We are the Official Bookstore of Ideas Worth Spreading

Posted by Erin on 02.25.2012 at 7:34 pm

That’s right TEDsters, TED fans and all of you who have no idea what TED is or stands for – we are the official bookstore of TED. And that’s a good thing.

We always see the super official labels and logos of various brands being the official sports drink of the Olympics, the official airline of the Atlanta Braves, the official beer of fraternities, the official pantyhose of a bridal magazine model, and even the official car brand of famous drivers like Jimmy Johnson.

But have you ever heard of an official bookstore? Now you have – it’s us. We think being the official bookstore of TED is one of the most compelling, entertaining, meaningful and sexy official things to be on the market. TED is where life-changing ideas take the main stage and spread across the world. What could beat serving as the literary version of that?

So what is it TED and why is this such a huge deal? In their own words, TED is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design. Since then its scope has become ever broader.

TED’s mission is to spread ideas. The people behind this global organization “believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world. So we’re building here a clearinghouse that offers free knowledge and inspiration from the world’s most inspired thinkers, and also a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other.” Here is access to that clearinghouse: www.ted.com.

Better World Books is honored and thrilled to be TED’s bookstore for the third year in a row.  TED contacted us because they thought we were an idea worth spreading as well. Running a global bookstore that turns customer transactions into literacy and opportunity definitely seems worthwhile to us. It’s why we exist. Many of us (including yours truly) will be out in California all week selling books to some of the biggest minds and hearts in our world. We’d love to hear from you as you watch the @TEDTalks online and engage with fellow TEDsters around the globe. Please be sure to include @BWBooks and #TED in your Tweets and also to tag Better World Books in your Facebook posts about the conference.

For all of you who cannot make it to this once-in-a-lifetime (well okay, year) event, here are all of the books we will be selling – so shop BWB to 1) become smart and sweet like a TED speaker, 2) save the Earth by buying used, 3) give a book to someone in need via our Book for Book promise and 4) help us deliver more funding to our amazing non-profit partners.

What is your all-time favorite TED talk and why? Have you read any of the books on our TED bookstore list? Which do you recommend and why? Thanks for sharing!

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