How to Protect Bookstores and Why: The Present and Future of Bookselling

by Danny Caine

Can bookstores save the world? As bastions of culture, anchors of local retail districts, community gathering places, and sources of new ideas, inspiration, and delight, maybe they can. But only if we protect them and the critical roles they fill in our communities.Danny Caine, author of the bestselling sensation How to Resist Amazon and Why and co-owner of the Raven Book Store in Lawrence, Kansas, makes a compelling case for the power of small, local businesses in this thoughtful examination of the dynamic world of bookstores. At once an urgent call to action and a celebration of everything bookstores can do, Caine's new book features case-study profiles of a dozen of the most interesting, creative, and progressive bookstores of today, from Minneapolis to Paris. Through a well-informed analysis of these case studies, Caine offers actionable strategies to promote a sustainable future for bookselling, including policy suggestions, ideas for community-based action, and tips on what consumers can do to help. A captivating read for any lover of books, patron of bookstores, or champion of the survival of these vital institutions, How to Protect Bookstores and Why makes the strongest possible case for the importance of a resilient, inclusive, and progressive bookstore landscape.

Genres: Nonfiction, Books About Books, Audiobook, Politics, Business

234 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 19, 2023

Reviews

[Kristīne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grāmatnīcas apmeklētājiem parastajiem varbūt pārāk specifiski, bet man kā profesionālim - interesanti, varbūt ne gluži daudz jauna, bet noderīgi, iedvesmojošo. Šādas laiku pa laikam jāpalasa, ja uznācis nogurums no darba un misijas apziņa sāk ļodzīties.

Kā pasargāt grāmatnīcas un kā neļaut tām pazust?
Grāmatnieki visā ASV atkārto - Show Up! Ne obligāti pirkt un tērēt naudu, ja tās galīgi nav, var nākt uz pasākumiem, var nākt vnk pačilot, parunāties, galu galā ielikt soctīklos kādu skaistu bildi.

Forši, ka man nezinot, ar autoru ir daži saskarsmes punkti - viņš RISE BOOKSELLING programmas ietvaros atbrauca uz Parīzi, uz slaveno Shakespear and Company, žēl, ka nepajautāja īpašniekiem, ko viņi domā par jauno galējību, ka lielākā daļa apmeklētāju tur nepērk grāmatas, bet gan maisiņu ar slaveno logo. Bet es, savukārt, RISE ietvaros aizbraucu uz ASV, kur daudzas grāmatā izklāstītās idejas un problēmas redzēju un dzirdēju savām acīm un ausīm. Grāmatas un grāmatnīcas ir demokrātijas stūrakmens, un mums nemaz nevajadzētu būt citu domu, ka kāds cits politiskais režīms mums būtu patīkamāks. Grāmatām IR jābūt pirmās nepieciešamības precēm, kā tas ir Francijā.

Vislabākā grāmatnīcas pieredze, protams, ir iziet no veikala ar grāmatu (par kuru ir samaksāts!!!), kuru tu nemaz nenojauti, ka tev vajag. Tāpēc tik svarīgs ir grāmatnieka arods, adekvāta alga, aicinājums, lai cilvēki būtu īstajā vietā un laikā un mācētu lasītājiem piemeklēt un izcelt to, kas viņiem nepieciešams, bet arī ar pārsteiguma elementu.

[Emily Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forgive me, Danny, for writing this review on yet another thing Amazon controls. I would miss my book community too much (and that being said, please let me know if you have a StoryGraph profile).

I bought this book a little too late, after learning the the community bookstore I was working at had been sold to a restaurateur (who’s an asshat that treats people poorly and didn’t pay them during the pandemic *based on interviews of those with firsthand experience*).

Anyway, anyway. There’s some solid tangible advice for next steps. As a queer person, I’ve been invested in safe/brave spaces and communities for decades. Bookstores are where this happens. This happened to the nth degree at my bookstore. Granted, I’m grieving, but this would’ve been a very wise proactive read rather than a reactive one.

And if you don’t want to take the actionable steps, then consider this book a great introduction to some of the best community bookstores this country, and France, has to offer.

