Funds Raised for Global Literacy:
$10,184,799.20
Books Re-Used or Recycled:
63,271,794

Thank you Turkey, Cranberries, and Green Eggs and Ham

Posted by admin on 11.24.2010 at 12:26 pm

- By Katie Fisher, BWB Contributor

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Thanksgiving is basically the very definition of an American holiday: celebration filled with pure, unadulterated indulgence and the acknowledgment that, hey, this indulgence is completely awesome and we are so lucky to be able to indulge. Pass the gravy!

I particularly enjoy the pairing of Turkey with Thanks. Gratitude somehow makes those cranberries all the more sweet. On this, the most traveled holiday of the year, I’m thankful for being able to exercise my unapologetic book nerdiness. While heading for my friends and family for the holidays, books have always served as my steadfast travel companions during long layovers and even longer flights. I take special comfort in knowing that rather than paying to watch a terrible movie on a 13” screen, I get to do something I love and, frankly, don’t spend enough time doing.

Reading and simply being able to read are literally life changing. (I’m also unapologetic about my puns.) Literacy happens slowly and early in life for many of us, but whether you’re trying to learn something completely new, looking for an imaginative travel distraction, or simply trying to navigate an airport, literacy is more than worthy of our thanks.  So this year, in addition to family, friends and delicious pie, I’m thankful for Green Eggs and Ham—the book that started it all for me way back in kindergarten. It may not be a New York Times bestseller or even a Newberry Award winner, but I consider it a seminal work of profound importance.

But enough about my sappy childhood, already. What are you thankful for this year? What books or authors changed your life? And what books are keeping you company during your Thanksgiving travels? Seriously, I need suggestions; I’m already planning ahead for my flight home at Christmas.

3 Comments » | Tagged Uncategorized

Post-C3 Summit Reflections on Conscious Capitalism

Posted by David on 11.16.2010 at 1:55 pm

I recently had the honor of being invited to join an exemplary group of Conscious Business Leaders in Lake Arrowhead, CA for the 2010 C3 Summit: Catalyzing Conscious Capitalism. The event, led by the likes of Whole Foods’ John Mackey and the Container Store’s Kip Tindell, represented the fourth consecutive year that C-level executives and thought leaders came together to explore more conscious ways of leading and operating businesses.

The Conscious Capitalism movement continues to attract influencers who are deeply committed to the transformation of business to a conscious model. To be conscious means to be awake. Conscious Businesses generate value for all of their stakeholders (including the planet) not because it is politically correct to do so but because it is the ultimate path to long-term competitive advantage. Conscious Business Leaders acknowledge that profit is one of the the important purposes of business…..but not the sole purpose; they reject a zero sum, trade off orientated view of business and look for creative, synergistic, win-win approaches that offer multiple kinds of value simultaneously to all stakeholders.

Corporations are probably the most influential institutions in the world, and yet many people do not believe that they can be trusted. Instead corporations are widely perceived as greedy, selfish, exploitative, uncaring – and interested only in maximizing profits.

Conscious Capitalism is a philosophy based on the belief that a more complex form of capitalism is emerging that holds the potential for enhancing corporate performance while simultaneously advancing the quality of life for billions of people. The Conscious Capitalism movement challenges business leaders to re-think why their organizations exist and to acknowledge their company’s role in the interdependent global marketplace.

Conscious Capitalists are unapologetic advocates for the free markets, entrepreneurship, competition, freedom to trade, property rights, freedom to contract, and the rule of law. They recognize that these are essential elements of a healthy, functioning economy, as are trust, compassion, collaboration, and value-creation.

Any meaningful transformation (of business to a conscious model) must incorporate a system-wide perspective that recognizes free markets and entrepreneurship as essential elements of a healthy economy, along with trust, collaboration and value-creation.

It was great to be able to introduce the story of Better World Books to this group of CEO’s and thought leaders and to hear, unequivocally, how much our core business model truly represents the kind of Conscious Business this movement is looking to create. I will continue to engage with the leadership of the Conscious Capital Movement and ensure that Better World Books is well represented….and well understood…..within this community.

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It’s National Reading Education Assistance Dogs Day!

