Guest post by Lynette Chiang, award-winning writer and world bicycle traveler
Ever since he “reluctantly agreed” to accompany his father on a luxury bird-watching cruise almost a decade ago, Race Across America cycling legend Lon Haldeman has been fascinated by the people, culture and landscapes of Peru.
Each year he leads small groups of cyclists, travelers and volunteers into remote regions of the country to deliver schoolbooks, feed orphans, buy supplies for a girl’s home, sponsor bike races and even coach young cycling hopefuls for the upcoming Olympics.
With donations he’s built two schools near the town of Iquitos – the 600-student Jack Wolff School, and the more rustic Joseph Pulley school, whose 30 students walk for up to an hour each day to attend class.
A highlight of the expedition is a 3-day passage to Iquitos by banana boat through the Amazon river system, jumping off at various points to surprise and delight small, isolated schools with books and writing supplies – all purchased with donations.
Finally, the Puerto Ocopa orphanage he stumbled upon in 2004 is now a regular destination, where donations feed and cloth 40 orphans.
You can join Lon and his tour company, PACTour to cycle, sightsee, help the kids .. all of the above!
*Note* The above guest post is from our friend, Lynette Chiang. Lynette Chiang is an award-winning copywriter, New York Times-reviewed author, filmmaker and world bicycle traveler. This content does not necessarily reflect the views of Better World Books (as our lawyers make sure we say). We love having guest bloggers and invite you to email 11@betterworldbooks.com if you are interested in covering a book or topic on the BWB Blog. Thank you, Lynette, for sharing this inspiring cycling story with us!
If this story inspires you, as it does us, tell us what you’re inspired to do now… thanks!
We don’t love to toot our own horn, but we have been part of some inspiring and interesting press recently and wanted to make sure you had a chance to check out these great articles.
Co-founder Xavier Helgesen on the Mother Nature Network
“Entrepreneurship is one of the most compelling and effective tools to change the world for the better,” says Xavier Helgesen. Read more here.
BWB Warehouse Staff Help Clean Town for Earth Day
“Employees from Better World Books came out to lend a hand and volunteer for INDOT’s Adopt a Highway Program, called Trash Bash.” Watch the coverage.
The Wall Street Journal “Best in…”
“Buy a book—and make a difference.” Click here for the full story.
“You don’t have to make a choice between making money or making a difference. Just follow the model of these rock stars of the new economy.”-Fast Company
Listed as one of six companies growing rapidly while doing good by Fast Company.
For an up to date list of all media coverage, visit our press page.
Books have always been a haven for me. The twists and turns, highs and lows of great tales have held my imagination since the first time I read Hansel and Gretel.
When my own life started to unravel through a mixture of alcoholism and the diagnosis of my daughters Autism, I found solace in books. An authors ability to transpose the readers to another world is one of the greatest gifts that can be given and received. Its a reciprocal and intimate exchange.
In dealing with my own demons I decided that writing was a way to heal old wounds and lay a part of my soul bare. In truth there is beauty. Read more…
In honor of Children’s Book Week, we asked our Facebook and Twitter friends to share and vote on their all-time favorite children’s books. And the winners are…
We also want to give special tribute to the #1 book on this list by none other than Maurice Sendak who passed away earlier this week at age 83. What is your favorite of his stories?
Finally, not only is this week Children’s Book Week – it’s also Teacher Appreciation Week. We love teachers and hope to help them at every opportunity we can, even offering a special educator discount on our site. Please take a moment to thank the special teachers in your life. You can publicly praise them here on our Blog or even on our Facebook page. We also invite you to buy a gift we know will mean the world to them – a book from Better World Books. Not only will the teacher receive a heartwarming gift, but someone in need will get a book too.
Did you contribute to this list by buying any of these books from us in April? We’d love for you to share a review of the books on this list you’ve read by commenting below. Do any of the titles that made the top seller list surprise you?
Guest post from Miss Plus America ELITE, Spruce Dickerson
Over the years, books have given me insight into the realities of the world. Take true crime stories for instance. Reading true-to-life criminal biographies is so very fascinating because evil is so far-fetched to me. I mean, how can someone cut up a person’s body, store the pieces in the freezer, and then cook and eat them? This absolutely captivates my curiosity, as my mind struggles to make sense of it. Reading these stories has helped deepen the compassion in my heart for sick, wounded, and lost souls. It helps me to understand there is a tangible evil in this world! I have a heart for motivating, inspiring, and encouraging people; and by reading this genre of book it has helped me focus more on the hurts of others and to extend myself in trying to ease their pain. Whether the person is a victim or the abuser, they both are in pain and in need of compassion.
As book-lovers, many of us have a thing for words. This weekend I asked our wise & wordy Facebook and Twitter fans to vote on their favorite word in the English language. Here are the top 10 results and the definition described by Merriam & Webster.
1. Serendipity: the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for
2. Shenanigans: tricky or questionable practices or conduct; or high-spirited or mischievous activity
3. Love: strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties; or warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion; or unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another
4. Periwinkle: any of several trailing or woody evergreen herbs of the dogbane family; or a light purplish blue
5. Ephemeral: lasting a very short time
6. Hope: to cherish a desire with anticipation; or to expect with confidence
7. Curmudgeon: a crusty, ill-tempered, and usually old man
8. Onomatopoeia: the naming of a thing or action by a vocal imitation of the sound associated with it; or the use of words whose sound suggests the sense
9. Behooves: to be necessary, proper, or advantageous for
10. Yes: an affirmative reply
Is your favorite word included on this list? What is it and why?
Guest post by Jenny Long, Founder of SOCO Marketplace
*NOTE* We love the SOCO Marketplace project because they believe what we do – that we can use the power of commerce to change lives. You can learn all about our social and environmental benefits here.
I’ve always loved the idea of buying something that helps a humanitarian effort. When someone says ‘cool sandals’ or ‘nice necklace,’ I love being able to reply with ‘oh, thanks, it’s this great company that helps supply clean water,’ or ‘women escaping human trafficking made it.’
Guest post by Plywood People Project Manager, Gisele Nelson
Here at Plywood People, we live by the mantra, “We will be known by the problems we solve.” Once we’ve seen a problem that we believe there is a solution for, we feel we have a responsibility to begin solving that problem. We saw 2 problems.
Billboards were being discarded and we believed there could be an alternative use for them.
Refugees were being brought to the U.S. but couldn’t find jobs.
We felt passionate about addressing these needs, so we created Billboard Bags. We now employ refugees who make bags out of billboards. Read more…
Hello and welcome to the Better World Books Blog. Here you'll find author interviews, book reviews and general ramblings from employees of the "Online bookstore with a soul." But we didn't make this blog as a soapbox... talk back!