[Hestia Istiviani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nggak ada Amazon di Indonesia ternyata ada baiknya juga. Meskipun nggak jauh berbeda dengan adu diskon antara lokapasar toko buku ritel dengan para resellernya (hehe).

Membaca How to Protect Bookstores and Why bikin aku keinget gimana POST Booskhop--toko buku kesayanganku--bisa bertahan meski di Indonesia nggak ada hukum seperti The Lang Law seperti di Prancis. POST memahami bahwa kegiatan bookselling bukan cuma sekadar "menawarkan produk kepada konsumen." Melainkan menghidupkan komunitas tempat mereka berada.

Sebanyak 11 bab, Danny Caine menceritakan kisahnya mewawancarai beberapa pemilik toko buku non-ritel di US, Kanada, dan Eropa sebagai bahan untuk mengkritis bagaimana Amazon di US semakin "membahayakan" posisi toko buku. Juga tentang hubungan mutualisme antara toko buku dan perpustakaan yang sebaiknya bisa direplikasi di banyak tempat.

Dia nggak cuma bercerita susah payah bertahan di tengah gempuran Amazon dan pemain ritel besar, melainkan memberikan "action step" yang bisa dilakukan oleh pembaca.

Meskipun "action step" tersebut berorientasi pada sistem bernegara di US, menurutku beberapa bisa kita adaptasi. Seperti, "showing up to your local bookstore" atau "buy the book from your local bookstore."

How to Protect Bookstores and Why betulan sebuah bacaan bagus banget buat nunjukkin gimana sebuah toko buku non-ritel bisa bertahan dan butuh dukungan dari pemerintah guna sama-sama mencapai tujuan literasi sebuah negara. Bukannya dilepas begitu saja dan jadi auto-pilot kayak di mana gitu ya 👀

Versi cetaknya lumayan mahal (SGD30) dan nggak ada di Indonesia. Kalau mau baca, bisa akses versi digital (USD9.99)--iya agak ironi karena penulisnya sendiri ingin avoid Amazon 🥲

But anyway, buku ini bagus banget. Membukakan mataku soal peran toko buku non-ritel, perpustakaan, dan pemerintah dalam mempertahankan budaya membaca di tengah gempuran kapitalisme.

[John Burroughs · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important read!

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up. First of all, the author is Jewish, and it’s the least I can do right now to support my fellow Jews world-wide by something as simple as reading their books.

Second, he will probably never read this because he explicitly said not to support Goodreads because it’s owned by Amazon, who are basically stealing all our data to use against the independent bookstores, so I apologize lol but at least I don’t have Prime

Third, this book opened by highlighting a Native-owned bookstore, which I have actually bought a book from - Birchbark Books owned by Pulitzer Prize winner Louise Erdrich, author of one of my favorite books The Sentence, which I bought from them so I could get a signed copy.

Fourth, I loved hearing about all the different bookstores, while mostly in the Midwest (due to budget restraints) which was a bit disappointing, but his trip to Paris to visit Shakespeare and Company was also a real highlight of the book and the French laws that make it possible for bookstores to thrive!

Overall, a great short read that just makes you want to support your community by going to your local bookstore.

[Rachael Dockery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply superb. A tender love letter to bookstores, coupled with practical (and surprisingly hopeful) recommendations as to how we, as individual readers, can support their work and ensure they continue to exist and, hopefully, thrive rather than barely survive.

[Leah (Jane Speare) · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 stars! All the stars! Also, everyone needs to move to Storygraph and get off of this platform.

[Richard Carilo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Critical Score: 5
Personal Score: 5
Total Score: 10

[Susan Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read, and I’ve now started a list of bookstores to visit!

[Roxana Barnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid book reader, book buyer, and book seller I really enjoyed this book. It taught me things and presented different ideas for me to mull over.

