I mostly buy used and like to support a local bookstore that dedicates the space and time. That’s where I broke down and bought my own copy of Housekeeping (so cheap; why not?). It’s also a good place to perform speculative postmortems on books. Lots of copies of a book often means the book was very popular or was part of a school curriculum, but finding a recently published book (say, of poetry) probably means someone was gifted a dud and quickly ditched it.
So lots of Robinson Crusoe, in various editions. A downside might be very few books by authors that readers hold on to, say Philip K. Dick.
Waiting a year or two on a new book is a good way to let fizz dissipate.
Used book bonuses include the stuff left behind: inscriptions, highlighting, bookmarks, dog-ears, shopping lists, marginalia, review copy inserts.
I usually pick a book by leafing through lots of other books. Randomness and serendipity.
First of all, you will LOVE The Art of Gathering. I think about it all the time, especially in relation to community-building.
Also, this inspired me to share more of what I'm reading and loving. I keep a note in my phone and jot down books any time a title catches my interest - friends, newsletters, round ups, NPR interviews, nosing around the library, etc. My best method for finding books is my book club. The person who is hosting sends out 4 options and we vote, then read the winning book. I love this because, in addition to a great book club pick, I get 3 bonus recommendations every month. It's genius!
My favorite way to find things to read is to read what my favorite writers are reading! Thanks to Priya Parker's Art of Gathering, I found Ida Benedetto's Patterns of Transformation (and then Johan Huizinga). I discovered Mary Ruefle thanks to Austin Kleon (same with the Moomins and Lynda Barry!) & David Naiman, Donald Winnicott thanks to Lynda Barry, Natalia Ginzburg (and maybe Clarice Lispector?) thanks to Jenny Offill, and Maria Tatar thanks to Amber Sparks! (I love going down a rabbit hole of recommendations/footnotes). I'll use the interlibrary loan to try out a lot of these books, and if I feel like I want to spend more time with them, I'll buy them.
I came here for the mention of Julie Buntin who I LOVE. Didn’t expect such a kind shout out! Thank you for sharing all of your brilliance with us 💖
I mostly buy used and like to support a local bookstore that dedicates the space and time. That’s where I broke down and bought my own copy of Housekeeping (so cheap; why not?). It’s also a good place to perform speculative postmortems on books. Lots of copies of a book often means the book was very popular or was part of a school curriculum, but finding a recently published book (say, of poetry) probably means someone was gifted a dud and quickly ditched it.
So lots of Robinson Crusoe, in various editions. A downside might be very few books by authors that readers hold on to, say Philip K. Dick.
Waiting a year or two on a new book is a good way to let fizz dissipate.
Used book bonuses include the stuff left behind: inscriptions, highlighting, bookmarks, dog-ears, shopping lists, marginalia, review copy inserts.
I usually pick a book by leafing through lots of other books. Randomness and serendipity.
First of all, you will LOVE The Art of Gathering. I think about it all the time, especially in relation to community-building.
Also, this inspired me to share more of what I'm reading and loving. I keep a note in my phone and jot down books any time a title catches my interest - friends, newsletters, round ups, NPR interviews, nosing around the library, etc. My best method for finding books is my book club. The person who is hosting sends out 4 options and we vote, then read the winning book. I love this because, in addition to a great book club pick, I get 3 bonus recommendations every month. It's genius!
Thanks for the shoutout!!
How do I find books? Word of mouth, book clubs, other book newsletter writers, twitter, reviews, hanging out in bookstores and libraries.
My favorite way to find things to read is to read what my favorite writers are reading! Thanks to Priya Parker's Art of Gathering, I found Ida Benedetto's Patterns of Transformation (and then Johan Huizinga). I discovered Mary Ruefle thanks to Austin Kleon (same with the Moomins and Lynda Barry!) & David Naiman, Donald Winnicott thanks to Lynda Barry, Natalia Ginzburg (and maybe Clarice Lispector?) thanks to Jenny Offill, and Maria Tatar thanks to Amber Sparks! (I love going down a rabbit hole of recommendations/footnotes). I'll use the interlibrary loan to try out a lot of these books, and if I feel like I want to spend more time with them, I'll buy them.