Posted by John on 11.14.2010 at 11:21 am

Children with READ dog enjoying a bookYou may recall the first winner of the Readers’ Choice Literacy Grant was READ, Reading Education Assistance Dogs. During a recent visit paid to our warehouse by Kathy Klotz, their executive director, I learned that November 14 has been designated National Reading Eduction Assistance Dogs Day. Got any good dogs in your life? Drop us a comment below.

SENATE RESOLUTION 338
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
RESOLUTION

Designating November 14, 2009, as ‘“National Reading Education Assistance Dogs Day”

  • Whereas reading provides children with an essential foundation for all future learning;
  • Whereas the Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) program was founded in November of 1999 to improve the literacy skills of children through the mentoring assistance of trained, registered, and insured pet partner reading volunteer teams;
  • Whereas children who participate in the R.E.A.D. program make significant improvements in fluency, comprehension, confidence, and many additional academic and social dimensions;
  • Whereas the R.E.A.D. program now has an active presence in 49 States, 3 provinces in Canada, Europe, Asia, and beyond with more than 2,400 trained and registered volunteer teams participating and influencing thousands of children in classrooms and libraries across the Nation;
  • Whereas the program has received awards and recognition from distinguished entities including the International Reading Association, the Delta Society, the Latham Foundation, the American Library Association, and PBS Television;

    • and

  • Whereas the program has garnered enthusiastic coverage from national media, including major television networks NBC, CBS, and ABC, as well as international television and print coverage:


Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate, in honor of the 10th anniversary of the R.E.A.D. program, designates November 14, 2009, as ‘“National Reading Education Assistance Dogs Day.”

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We are Better World Books…

Posted by David on 11.08.2010 at 7:13 pm

A few weeks back we were fortunate to have Better World Books featured in the form of a national television commercial (produced by NBC and shown on their network) that aired during half-time of the Notre Dame vs. Stanford football game (in case you missed it, go to http://fightingfor.nd.edu/literacy/).  Millions of people were introduced to a very special company – your company – and to the history of how Notre Dame played such a critical role in Kreece and Xavier’s launching of Better World Books back in 2003.  The commercial spoke of what we fight for…..fighting to bring books to the world; fighting to promote and support a fundamental right to literacy and education for every human being.  It is amazing to me to see how this “fight” is waged day in and day out at our company….and how we are all working together to create very unique and powerful “impact stories.”  A few recent examples:

  • We are donating over 135,000 Childrens’ books per month now….a pace of well over 1.5M million books per year….and growing.  Tens of thousands of books have been distributed through the Americans Feeding Americans Campaign.  The campaign was developed in response to our nation’s economic downturn and with a goal of reaching 200,000 families through 70 cities by the end of 2010.  Our books are making a difference in the lives of citizens who never thought they would end up in food lines….and so far the books have been distributed (placed right in the box along with the food) to approximately 40 cities in 22 states.
  • We are also participating in a national program entitled The Hygiene Box Program…..here our Childrens’ books are being placed in boxes along with hygiene products and also being distributed throughout the United States.  The results so far:  tens of thousands of books distributed to 184 cities in 39 states. Read more…

2 Comments » | Tagged Company News, Impact, ,

National Bookstore Day 2010

Posted by admin on 11.08.2010 at 7:00 am

National Bookstore DayToday is  National Bookstore Day.  Woo hoo!!  Time to celebrate and support the bookstores you love.

We here at Better World Books hope we’re one of the stores you love!  We’re proud to support literacy, books and a love of reading every day and in honor of National Bookstore Day we’re offering you a great deal!

Just enter the coupon code BOOKSTOREDAY at checkout to get 20% off 3 or more used books.  Offer good today only!

And if you’re in the neighborhood, be sure to visit our brick and mortar locations:

Better World Books Goshen
118 E. Washington Street
Goshen, IN 46528
Phone: 574-534-1984

Better World Books Outlet Store
55740 Currant Road
Mishawaka, IN 46545
Phone: 574-968-9701

Have your say » | Tagged Book & Author News,

Top 5 Books with Thanks in the Title

Posted by Dana on 11.05.2010 at 11:56 am

No, no. Thank YOU.

Thanksgiving is one of those truly American holidays. It’s not just the history behind it, but the way we celebrate. Parades? Check. Long weekend? Check. Stuffing our faces with delicious food and wishing we’d worn pants with an elastic waistband? Check.