[Erin Cataldi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an important read that every book lover/consumer should read. I love the format that follows 12 bookstores and talks about issues they face, ways they've overcome obstacles, and ends with ways for readers to get involved. I loved learning about these book stores in the process and I want to visit them all! Obviously one of the biggest threats to bookstores is Amazon, followed closely by healthcare affordability, and lack of government support. Ways to help independent bookstores thrive include: writing reviews, buying books, going to author events, helping change legislation, wearing store merchandise in public, not using Amazon and not using Goodreads.... Sorry, I have a Librarything and a Storygraph as well, but Goodreads is my bread and butter. I love being able to easily see what my friends are reading, have multiple shelves, and see reviews in real time. I know, I know. I am part of the problem! But. Nothing comes close to this interface, sorry. I know Amazon is ripping large amounts of free data off of me, but.... I'll allow it. Necessary read for all and it definitely has spurred me to action!

[Bill Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A personal story of the integral fit of neighborhood bookstores in our communities and how best to support as a consumer.

Greatly enjoyed meeting the owners of 12 unique stores across the country. Hearing their stories and understanding their intentions for their own stores and hopes for future success.

All progressives in political disposition but also singularly focused on their fit in their communities.

This was a fun read…especially as I’ve always loved book stores and all the variety of tales offered.

[Jenny Aggen · Rating 1 out of 5]

One Star for effort.


You wouldn’t think so after reading this book, but there are conservatives who not only think independent bookstores are important, but also actually purchase our books there. There are conservatives who care about the communities where we live and we support the small businesses that are run by the members of those communities.

It’s interesting that the bookstores represented in each chapter all have far-left leaning political positions and of course all of their struggles are because of far-right leaning policies. I was expecting some ideas on how to help protect bookstores and they were presented at the end of each chapter as “Action Steps”. Some were helpful, some were not. I wasn’t expecting a book about protecting bookstores to be yet another place where the polarizing of America would be shoved in my face.

I will continue to support my local bookstores, such as Bound in York, PA where I bought this book. However, I will not be buying anything else by this author who also wrote How to Resist Amazon and Why…which you can purchase at your local bookstore, or ironically on Amazon.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overall!

As someone who works at a bookstore I appreciate the effort being given to save bookstores as Amazon demolishes everyone. Thankfully our store is doing amazing!

I thought this provided some good examples of real action steps and ways we can lend a hand in making books available for everyone wherever they’re at!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Are there any bookstores owned or run by right-wingers?

[Lauren Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book but there were some things missing. I learned a ton and glad that Danny traveled many places for this book. It was interesting to hear how Canada and France are working on protecting bookstores and helping publishers. I did not know that Amazon owns Goodreads and I’m really sad to hear that. I was disappointed that one of the bookstores he did not visit/write about was a used bookstore. Used bookstores are very important to the community and there are many people who can’t afford a new $20-30 book. I know he wanted to focus on the Midwest, and I know he paid for his travel. But, he said no northeast bookstores but did Washington DC? I would have loved to hear a little bit about the bookstore community in Boston.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book. I love the introduction to each unique bookstores. It was moving to hear some of the hardships they experienced.

Separately, the author by his own admission and the fact that he has a whole other book on it, obviously hates Amazon. Although entirely fair, I feel his sentiments and knowledge behind Amazon building a monopoly over the book selling business could have been better express in a shorter platform. A friend of mine informed me of a review they read that stated this could’ve done better as an article and frankly, I agree.

I felt like there were two disjointed storylines pushed together to form one agenda. Overall, a very educational book that I enjoyed, but I don’t know if I would recommend to others.

[Karen Mcswain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an accurate portrayal of the challenges independent bookstores face today. I enjoyed the layout of the book, and the anecdotes and insights Caine shared from his interviews with the owners of well-known, and lesser-known bookstores. As a used bookstore owner, I wish he included more anecdotes from other peddlers of previously-loved books. Many of the issues we face are similar to stores that sell new books; however, used bookstores face challenges that are unique to the type of inventory that we carry.

[Cindy Coats · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bookseller here and it seems wrong to review this here as he explicitly says not to. But I’m working on breaking a decades old habit.

Definitely read if you are a lover of books. Books will not be obsolete.

[AK Miedler · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF 3/4 of the way through

Content is interesting but the narrator’s voice was so dry and flat it was a struggle to get through. Finally gave up as it got repetitive enough to be better fit for a blog or opinion piece.

