Some hardcover books need a little breaking in—especially if you experience "creep" (text getting lost in the gutter of the pages). Here's how to solve this problem without ruining the book's spine.
It may seem a little obsessive to go through this process, but when you have a book with serious creep (especially a problem with hardcover comic books), it actually can help break things in a bit. Just lay the book on its spine, as shown to the right, and alternate between opening a few pages from the front and back. This should "limber up" the binding without breaking it, and make reading a little easier. Click the "Expand" button on the image to the left to see it full-size.
How to Open a New Book | Boing Boing via Reddit