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50 Ways to Protect Bookstores
Bookstores are important. So are booksellers. And they--and the ideas and communities they serve--need protection. Danny Caine, the best-selling author of How to Resist Amazon and Why and co-owner of the Raven Book Store in Lawrence, Kansas, writes a stirring call to action. Bookstores are not charities, he writes, and they shouldn't get a pass on exploitative labor practices, but they play a vital role in our society that is worth upholding. Preparing the ground for a more expansive book on the topic, Caine offers 50 ideas for protecting this idiosyncratic business niche and, by extension, the neighborhoods that bookstores anchor. Some of the ideas are buy books at bookstores, talk them up on social media, and write glowing online reviews. Others ask you to think support your local bookstore's neighboring businesses, support your local library, and lobby your elected officials to pass legislation that ensures livable wages and makes it easier to run small businesses. Still others are just excellent go on dates at bookstores and buy and read weird books that you've never heard of before. Readers, publishers, politicians, workers, union organizers, and landlords can all find tailor-made calls to action in these pages. Especially now, with freedom of speech under attack from the right, it's time for us to protect books and those who sell them.
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Published January 31, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 10, 2025
Reading this book made me feel good for a few reasons:
1)I found it at a cool indie bookstore
2)reading it gave me new ways to support book stores
3)I realized that I’d been helping in small ways without realizing it
4)I feel like buying from this author also helps the bigger picture
This book is a nice, fast read. It’s super short and packed with helpful info.
On the surface you might see that only half the ideas are geared towards the consumer/reader and the other half are bigger picture/ policy changes. But don’t let that stop you. The first half of the list would be worth the read alone. But I read about the other suggestions too and found that interesting information even if it wasn’t a change that I could make myself.
Read this book if you’re a book lover. Then get someone else to read it too :) I plan to share my copy with a friend.
1)I found it at a cool indie bookstore
2)reading it gave me new ways to support book stores
3)I realized that I’d been helping in small ways without realizing it
4)I feel like buying from this author also helps the bigger picture
This book is a nice, fast read. It’s super short and packed with helpful info.
On the surface you might see that only half the ideas are geared towards the consumer/reader and the other half are bigger picture/ policy changes. But don’t let that stop you. The first half of the list would be worth the read alone. But I read about the other suggestions too and found that interesting information even if it wasn’t a change that I could make myself.
Read this book if you’re a book lover. Then get someone else to read it too :) I plan to share my copy with a friend.
June 3, 2023
Seems wrong to be logging this in Goodreads when I’m gonna move to Storygraph because of the content of this zine. However, this is where I am right now.
I’ve visited Raven Book store in Lawrence, KS so when I saw this in the Storyhouse Book Pub in Des Moines, IA and the bookseller showed so much enthusiasm and passion for it - I had to buy it.
This was a great read and now I have to go get his other one How to Resist Amazon and Why. Look forward to his other publication later this year.
I’ve visited Raven Book store in Lawrence, KS so when I saw this in the Storyhouse Book Pub in Des Moines, IA and the bookseller showed so much enthusiasm and passion for it - I had to buy it.
This was a great read and now I have to go get his other one How to Resist Amazon and Why. Look forward to his other publication later this year.
November 28, 2025
Great tips in here to support non-corproate bookstores, coming from a lot of different angles. I think the systemic issues are bigger, and may be a bit harder to realize, but doesn't hurt. I do like the way the author brought in numerous non-bookstore ways to help, like by riding the bus, walking your neighborhood, and speaking at town halls. More importantly, simply buying and reading books, telling people about the stores, voting in those beat-of lists, and avoid Amazon at all costs. Ironic since this platform is owned by the monster, but that's why the systemic stuff is worth trying, especially if Amazon tries to build a a warehouse in your town. Anyway, this was a good reminder. I helped start a used bookstore years ago, and still volunteer, so I appreciate the focus. I also love that I bought this on a mobile book store that started because another indie store began removing LGBTQ books from their shelves--showing the right wing attacks on books is contagious and needs to be fought at all levels.