[Kerri D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very relevant to me as a bookseller but also to anyone who gives a hoot about bookstores. Loved his examples and they gave me some ideas for my shop.

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book. Read this book. Read this book. But first, borrow it from the library OR buy it from a local bookstore. Avoid buying it on Amazon. Read this book!

[macy · Rating 5 out of 5]

so good, so much for this small brain to think about

*author says not to support Goodreads (owned by Amazon, who are basically stealing our data to use against "independent" bookstores)

[Zach Garber · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an eye opening revelation to the ins and outs of the book selling community. The stories included in this book showcase the struggles and woes U.S. bookshop owners face. If this doesn’t light a fire in your passion for supporting local, I don’t know what will.

Sorry for using Amazon to review this Danny.

[Milo · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. I really enjoyed reading Danny Caine’s delightful and incredibly vital book, ‘How to Protect Bookstores and Why’. I work part-time as a bookseller myself, so I found it incredibly relatable, urgently needed, and even heart-warming, and Caine’s exploration of why we should protect bookstores and by extension booksellers, told in part through the captivating vignettes/interviews of twelve different bookstores and their booksellers (all but two are USA-based bookstores, where Caine is frm, and the other two are in Paris, France and Ontario, Canada), further fuelled my passion fr the bookselling industry.

This book highlights the profound role that bookstores and booksellers play in our society, far beyond being conduits fr the simple exchange of literature. Caine effectively demonstrates how, among many and varied other things, bookstores and booksellers curate diverse collections, challenging mainstream narratives and promoting critical thinking; serve as historical record keepers, preserving ideas at risk of being forgotten or suppressed; and act as vital gathering places fr discourse and activism, amplifying voices that might otherwise go unheard.

Supporting bookstores is, as Caine emphasises, also a form of resistance against the monopolies of big corporations in the book industry, such as Amazon and big box stores like Barnes & Noble in the USA and perhaps even Dymocks here in Australia. Smaller local and indie bookstores also tend to champion diversity in publishing, ensuring a broader range of voices are heard, as well as celebrating historically marginalised communities and their histories, such as those of queer or Indigenous communities, preventing their stories frm being lost or, as is more actively becoming the case, suppressed and banned. Many of these smaller bookstores also tend to actively engage in political activism in their communities, turning their spaces into hubs fr progressive causes and advocating fr social justice.

‘How to Protect Bookstores and Why’ powerfully illustrates the invaluable role of bookstores and booksellers in shaping political discourse, fostering social change, and challenging the status quo, alongside many other roles, all on top of trying to survive and stay open in the hellscape that is capitalism. This book is a must-read fr anyone who values not just bookstores, but also the preservation of ideas, the amplification of marginalised voices, and the advancement of important social and political discourse and conversations.

Please support bookstores and the dedicated booksellers who make them havens fr diverse thought and expression, in any way you can. Whether that’s, as Danny Caine suggests, buying books directly frm them (ideally in person but if that’s not possible through their online stores) rather than sites like Amazon, who is killing the bookselling industry, or third-party sites like Bookshop.org (though Caine admits there can be both positives and negatives about these third-party sites), or to buying and wearing their merch or, if you can’t support them monetarily, showing up to the (typically free!) events they hold, whether that’s author signings and in-conversations/talks or bookclubs, or even just spreading by word-of-mouth and social media the good word about the importance of bookstores and why they most urgently need to be looked after, especially in this current political and economic climate.

[Brittany]

disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial

“All bookselling is political”

Just like "How to Resist Amazon and Why," I think this should be required reading for every single reader. This includes stories about what community care is, why bookstores matter, how expensive it is to run a bookstore, bookstore inclusive programming popularity/metrics, how the pandemic affected bookstores, and more. Caine refers to bookstores mostly in the mid-west, and he does this intentionally. He explains why, and this is such a short read, so just read it! It also does bring up how Amazon's low prices affect bookstores and how conservative groups are targeting bookstores & libraries for showcasing diverse books.

