No-not same thing-- I feel its better if you reside in Asia....which is what he intends to do.
Where you live you probably have the choice of buying many different printed Books.
When I travel I carry about 16--20 books in my pocket, from my motor bike manual--to a history & Lonely Planet Book of the route I'm taking.
I understand the reluctance to throw away stuff he has accumulated in his life--I felt the same 30 years ago.
But paying for shipping around boxes of books---no.............