them. If you do not like the system, or the price, then do not purchase them. If you want to read something, then give a little back to the author. What makes you think that your work deserves pay and someone else's doesn't?