A few ways to support bookstores:
-sign up for their newsletters!
-follow them on social media!
-recommend them to your friends!
-order from bookshop.org if you're not able to physically go in!
-buy diverse books for the kids in your life!
-write online reviews (google, yelp)
-attend bookstore events!
-bring your kids to the bookstore!
-get involved in community organizing and grassroots efforts
-buy gift cards from them as birthday or holiday gifts for your loved ones!
-show up to city council meetings & speak up about business owner policies!
-pre order!

This is yet another reminder why you should not be buying your books from Amazon - I fully recognize this is a privilege and that Amazon is accessible to many people. However, if you are near a local bookstore, you really should be placing your money in your community, rather than to a shitty organization that doesn't give two flying fucks about its employees or product quality either.

I especially enjoyed the story about a bookstore that placed value over protecting and standing with their employees and the queer community, rather than selling books at a school book fair. A parent had asked for a queer MM book to be removed, and the school's reaction was to say that they would be individually reviewing every book that would be on sale for students in the future to ensure nothing "divisive" would be sold. In response to this, the bookstore pulled their books from that book fair, and then sold books on their own, with 10% of the proceeds being donated towards the local queer community center. They ultimately sold less books than they would have at that book fair, but instead of always placing profits over people (such is capitalism), their actions matched their words of allyship and creating spaces that the queer community was welcome in.

I listened to an ALC from Libro FM, & am providing an honest review voluntarily. Thank you!

cw: mentions of sexism, homophobia, transphobia, the pandemic, misogyny, religious & political bigotry, hate crimes, classism, racism

[Rachel Post]

I picked up this book after seeing it recommended in one of my local bookstores (much love, Portobello Books!) Even as a native East Coast girl, I appreciated the focus on midwest/rust belt book shops, which are under-publicised.

While the book is ostensibly a mediation on how/why bookstores nurture community and the economic benefits of locally owned bookstores, I took away more about the economics OF bookselling. That's not a knock on the author's capabilities; I simply already knew more about the first two topics than the third. I hadn't appreciated just how complicated the margins of bookselling are. With reduced distributor markdowns compared to other forms of retail as well as disproportionately large wholesale discounts given to big box and digital retailers like Amazon, locally owned/indie bookshops have the deck massively stocked against them. Frankly, I'm not sure how any of them swing the financials.

Some things I took away include:
* The Binc Foundation (Book Industry Charitable Foundation) could use some donations from folks concerned about recent book bans.
* How more rural areas can spark the growth of indie presses thanks to a more affordable cost of living (shout out to Milkweed Editions here, one of my favourite small publishers)
* The French and Canadian governments' financial support of the publishing industry deserves more study. What can be replicated in other countries to encourage reading given the expansion of digital life?
* I'm suuuper curious about monopolies in wholesale book distribution services - namely Ingram Group. Is there an opportunity to disrupt this industry?
* Given how much data is generated via Goodreads for Amazon, I *really* need to get off this platform already. I've been a Goodreads user since long before it was bought by Amazon, so it's hard for me to give it up, but it's time.

Some reviewers will complain that Caine's liberal politics are explicit throughout the book. But guess what? Only Republicans are currently trying to ban books and utilise religion to stop others from making their own reading choices. His criticisms are 100% valid. If you don't like it, tough luck. When you align yourself with fascists, you deserve what you get!

My biggest quibble is with Caine's vocal narration style. He reads too fast without pauses between sentence and chapter breaks. He'd be better served hiring a professional, even if it's expensive.

[Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up on a whim after seeing this was available at my local library. I also once worked in a bookstore and have mourned the closures of some (although there seems to be a bit of a renaissance, so there's that!) over the years. Especially given the news of banning books and people arguing what libraries should have on their shelves (slightly different issue but still relevant), this seemed like a good read.

Caine profiles a bunch of bookstores both in the US and abroad and tells their stories. Of the people who work there, the books they sell, the history of the store, etc. There are stories that are funny, relatable, and tell us why and how bookselling can be hard in many ways. It's not just that it's a retail job and that books are things to sell but also it can be difficult when you are facing things like people unable to buy books (or they can't come to the store because of something like a pandemic) or you have protests because there are people who object to an author visit, etc.

