What We’re Reading: SF Edition

Posted by Jack on 09.30.2008 at 12:59 pm

Now that you know “We [heart] Books” I thought I’d tell you what we’re reading here at the SF Office.

Justin: Always Be Testing, Collapse (Audiobook), Watchmen
Cory: The Big House, The Glass Castle
Geoff: Obama’s Challenge
Eddie: Web Analytics an Hour a Day, Watchmen
Xavier: Let My People Go Surfing
Jack: Blink, Doctor Zhivago
Ryan: Where the Wild Things Are, Post Office
Elina: Lonely Planet Travel Guide: Barcelona (lucky!!!)

Have your say » | Tagged Uncategorized, books, cory, eddie, elina, geoff, jack, justin, ryan, San Francisco, SF office, xavier

Poll Wednesday (oops, Thursday): The Basic Question

Posted by admin on 09.11.2008 at 11:48 am

The basic question, what are you reading right now, fiction or non-fiction?

Then, a bonus question, what do you usually read?

Have your say » | Tagged Poll Wednesday, books, fiction, non-fiction, Poll Wednesday

Indie Booksellers, Amazon and a Book about Obama

Posted by admin on 09.05.2008 at 12:37 pm

Indie booksellers are in a rage after the title “Obama’s Challenge” was released exclusively at Amazon before anyone else could get their hands on it.  Some were more outspoken than others attacking publisher Chelsea Green with reasonable ire, but others took it to a whole other level.  B&N actually canceled their 10,000 copy order [that's going to hurt the sales team at CG] in protest, basically boycotting what will be a successful book as punishment for CG’s backhanded dealings.

This won’t affect us TOO much so the vitriol is dialed down, but this kind of exclusivity, should it become more commonplace, won’t exactly make booksellers love Chelsea Green.  For that matter, with B&N leading the way, it would be surprising if other booksellers didn’t take the hint and get on board for next time.

The reason this is such a problem is that this book is poised to make some noise in the book market.  This summer, two of the 5 bestsellers in this area (hardcover non-fiction) have been Obama bashing books, namely, current #1 seller Obama Nation and current #6 The Case Against Barack Obama.  With the wild popularity of this polarizing figure, the time for a well-written positive book to come out is now, where sales will be massive in counter to these bashing books sales.  The lucrative nature of this means that Amazon paid a premium for this exclusivity and that it hurts local and indie stores even more on a guaranteed success.

Have your say » | Tagged Book Reviews, amazon, books, obama, publishing

Books and Dating

Posted by admin on 08.21.2008 at 11:35 am

This isn’t the first time we’ve talked about dating and books, and it certainly won’t be the last, but this is totally blog worthy.  Apparently, Penguin, the famous publisher of orange and black signature awesome looking classic editions, has started a dating site. No longer will you languish in your Great Expectations-esque unrequited love, reader.  No longer will you Quixotically wander waiting for your Dulcinea.  No longer will you read The Notebook and cry alone (ok, you might do that still, but we can only do so much!).

Penguin teamed up with Match.com and they’re trying to make it happen for you literary types out there who haven’t seen much action at the library lately.  This is especially good if you’re not using your local bookstore as much and instead you shop at Betterworld.com (that is until we install a virtual reality version where you can see all the other customers “in the store”).  This will have to do for now.

Have your say » | Tagged Uncategorized, books, dating

Green Daily Hearts Better World Books

Posted by admin on 07.31.2008 at 5:34 pm

Over at Green Daily, your blog source for all things environmental and awesome, they’re showing some love Amanda Miller, a far better writer than I am, scribes: to Better World Books.

While we’ve spotlighted green book sources before, I do believe that Better World Books might be the only place you’ll be shopping in the future.

Here’s what makes them so great, and my new top pick for book buying:

1. All books sold help fund high-impact literacy projects around the world.
2. Not only do they sell new books, but they collect and sell donated books as well. Not only is this a great way to reduce/reuse/recycle, it also has helped to generate $4.5 million in funding for literacy and education. So far, over 6,000 tons of books have avoided landfills.
   
3. To date, Better World Books has donated over 1 million books to literacy programs.
4. Every order is shipped carbon neutral, using offsets from Carbonfund.org.
5. The company was started by college students who knew first-hand about the importance of passing on textbooks, literacy and business with a social conscience.

Ah, that feels good… like a warm towel after a shower.  Head over to Green Daily for great tips on how to greenify your life, a little bit at a time, and a sweet “Top Ten Green Kids’ Books” list that I’m way jealous I didn’t think of first.