In the spirit of the season, we’ve got a collection of 5 unique books with Thanks or Thank You in the title. Think of it as one small way to keep things interesting as you stand in the security line at the airport or the line at the mall on Black Friday.

So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish by Douglas Adams

Thanksgiving is the busiest travel holiday of the year, so who better to serve as your companion than the man who wrote the guidebook to traversing the galaxy? The fourth book in Doug Adams’ classic Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series, finds Arthur Dent Back on Earth ready to believe that the past eight years were all just a figment of his stressed-out imagination. But a gift-wrapped fishbowl with a cryptic inscription, the mysterious disappearance of Earth’s dolphins, and the discovery of his battered copy of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy all conspire to give Arthur the sneaking suspicion that something otherworldly is indeed going on.

Thank You for Smoking: A Novel by Christopher Buckley

Think your family’s smoked turkey is the best around? Think again. Nobody blows smoke like Nick Naylor. He’s a spokesman for the Academy of Tobacco Studies-in other words, a flack for cigarette companies, paid to promote their product on talk and news shows. The problem? He’s so good at his job, so effortlessly unethical, that he’s become a target for both anti-tobacco terrorists and for the FBI. In a country where half the people want to outlaw pleasure and the other want to sell you a disease, what will become of the original Puff Daddy?

Thank You, Jeeves (A Jeeves and Bertie Novel) by P. G. Wodehouse

Your Thanksgiving family drama has nothing on these Brits. Thank You, Jeeves contains four more antic selections from comic genius, P.G. Wodehouse. “A Damsel in Distress” is an early novel about the aristocratic Marshmoreton family-a precursor to the Blandings series. “Leave It to Psmith” is a comedy adventure involving crime and gunplay, and “Mulliner Nights” is a series of stories about the inimitable Mr. Mulliner. Meanwhile, Lord ‘Chuffy’ Chuffnell borrows the services of Jeeves in “Thank You, Jeeves.”

Kanye West Presents Thank You and You’re Welcome by Kanye West

I’m really happy for the other books on this list, and I’mma let them finish, but the oddest book with Thanks or Thank You in the title has to be this one by Kanye West. This book is a quick, visually appealing read that showcases Kanye’s trademark wit, confidence, and swagger (the same found in his lyrics), and shows readers the rules he played by to reach the top. Each tidbit is briefly explained, often with anecdotes from Kanye’s life. This is philosophy at its hippest and pithiest – and an absolute must-have for every Kanye fan. Read more…

1 Comment » | Tagged Book Lists, , , , , ,

Let us introduce you to something Divine!

Posted by admin on 11.03.2010 at 2:49 pm

Maybe it’s Halloween or the shorter days, but lately here at Better World Books we’ve been craving something sweet and good. But not just Snickers or Twix good—something more along the lines of improve the world, make life better for others while satisfying our sweet tooth good.

Enter Divine Chocolate. Divine Chocolate Ltd is a Fairtrade organization that makes super delicious chocolate with the aim of improving the livelihood of smallholder cocoa producers in West Africa. In addition to paying a Fairtrade price for all of the cocoa used in the chocolate it sells, Divine Chocolate is working to raise awareness of fair trade issues among US retailers and consumers by acting as a catalyst for change. It’s sort of what we do with books, only with chocolate. Mmmmmm…chocolate.

To support Divine Chocolates in its mission we’re giving everyone who buys three used books a free yummy chocolate bar.

Sweet deal! (see what we did there?)

2 Comments » | Tagged Our Partners, , , ,

The Great American Book Drive is coming to Boston!

Posted by admin on 11.02.2010 at 7:52 pm

Neat freaks and book lovers unite! The fourth annual Great American Book Drive is being held this Saturday, November 6th.

Better World Books has teamed up with the City Mission Society and The Prison Book Program to help the citizens of Boston reclaim their cluttered bookshelves while spreading the cause of literacy.

In the past, these drives have collected tens of thousands of books, so bring us your hardbacks, your paperbacks, your dog-eared and gently-used favorites! Some will be sent to prisoners to promote literacy and some will be distributed locally; Better World Books will sell the rest to people all over the world who will give them a new home.

When:
Saturday, November 6th 10am-3pm (rain or shine)

Where:
The Non Profit Center
89 South Street, Boston, MA

For more information go to http://www.prisonbookprogram.org/bookdrive/

1 Comment » | Tagged Company News, , , ,

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