Andy Hunter, CEO of Bookshop.org, is on a mission to empower independent bookstores against Amazon. He shares insights on launching an online platform during the pandemic and the triumphs in connecting readers with local shops. The conversation dives into the complexities of e-books and the battle against censorship, highlighting the need for diverse literature access. Hunter emphasizes the importance of community and ethical practices while tackling the competitive e-book market, advocating for a cooperative approach to challenge monopolism.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Bookshop's Origin
Andy Hunter worked in publishing for 15 years, witnessing independent bookstores struggle against Amazon.
He launched Bookshop.org in 2020 to help these bookstores sell online.
insights INSIGHT
Lean Operations
Bookshop.org partners with book wholesalers for direct-to-consumer sales, enabling a lean operating model.
Bookstores can sell online without managing inventory, shipping, or customer service.
insights INSIGHT
Mission over Profit
Bookshop's customer base is driven by a desire to support local businesses and avoid Amazon.
The platform's mission prioritizes supporting independent bookstores over maximizing profits.
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This book is a comprehensive analysis of Xenophon's dialogue Hiero, in which the tyrant Hiero and the poet Simonides discuss the advantages and disadvantages of exercising tyranny. The work includes a translation of the dialogue from its original Greek, Strauss's commentary on it, a critique of Strauss's commentary by Alexandre Kojève, and the complete correspondence between Strauss and Kojève. The discussion delves into the nature of tyranny, the distinction between tyrants and kings, and the philosophical implications of these concepts. The book also explores the debate between Strauss and Kojève on the role of philosophy in ruling the world and the concept of the Universal Homogenous State[1][3][5].
BRAIDING SWEETGRASS
David Muñoz Mateos
Robin Wall Kimmerer
The Diary Of Anne Frank
Anne Frank
Anne Frank's "The Diary of Anne Frank" is a powerful and poignant account of a young girl's life in hiding during the Holocaust. Written in her diary, it offers intimate insights into her thoughts, feelings, and experiences. The diary's simple yet profound prose captures the horrors of war and the resilience of the human spirit. Its enduring popularity stems from its universal themes of hope, courage, and the importance of human connection. It remains a vital historical document and a testament to the strength of the human spirit.
Andy Hunter is the CEO of Bookshop.org, a website he launched in 2020 that lets local bookshops sell all over the country. He always meant it to compete directly with Amazon, and the timing of that launch right into the teeth of the pandemic meant it was able to start strong and grow quickly.
Now Bookshop is selling ebooks, which is another market hugely dominated by Amazon. For Andy and Bookshop to get what they want, they’re probably going to have to gear up for a big fight. It’s kind of the app store question all over again, just like the big cases Epic had against Apple and Google, and it's all prime Decoder territory.
Links:
Bookshop is launching an ebook store to take on Amazon | The Verge
As greenwashing soars, some question B Corp certification | BBC
‘The Goliath is Amazon’: After 100 years, B&N wants to go back to its roots | Decoder
How Bookshop survives and thrives in Amazon’s world | Wired
Apple to pay $450M after Supreme Court denies price-fixing appeal [2016] | The Verge
Decoder with Nilay Patel 