July 12, 2024
Bookstores are great for the community. No one argues that. But the constant threat that bookstores are under can be a point of contention. When push comes to shove, it's easy to ignore the values that a bookstore brings and just blame the fall of these cultural cornerstones as just another victim in the grind of capitalism. But what if you could do one thing to help them out?
Caine offers 50 ways to protect book stores. Granted, he does admit that some of them are geared towards politicians, landlords, and corporations since a lot of the issues are much larger than the individual choices that we make. Obviously, buy from physical bookstores, order online from bookstores. Tag bookstores in your social media, attend their events. Even go to the library.
Problems aren't solved overnight. But it's nice to know that our choices can have a greater impact in the community. So do your bookstore a favor and shop there. They'll love it. You'll love it.
Caine offers 50 ways to protect book stores. Granted, he does admit that some of them are geared towards politicians, landlords, and corporations since a lot of the issues are much larger than the individual choices that we make. Obviously, buy from physical bookstores, order online from bookstores. Tag bookstores in your social media, attend their events. Even go to the library.
Problems aren't solved overnight. But it's nice to know that our choices can have a greater impact in the community. So do your bookstore a favor and shop there. They'll love it. You'll love it.
May 14, 2023
I can’t wait to pass this zine around my book club! I found it on a featured shelf in Malaprops Books in Asheville, and reading it reaffirmed all I’m doing to support local bookstores, and inspired me to look into even more ways to promote engaged reading communities wherever my travels take me…hopefully to Raven Bookstore in Lawrence someday!
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July 16, 2023Un bon résumé de plusieurs actions politiques et individuelles qui aident à protéger les librairies, leurs missions et la littérature de manière plus large. On parle autant de la menace de géants et de leur quasi-monopole (sur le livre électronique par exemple, c'est apparemment 90% du marché à Amazon...) que de l'importance d'un prix plus fixe pour tout le monde ou les inconvénients des envois postaux.
On parle plus largement de la création de communauté au-delà des actes individuels d'aller à des événements ou d'acheter des livres qui vont jusqu'à la défense des heures du conte queer en passant par l'importance d'un urbanisme accessible aux résident·es du quartier et à la découverte.
On parle plus largement de la création de communauté au-delà des actes individuels d'aller à des événements ou d'acheter des livres qui vont jusqu'à la défense des heures du conte queer en passant par l'importance d'un urbanisme accessible aux résident·es du quartier et à la découverte.
Read
September 21, 2025Read in August 2025: https://hollograms.blogspot.com/2025/...
April 30, 2023
What s superb zine, with practical tips for supporting bookstores. Danny Caine and all booksellers are national treasures! Here's to America's bookstores!
September 2, 2023
Noted noted noted
And also, I still am using goodreads and need to move to storygraph. I hope to soon, but that will depend on how this new job goes and how the reviews move over to storygraph.
And also, I still am using goodreads and need to move to storygraph. I hope to soon, but that will depend on how this new job goes and how the reviews move over to storygraph.
February 25, 2024
This slimmest of softcover reads provides 50 ways to leave your lover (aka Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, etc.) I'm so glad I'm already an established Libro.fm user for audiobooks, in part supporting local shop Irvington Vinyl & Books. And needless to say, I'm checking out directly what StoryGraph has to offer as an alternative to this site I'm posting to now. I'm writing here not cynically but rather, as perhaps my last at-length review on GR, to give line of sight to this Great Little Read.
It's gross what GR owner Amazon is doing with our data and reviews on this site. Y'all, we've been taken. I've been sloppy and ignoring it for some time. I understand better now why my Bookstagrammer pals have migrated their reviews to their own websites or other venues, and why we all should do better.
