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Funds Raised for Global Literacy:

$10,184,799.20

Books Re-Used or Recycled:

63,271,794

Top 25 Books Sold by BWB in February

Posted by Erin on 03.13.2012 at 8:43 am

1. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

2. What to Expect When You’re Expecting by Heidi Murkoff & Sharon Mazel

3. Reasoning and Writing Well by Betty Mattix Dietsch

4. A Child Called “It”: One Child’s Courage to Survive by Dave Pelzer

5. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

1 Comment » | Tagged Book Lists

Music & Literature: Buffett, the Beatles, Metallica, the Stones – They All Write About Books

Posted by Erin on 02.28.2012 at 9:21 am

In today’s overstimulated world there are a plethora of ways to consume beautiful (and not so beautiful) art. One of the most spectacular ways to let great works of art soak in is when they are synergized. More than a hand full of celebrated musicians have written songs about novels. Our social media fans helped me put together this list of music-meets-literature: the sounds of good writing.

“Sympathy for the Devil” by the Rolling Stones was inspired by Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov.

“Hemingway’s Whiskey” by Guy Clark was written about none other than Ernest Hemingway. (Performed by Kenny Chesney).

“White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane is psychedelically related to the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland.

3 Comments » | Tagged Book Lists

5 ways to teach your kids about sustainable living

Posted by Erin on 02.27.2012 at 7:13 am

Guest post by blogger Rubela Jhonnie

In order to leave behind a better world for our children, it is important for them to be well aware of protecting the environment. Children can make a difference if you teach them about sustainability and empower them to appreciate and preserve the environment. Here are 5 ways in which you can do that for your children.

1. Plant a garden

The best way to teach children about sustainability is to plant a vegetable garden with their help. It need not be an elaborate garden as you can just start with some tomatoes and some herbs for your daily kitchen needs. Encourage your children to plant their favorite fruit trees or vegetables and make sure you go totally organic. Let them water the plants and help you fertilize the garden with natural compost, or even prepare for them natural pest remedies which they can spray on the plants. They will be participating in the growth of the food produce which will make them feel more responsible towards nature. This will instill the value of appreciating nature but also what goes into the food that we eat and what is healthy.

Book pick: “Green Thumbs”

2 Comments » | Tagged Book Lists, From our Friends

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.

2 Comments » | Tagged Book Lists, Company News, In the News, Our Partners

Leading the Green Building Revolution from an Unexpected Corner!

Posted by Erin on 02.22.2012 at 9:48 am

Guest post by Judy Knight, Director of PR and Marketing at our partners in greening, Southface

Southface proudly partners with Better World Books, a social enterprise with a focus on sustainability. The partnership includes Southface hosting a Better World Books Drop Box. The program helps Southface provide a much needed outlet for pre-loved books in their community. Better World Books is also supporting the Southface Greenprints Conference – you can learn more in the post below.

Back when the U.S. Green Building Council and the now universally recognized LEED green building program were still in their infancy, a nonprofit called Southface was quietly changing city- and neighborhood-scapes through its annual Greenprints Conference, a gathering in the most unlikely of regions: the Southeast.

1 Comment » | Tagged Book Lists, Company News, Our Partners

Teachers: NPR Wants to Share Your Story

Posted by Erin on 02.21.2012 at 9:38 am

The sun was rising. The sky was a peaceful yellow. NPR made my morning start off right. I was on the way to work and heard a story which inspired me to act.The story was about a Georgia couple – both teachers – and how the husband used playground sports to encourage friendship and learning among his students during recess. [You can hear the full story here.] It ended with a call-to-action from NPR’s StoryCorps… “Do you have a special teacher in your life? Come into StoryCorps to interview. We’d love to share your story as part of our National Teachers Initiative.”

1 Comment » | Tagged Book Lists, In the News

Taboo: Adventures in Banned Books

Posted by Erin on 02.16.2012 at 9:37 am

Guest post by our Facebook friend Samantha Heise

I remember sitting in English class the September of my junior year of high school. Our teacher explained to us that it was Banned Books Week, and that as good students, we should expand our literary horizons by reading these controversial books. She even noted that the administration wouldn’t be thrilled with her for teaching such things. Luckily for Mrs. Happeny, she was tenured and well liked, so any administrator reprimanding her would have ended in nothing short of a student riot.

As I listened to her stories of these taboo writings, my inner rebel perked up – a list of banned books? What was this list all about? I could hardly wait to get home and find out.

2 Comments » | Tagged Book Lists, From our Friends

The Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie of Literature: Your Favorite Fictional Couples

Posted by Erin on 02.14.2012 at 9:55 am

Happy Valentine’s Day lovely friends and fans! We love you guys. We also love books. Therefore, we love characters who love one another. And you love them too.I asked our Facebook and Twitter following who their favorite fictional couple is and here are the most-loved (liked) answers:

1. Elizabeth Bennet & Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice

2. Claire & Jamie from Outlander

3. Catherine & Heathcliff of Wuthering Heights4. Gone with the Wind’s Scarlett & Rhett

1 Comment » | Tagged Book Lists, holidays

Top 10 Favorite Authors

Posted by Erin on 01.31.2012 at 9:36 am

Here’s a top 10 Tuesday list that should be very helpful in your book-browsing endeavors. Check out these BWB fan favorite authors to find your next great read.

1. Terry Pratchett
Co-Author of “Good Omens” with the number two pick. Pratchett also wrote “Unseen Academicals,” “The Wee Free Men,” “The Color Magic,” and many other novels.

2. Neil Gaiman
Co-Author of “Good Omens” with the number one pick. Gaiman also wrote “The Graveyard Book,” “American Gods,” and “Neverwhere” to name a few.

3. Kurt Vonnegut
Most famous for his anti-war book “Slaughterhouse-five,” Vonnegut also wrote a satirical commentary on modern man, “Cat’s Cradle,” and “Breakfast of Champions,” examining fiction as truth, as well as “Welcome to the Monkey House,” full of his short stories… plus many more.

Read more…

3 Comments » | Tagged Book Lists

Top 10 Books You Want to Read in 2012

Posted by Erin on 01.17.2012 at 9:32 am

We asked our Facebook and Twitter
fans what books they are most looking forward to reading this new year, here are the most popular answers.

10. The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

9. Homer’s The Odyssey

8. 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

7. J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit6. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

5. The Help by Kathryn Stockett

4. A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan

3. M is for Magic by Neil Gaiman

2. Jane Goodall’s In the Shadow of Man

1. Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo

Have you read any of the books listed above? Are you excited to read any of them? Or is your top choice for 2012 not on the list – what is it and why? Thanks for sharing your thoughts below and cheers to 2012!