Consumerism is a tricky one isn’t it?!
It’s hard to know what is ‘ethical’ these days and not.
In the name of guilt-free holiday gifting, I wanted to share some things that could be part of your wish list or your gifts to other people. I’ll post a series of articles on different categories of gifts over the next couple of days, starting with books!!
For me, when it comes to Christmas, I start thinking about books… that’s when my bibliomania really comes out to dominate (if this isn’t your style hold on because the next few days will be coming up with a few other categories).
I usually try to buy second-hand books, but this usually doesn’t support second-hand bookshops unfortunately. So around this time of year, I sometimes like to splurge on a new copy. Your local independent bookshop is a great place to go to scratch all your new-book itches! Don’t have a local bookshop? If you’re in the US you can support independent bookshops online here (there’s a UK version of this link as well here).
If you are a real stickler for second-hand books– I totally get it– I had been trying to find a second-hand bookshop website other than AbeBooks (which had been apparently bought by Amazon I heard). Better World Books is a great alternative for AbeBooks if you’re looking for one!
Lastly, a sure-bet for finding a new book is on The Guardian bookshop. Although it’s not an in-person bookshop per-se, if your only alternative is Amazon, at least by buying through them The Guardian supports their independent journalism!
Don’t know which books to buy? Some currently on my list include: Becoming by Michelle Obama, Grit by Angela Duckworth, and Rest by Alex Soojong-Kim!
Books I have read in the past year and could absolutely recommend are All About Love by Bell Hooks, The Bookseller of Kabul by Åsne Seierstad, The Man Who Quit Money by Mark Sundeen and Half a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Paeonia blog 