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carolynnjeann's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
amthakker's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
As a frequent reader and indie bookstore patron it was interesting to get a peak behind the curtain and learn more about how independent bookstores operate. However, the intended audience of this collections feels a little confused as the author switches between speaking to readers/patrons, authors and other booksellers. A more focused collection for one intended audience may have been more impactful.
snaillydia's review against another edition
I found the essays to be repetitive and better suited to people who are actively selling books as a career. If you’re a reader and not a book seller, you might enjoy a peek behind the curtain too. However, as an ex bookseller, I fall somewhere in the middle of these categories, and I found myself both already knowing too much about this world to get much out of this, and I’m too far removed from the bookselling world now to gain any useful insights.
Will be passing this on to a bookstore owner I know.
Will be passing this on to a bookstore owner I know.
chipperd's review against another edition
medium-paced
2.0
Each day you go out in the world; some people look to find umbrage, others look for the good in everyone. Neither person is ever disappointed. This author is
One of the former, his rants are exhausting. There are perhaps 30 (out of 293) pages that were informative to me as a book seller.
One of the former, his rants are exhausting. There are perhaps 30 (out of 293) pages that were informative to me as a book seller.
hastyentreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
massmassmarket's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
One of my favorite reads of the year. Addressed some questions about and issues with the profession of bookselling I've had running rampant around my brain for a while now. I've been craving a read like this, a view behind the curtain of running a high-end indie bookstore in the US.
And any book that communicates sympathy for retail/customer service workers gets a thumbs up from me.
Hugely recommended if you want insight into the current state of the field of independent bookselling. And there's some great book recommendations along the way.
More important, we need to recognize that oppressive forces in our society are not "letting people find what they find." Oppressors in the United States have always sought to control who reads what, from making it illegal to teach slaves how to read to removing topics from school curricula and textbooks to the book bans and attacks on libraries so prevalent in the 2020s. Oppressive forces are doing everything in their power to make sure the only books readers--especially young readers--find are books those forces approve of. By guiding readers beyond the first page of a Google search return and especially by bringing books by marginalized populations to readers, this humane practice can be an antidote to those oppressive forces. --From page. 112.
And any book that communicates sympathy for retail/customer service workers gets a thumbs up from me.
Hugely recommended if you want insight into the current state of the field of independent bookselling. And there's some great book recommendations along the way.
More important, we need to recognize that oppressive forces in our society are not "letting people find what they find." Oppressors in the United States have always sought to control who reads what, from making it illegal to teach slaves how to read to removing topics from school curricula and textbooks to the book bans and attacks on libraries so prevalent in the 2020s. Oppressive forces are doing everything in their power to make sure the only books readers--especially young readers--find are books those forces approve of. By guiding readers beyond the first page of a Google search return and especially by bringing books by marginalized populations to readers, this humane practice can be an antidote to those oppressive forces. --From page. 112.
gregzimmerman's review against another edition
5.0
I've been a bookseller (in varying degrees of part-time) for more than 9 years now, and I still learned a ton about the craft and industry of bookselling from this great book of essays.
Josh clearly loves books, as every bookseller must. And his enthusiasm is infectious, even when you don't fully agree with him (and you won't agree with him all the time. Of course.)
The book is put forth as intended for anyone who loves books (writers, readers, and booksellers), but if you're not a bookseller or don't have a connection to a bookstore (other than shopping at one), you might space out a bit here and there. There IS a really great essay though on what writers should understand about bookselling, and I wish I could foist just that essay on every writer I know who stumbles into our store and doesn't the know the first thing about what we do there (it's amazing that could happen, but it happens all the time!)...
Overall, a really unique book -- one I enjoyed savoring in snack-sized bits over the course of a month or so.
Josh clearly loves books, as every bookseller must. And his enthusiasm is infectious, even when you don't fully agree with him (and you won't agree with him all the time. Of course.)
The book is put forth as intended for anyone who loves books (writers, readers, and booksellers), but if you're not a bookseller or don't have a connection to a bookstore (other than shopping at one), you might space out a bit here and there. There IS a really great essay though on what writers should understand about bookselling, and I wish I could foist just that essay on every writer I know who stumbles into our store and doesn't the know the first thing about what we do there (it's amazing that could happen, but it happens all the time!)...
Overall, a really unique book -- one I enjoyed savoring in snack-sized bits over the course of a month or so.