At the end of each profile there is also a call to action that are not, perhaps, directly bookselling related but are very important: getting involved in the community, following local news, and the like. It is not just about the bookstore and saving a place that sells books but rather what it means for educating people, giving them a place to browse, a place for community, etc.

Overall I found the book a little dull. I am familiar with and have actually visited some of these stores which was a nice surprise but I guess I felt this was not quite what I thought it would be. As interesting as these stories are, these are a select few bookstores and so in the end a lot of these are anecdotal bits of information. That is not necessarily a bad thing (I was familiar with and could relate to some of these!) but also it may depend on what you prefer. I thought maybe a deeper history of bookselling might be what this book would be but the author wanted to tell the story in this way.

I did not mind reading it but I would say it perhaps did not tell me anything I did not already know (bookstore-specific stories and information aside). Would probably be a good book for anyone looking to advocate for books, libraries, bookstores and reading in general.

Library borrow was best for me.

[Michael Erickson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a habitual visitor of local bookshops (and I'm fortunate to have multiple good options near me despite not living in a city), and I almost always walk out with something; my physical TBR pile is growing quite formidable. So I don't know that I was necessarily the target audience for this book, but I have been seeing it show up frequently, usually right on the checkout counter of . And I really enjoyed this author's first book - How to Resist Amazon and Why - so it seemed logical to give this one a go.

It's structured around visiting specific real-world bookstores, interviewing the owner(s) to learn about a particular issue or hardship they faced, how they overcame it, and how to extrapolate that takeaway to your local community. Straightforward enough, and allowed for a formulaic and predictable format through each chapter. There is a bias towards stores in Midwestern states, but the author admits this is because he basically had to fund his travel out of pocket which meant lots of roadtrips from his base in Kansas. Can't fault him for that, but I did notice it.

This book is heavy on anecdotes and personal stories of quirky owners, and surprisingly light on hard numbers. Yes Amazon has indirectly caused bookstores to close over the past two decades, but I would've appreciated even just a ballpark amount. There's also a bit of survivorship bias because each chapter featured a success story, which we're lead to believe is the exception and not the rule, but we don't get any interviews with former owners who failed with a lesson of what not to do.

I sympathize the concept and overall message, and this certainly doesn't have me second-guessing my approach of buying 99% of my books in-person, but I wish it occasionally had taken a step back from the feel-good stories and offered a more technical and evidence-based argument for the "Why" portion of the book.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot from this book and appreciated the care and precision the author took to write it. I also feel very guilty that I am writing a review on Goodreads, when one of the action steps he shared to help protect bookstores is to get off Goodreads. Yikes! (I've given storygraph a try and perhaps will try again.)
I love how deeply this book caused me to think about bookstores--and how enmeshed they can be in so many facets of our lives and communities. Learning about the economics, politics, HR issues, regional, and at times national and international issues our bookstores can impact was so facsinating. The intricate ways bookstores can work to stabilized communities was awe inspiring.
I did struggle at first with the chapter focusing on book banning and then the follow-up chapter focusing on not allowing certain books to be carried in a store. That rubbed me the wrong way at first and seemd like double speak. But as the author pointed out, and as I thought about it more, I suppose it is the perogative of the bookseller to determine what is sold in their stores. However, it is not the perogative of community members to determine what their neighbors read.
It was also fun to read about booksellers I have long admired, and been to, and those I aspire to visit someday. I've recently read a good deal about Shakespeare and Co. I have been to Semicolon Books (and feel guilty again that I was one of those "well intentioned" white ladies who ordered from them in 2020.) And I am looking forward to visiting Bookends & Beginnings the next time I make it up to Evanston.
But most of all, this book made me fall even more in love and awe of my local bookstore, The Bookstore of Glen Ellyn. I'm so grateful for the tireless work of the owner, manager, all of the booksellers and of course the community who shop there and allow for this gem of the GE to be part of our town. I would be lost without them and I think our town would be too!