Today I got a bad case of sticker shock the other day. Sure, I know book prices are steadily on the rise, as is everything else. I value books for what they have to offer, their mind-expanding potential, their entertainment potential, and many other things. A book's value has little to do with how much you paid for it. Some books go up in value, such as first editions, out of print, or signed copies.
Cover design is also an important aspect of value.
It's what you get from the book that determines its value in relation to the sticker price but not solely dependent on it. It can make or break a book's value. No matter what you paid for it, the book's value is zero to you. When a book touches you, entertains you, takes you away to another place and time, or provides an answer you were looking for, you almost always feel you got a good value. At the least, it was worth the money you paid.