Split into three sections, Danny Caine, a Kansas bookstore owner, shares how we can make better individual habits and choices, how policymakers and other power holders can aid, and how actively plugging into one's community makes a difference. Some of it's obvious; other parts give me pause (if briefly) at how I can be more intentional in my community.
Some favorites among these clear-eyed items:
16. Encourage your book club to team up with a bookstore
18. Move your online reviews off Goodreads
19. Read weird books
23. Break up Amazon
26. Worker-friendly legislation
30. Maximize book-discount legislation
41. Vote for all that "best of the city" shit
42. Write good reviews online (somewhere other than, well, here)
45. Go to bookstore events
47. Pay attn to attacks on libraries
50. Ask big Qs about the future of bookstores
In short, Danny Caine in 2024 (and beyond!).
It's gross what GR owner Amazon is doing with our data and reviews on this site. Y'all, we've been taken. I've been sloppy and ignoring it for some time. I understand better now why my Bookstagrammer pals have migrated their reviews to their own websites or other venues, and why we all should do better.
Split into three sections, Danny Caine, a Kansas bookstore owner, shares how we can make better individual habits and choices, how policymakers and other power holders can aid, and how actively plugging into one's community makes a difference. Some of it's obvious; other parts give me pause (if briefly) at how I can be more intentional in my community.
Some favorites among these clear-eyed items:
16. Encourage your book club to team up with a bookstore
18. Move your online reviews off Goodreads
19. Read weird books
23. Break up Amazon
26. Worker-friendly legislation
30. Maximize book-discount legislation
41. Vote for all that "best of the city" shit
42. Write good reviews online (somewhere other than, well, here)
45. Go to bookstore events
47. Pay attn to attacks on libraries
50. Ask big Qs about the future of bookstores
In short, Danny Caine in 2024 (and beyond!).
May 22, 2023
I really liked this zine/short book about ways to protect bookstores in the age of Amazon and fascist attacks on books marginalized authors. I appreciated that the author covered both individual actions and policy changes, as well as ways to get involved at the community level. If I could change one thing, I would have liked the author to talk more about worker-owned cooperatives like Bluestockings in New York. He talks about the value of unions, which are great, but worker-ownership is even better for protecting booksellers (and all workers), and a really promising model that deserves more attention.
November 2, 2024
This will be the last review I make on Goodreads, specifically because it's owned by Amazon.
Danny Caine, who also wrote a book on why we need to stop using Amazon and Amazon products, lays out great reasons to protect bookstores in three separate sections: individual actions, legislative actions, and community actions, including the protection of our libraries.
This book has been the catalyst for me to fully update my StoryGraph account.
Everyone here should move to StoryGraph, too. Or just track your books on a spreadsheet or word document.
Thanks, Danny, for providing the final bit of motivation for me.
Danny Caine, who also wrote a book on why we need to stop using Amazon and Amazon products, lays out great reasons to protect bookstores in three separate sections: individual actions, legislative actions, and community actions, including the protection of our libraries.
This book has been the catalyst for me to fully update my StoryGraph account.
Everyone here should move to StoryGraph, too. Or just track your books on a spreadsheet or word document.
Thanks, Danny, for providing the final bit of motivation for me.
September 2, 2025
[3.5/5]
A very useful little zine on ways, both individually and collectively, to support bookstores. Caine has several books on resisting the monopoly of Amazon, instead hoping to push for better options. Not perfect, as there are few places where some of their views on business practices/taxation diverge from mine. But appreciate an owner who is so adamantly pro-union in their stance. Some information here is out of date, which is natural in zines, but worth following journalists who continue the work of supporting free access to literature.
A very useful little zine on ways, both individually and collectively, to support bookstores. Caine has several books on resisting the monopoly of Amazon, instead hoping to push for better options. Not perfect, as there are few places where some of their views on business practices/taxation diverge from mine. But appreciate an owner who is so adamantly pro-union in their stance. Some information here is out of date, which is natural in zines, but worth following journalists who continue the work of supporting free access to literature.
