A Little Reading on Better World Books

Posted by Erin on 05.16.2012 at 9:53 am

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.

Have you spotted BWB in the news recently?

Have your say » | Tagged Company News, In the News

The Healing Power of Books and Writing

Posted by Erin on 05.14.2012 at 9:03 am

Guest post by budding author Malcolm McLoughlin

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…

5 Comments » | Tagged Book Lists, From our Friends

The Top 10 Children’s Books of All Time (Plus Maurice Sendak and Teacher Appreciation Week)

Posted by Erin on 05.10.2012 at 8:32 am

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…

10. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

9. Love You Forever by Robert M (a regular best-seller on Better World Books)

8. Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie

7. Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson

6. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis

5. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

4. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

3. The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams Bianco

2. Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree

1. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

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.

8 Comments » | Tagged Book & Author News, Book Lists, holidays, In the News

Top 25 Sellers on BWB in April

Posted by Erin on 05.08.2012 at 8:18 am

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?

25. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

24. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

23. A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines

22. Mockingjay (The Hunger Games Trilogy – Book III) by Suzanne Collins

21. A Child Called “It” by Dave Pelzer

Read more…

Have your say » | Tagged Book Lists

Why Miss Plus America Loves True Crime Books

Posted by Erin on 05.03.2012 at 9:02 am

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.

Read more…

Have your say » | Tagged Book Lists, From our Friends

Win $300 for Your Campus Organization!

Posted by Erin on 05.02.2012 at 10:58 am

We just launched an exciting contest to honor our 10 year anniversary of the first ever Better World Books campus book drive in May of 2002.

To learn more about how Better World Books began, check out the full story on our site here.

Here’s everything you need to know to enter and vote on the contest:

Read more…

Have your say » | Tagged Contests

What’s the best word in the English language?

Posted by Erin on 05.01.2012 at 8:02 am

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?

4 Comments » | Tagged From our Friends

How can a piece of jewelry help give clean water or fight human trafficking?

Posted by Erin on 04.30.2012 at 9:17 am

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.’

Read more…

2 Comments » | Tagged From our Friends

Known By The Problems They Solve

Posted by Erin on 04.26.2012 at 8:18 am

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.

1. Billboards were being discarded and we believed there could be an alternative use for them.
2. 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…

Have your say » | Tagged From our Friends, Social Enterprise

5 Must-Reads for Young Adults this Spring

Posted by Erin on 04.25.2012 at 8:26 am

Gust Post by Maria Rainier, Writer for http://www.onlinedegrees.org/blog/

Arguably the best season of the year, Spring is a time associated with the natural renewal and vibrance of life. It’s also a great time for kids to sit out in nature and enjoy the weather with their favorite book. Accordingly, I’d like to list off some timeless reads for youngsters that fit in nicely with the spring aesthetic.

The Redwall Series

This wildly successful series by Brian Jacques involves the adventures of anthropomorphic animals who live in and around the storied Redwall Abbey near Mossflower forest. Mice, badgers, and birds perform courageous feats in a rustic setting of a bygone medieval age. Notable titles include Redwall, Mossflower, and The Pearls of Lutra.

Read more…

1 Comment » | Tagged Book Lists, From our Friends