The help files say this about the binding of a book:

Binding:

• Must be intact, with no separation on the inside or outside of the book

I just received a book where the spine is broken in numerous places.  By this I mean that when the book falls open to certain places, the book is separating from the spine to the extent that I know if I don't handle the book very carefully, pages will start falling out.  

I'm thinking that if you can actually see the place where the pages are binded to the spine, that is considered "separation". 

Would this be a RWAP?  Would you RWAP the book?  I know that I won't be posting the book once I'm done reading it because I consider it to be in too poor of condition to be posted here.

Sounds like an RWP to me.

If it's bad enough that you know you'd never repost it, I'd say it's an RWAP.

I just got a HC book like that. I didn't notice the chunk of loose pages until after I started reading it. I was really angry that I didn't notice it before I confirmed that it was received, as I would have definitely asked for my credit back.  

YES , IT IS A RWAP. 

It could be hard to tell. PBS states that books are allowed to fall open to a certain spot.

Here is how I decide ....

If the binding is actually broken in 2 pieces such that only the paper is holding it together ... RWAP.

If the book falls open because the binding is weaker at that point BUT it is not broken in 2 pieces ... then it is probably not RWAP.

If the pages are loose, then it is RWAP.

If the pages are firmly attached WHEN YOU GET THE BOOK ... possibly not RWAP.

It is true, it may not hold up thru your reading of the book.

But for each and every book, someone has to be the last trade. Sometimes, it is just your turn to be the last trade on a book. It may be borderline postable when you receive it and become unpostable after you read it.

Here is the complete quote from the PS rules on bindings:

Binding:

• Must be intact, with no separation on the inside or outside of the book
• If the book tends to open at a particular page, this is OKAY
• Small amount of fraying or denting at top or bottom is OKAY

I didn't do a RWAP on this, just included a note about the condition of the book when I checked it off as received.  Here's the member's response:

Sorry, I read it with no problems, you can send it back to me before you read it or after you're finished. Someone will read it...

Now I'm really sorry I didn't do a RWAP. This is another member who apparently thinks that if a book is readable, it is postable.  Obviously I am not going to send the book back to her on my dime so she can post it again, even though she knows it's not postable.

Grrr. I do not like the well its readable attitude either. This is one area that is really difficult to determine, especially the way books are put together today where they tend to get those spots opening to one page really quickly. Here is a response from the Team to Kim on the subject that may help add perspective:

Kim H. (rubberducky)     Date Posted: 1/27/2009 7:49 PM ET Member Since: 8/9/2007 Posts: 4,058 Back To Top

Okay... so I sent a clarification request to the PBS Team, and this is what I got back: Dear Kim, We would not consider a pinhole to be a cleaved spine. Books that fall open to a specific page are postable, and almost every paperback book that does that has at least some small separations. What matters here is if the pages are securely attached. If they are likely to fall out on the next reading, then the book should not be posted. We really cannot clarify this any further. We need members to use their common sense and best judgment about whether a book is about to fall apart or not. This is just not something we can judge without having the books in our hands.

If they are likely to fall out on the next reading, then the book should not be posted.

Ok, this is the key phrase.  I know that when I get to the places where the spine is showing, if I am not really careful, the pages are going to fall out. 

I kind of do what Sara's says when deciding to mark a book RWP or not.  The rules don't say that a book has to be postable after you read it and sometimes you have to be the one to decide it's ended it's life as a postable book.  So I kind of go like Sara said to make my decision.  I have many books that have cracked spines but the pages are still firmly inplace and are technically postable.  Personally I don't post them because it isn't worth the hastle if someone complains.  But many people do send them that way.