Have your say » | Tagged Show Us Some Love, books, children's books, green daily, press

Democracy and November

Posted by admin on 07.22.2008 at 11:46 am

G. Norman Collie said, “In free countries, every man is entitled to express his opinions and every other man is entitled not to listen.”  Well here in the US of A, we’re facing a huge election–involving the first fresh face in our leadership in eight years.  The success of any election in democracy relies on those same platonic ideals as free capitalism: perfect information for all involved.  Well, I don’t have that information for you reader, and here’s a hint, neither Fox News nor Drudge Report nor Keith Olbermann nor Pat Robertson nor the Daily Show has it for you.  You’re going to have to go out there and cull it for yourself from all the myriad places.  There’s going to be a lot of opinions, reader, and you’re entitled to listen, or not.

On the plus side, we’ve never had so many different sources of information, but at the same time we’ve never had so many sources of misinformation at the same time.  One thing you can be sure of however, is that your own thoughts and arguments are infinitely bolstered by knowing those of the other side (little debate tactic for you, yeah, I was in forensics in high school).  In honor of that, it doesn’t matter who you think is the best candidate, get out there and educate yourself.  I promise you that there are facts about each presidential candidate that you don’t know and may change your view.

Don’t let this come down to “I’m a _______ so I’m going to vote for their candidate.”  McCain is one of the most liberal Republicans in many years, tempering conservative ideals with an understanding of the problems of the people and Obama is one of most likely to spur on positive change in the political process and to be willing to do whatever is necessary for those in need.

Educate yourself, reader.  Besides, everyone knows that “reading is sexy” and as Oscar Wilde would quip “You can never be overdressed or overeducated.”

To get you started, the latest texts from the preeminent candidates:

Have your say » | Tagged Book Reviews, barack obama, books, great quotes, john mccain, politics

Looking for a Suggestion

Posted by Jack on 06.27.2008 at 1:21 pm

Hey readers, I want to get into podcasting and would love a suggestion on what book to get.  There are tons of great books on the topic but it’s hard to figure out what the best place to start is.  Email suggestion to jack (at) betterworld (dot) com or leave a comment below!

Have your say » | Tagged Uncategorized, books, podcasting, suggestions

What We’re Reading: ATL

Posted by admin on 06.26.2008 at 11:04 am

Over in the ATL office, home of book collections, and the Braves and unofficial capital of the Souf [sic], here’s what they’re reading (when they’re not on the phone or emailing you updates):

Roselle – Smart Women Finish Rich (by David Bach, video interview with DB coming soon!)
Erin – Hell to Pay & Soul Circus & American Gods & Good Omens
Lora – Manner of Death & 11 on Top & Thr3e & The Good Guy & The Taking (overachiever!)
Jozi – Emotional Intelligence & Christine & The Enchantress of Florence & She Got Up Off the Couch
Courtney – The Five Love Languages
Angela – The Last Juror
Will – Black Voices
Ayanna – Shattered Trust & Rich Dad, Poor Dad & Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking
[Library Team member] – Think and Grow Rich & No Plot, No Problem

Have your say » | Tagged Book Reviews, ATL office, book reviews, books, what we're reading

What We’re Reading: SF

Posted by admin on 06.24.2008 at 1:35 pm

Here at the SF office we have 5 employees, all of whom work in some way or another on www.betterworld.com.  Here’s what we’ve been reading lately between the hours of meeting and phone calls and “networking” at the local watering hole:

Xavier: The Landmark Herodotus (seriously it’s like 980 pages of history)
Geoff: Let My People Go Surfing & Crossing the Line
Justin: The World is Flat & The World Without Us
Elina: Chinese Takeout: a Novel
Jack: Made to Stick & Jitterbug Perfume

Have your say » | Tagged Book Reviews, book reviews, books, SF office, what we're reading

Happy Memorial Day

Posted by admin on 05.26.2008 at 6:22 pm

Hey all, Happy Memorial Day!  Hope you’re enjoying some barbequeing and friends and honoring those who’ve sacrificed for US freedom.

If you’re looking for some good reading on the topic, may I suggest the following:
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien (drama, fiction)
The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw (non-fiction, very well done)
The First World War by John Keegan (a real authority on the topic)
Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut (a totally screwed version of someone who was involved in the Dresden bombings… typical (awesome) Vonnegut)

Enjoy the day off get some reading done to remind you of what people did to get you more than just a four day work week…

Have your say » | Tagged Book Reviews, book lists, books, holidays, memorial day, war books