January 13, 2025
Bookstores are important. Those of us who read, know that. This book is for those who might not realize the importance of why bookstores are important and how to protect them.
There were some good suggestions but I did think some more political then realistic or helpful. But I really think that we need to start realizing why books should cost more and why we should pay more and I don't think that was covered nearly enough.
There were some good suggestions but I did think some more political then realistic or helpful. But I really think that we need to start realizing why books should cost more and why we should pay more and I don't think that was covered nearly enough.
May 19, 2025
Given *gestures wildly* any time I’ve been stressed or concerned about politics in recent months I’ve found myself in a local bookstore trying to find something that could teach me something to meet the moment. This Zine validates my impulse but also provides helpful insight into the protection of neighborhood pillars.
November 7, 2024
Some of the points in this book were very good. We need local bookstores, and yes, we all should buy books from them. Sadly, Amazon is replacing everything, and we all are guilty of buying more books from Amazon than our local bookstores.
March 11, 2025
An important pamphlet about bookstores that I would gladly recommend for anyone to read, although a good 2/3 of it only apply to Americans so I’ll say: read this if you’re living in the US, if you’re not, it’s not too mandatory.
May 28, 2025
Great, inspiring, important, timely, and the reason I exported all my goodreads to story graph. I'll keep things here, I really appreciate the community of readers/followers and suggestions here. I think I'll migrate away - find me there at @snowbike.
October 7, 2023
Great ideas and suggestions. Highly recommend.
November 10, 2023
Fabulous! Actionable and hopeful
January 6, 2024
Although the author would like me to move my review out of Goodreads, I would love for everyone here to find a copy and staff making choices for a better reader/bookshop community.
August 13, 2024
I will be clutching this zine when I march off to battle for bookstores and booksellers.
February 18, 2025
I got a lotta nice tips/small adjustments I can make to support the stores I love :) it’s also a dream of mine to work at an indie bookstore, so it’s nice to fantasize
July 17, 2025
The irony of logging this one on Goodreads is far from lost on me, but it did give me a kick in the pants to start trying other platforms.
December 31, 2025
Very easy read with really great tips and a breakdown of how corporate greed is driving book monopolies and ways to stop it !
March 30, 2024
Quick read, well researched points, nice mix of accessibility for the average person and more targetd pressure points.
August 20, 2025
Do you know how you support the bookstores in your community? Support includes but goes beyond a purchase and there are quite a few ways you can help your nearby bookstore without spending a dime. Danny Caine’s zine “50 Ways to Protect Book Stores” is a a combination of a curated list and brief explanations on why bookstores are so integral in creating communities. While this is centred around the American Book Industry, about 95% of the content can apply to any location.
Danny doesn’t shy away from ripping the bandaid of fantasy off; sharing the thin margin profits a bookstore can have, concerns about the top 5 publishers, the ongoing issues of limiting queer books at libraries, and the reality of Amazon versus every other bookstore (large and small).
The best part about this zine is that these listed ways we can protect our bookstores (and libraries) are realistic. Some you can do right away like following your local bookstores on social media or subscribing to their newsletter (most local bookstores have only send me 1 email a month). You would honestly be surprised how many events bookstores host and may just find new likeminded people to discuss your favourite fictional characters with. So let’s support our bookstores and show them how much they mean to us in our communities!
Danny doesn’t shy away from ripping the bandaid of fantasy off; sharing the thin margin profits a bookstore can have, concerns about the top 5 publishers, the ongoing issues of limiting queer books at libraries, and the reality of Amazon versus every other bookstore (large and small).
The best part about this zine is that these listed ways we can protect our bookstores (and libraries) are realistic. Some you can do right away like following your local bookstores on social media or subscribing to their newsletter (most local bookstores have only send me 1 email a month). You would honestly be surprised how many events bookstores host and may just find new likeminded people to discuss your favourite fictional characters with. So let’s support our bookstores and show them how much they mean to us in our communities!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews