I am loving these book cover designs by Stephen Brayda.
The Power of the Powerless
The Power of the Powerless (Czech: Moc bezmocných) is an expansive political essay written in October 1978 by the Czech dramatist, poet, political dissident, and later statesman, Václav Havel. Very timely, given what is happening today.
Libation
In an effort to detangle myself of all things Jeff Bezos, I am bookmarking: Libation is a free, open-source application for downloading and managing your Audible audiobooks.
Here’s another tutorial on how to convert Audible (.aax) files to mp3 with ffmpeg. I am looking to switch from Audible to Libro.fm. And of course, there is Libby.
Bookshelf Lights
Yes, please. I’d love one. Pre-ordered.
A Book Wheel
The Bookwheel, invented in 1588 by Italian engineer Agostino Ramelli, was a heavy, 600-pound wooden rotating bookcase that let scholars easily use up to eight open books at once. It had a clever gear system to keep the books upright as the wheel turned by hand, saving time for readers who didn’t have to fetch books from shelves. Featured in Ramelli’s book of machines, it was a creative Renaissance tool for studying, though it’s uncertain how many were actually made.
Libro.fm
Libro.fm makes it possible for you to buy audiobooks through your local bookstore. Choose the bookstore you’d like to support, and they will get a portion of every purchase you make.
(You’re like me and want to get off Audible? You can download your entire library. Here’s a Reddit thread on it too.)
Alphabet in Motion
Kelli Anderson is a magician. Alphabet in Motion is an ABC Pop-up Book on how about letters get their shapes. Mad respect for this work of art which took Kelli 5 years to create. Let’s support her.
The Universe in Verse
My dear friend Maria Popova of has a new book out and it’s a thing of beauty. Both content and design wise. Definitely gifting this during this holiday season.
A Side of Tea and Poetry
What a time to be alive and 18! My daughter Ella just self-published her first poetry book. You can read her poetry over at ellajoy.com and if you enjoy it, support this young poet by buying a copy of her book. What other young poets should be on my radar?
The Bookshelf Skirt
Love this woman and her bookshelf skirt.
Secrets to a Well Lived Life
Dr. Gladys McGarey is 103 years old and considered the mother of Holistic Medicine. In this captivating and powerful interview, she shares the secrets to a longer, healthier, happier life. For more, we recommend Dr. Gladys’ new book: The Well-Lived Life.
Reading Rhythms
Reading Rhythms is not a book club. It’s a reading party. Read with friends to curated music. I love this idea!
A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
“Some things can become true merely because we believe in them–that pessimism becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. When modern economists assumed that people are innately selfish, they advocated policies that fostered self-serving behavior. When politicians convinced themselves that politics is a cynical game, that’s exactly what it became.”
― Rutger Bregman
From the book: Humankind A Hopeful History / Utopia for Realists And How We Can Get There
Looking At Trees
Looking At Trees, a forthcoming book, encourages us to reconnect with our natural surroundings. Ordering! (Related: I have been loving Kara Daniel’s Instagram account and where she teaches you how to communicate with threes! This is part 1.)
A ‘Book Doctor’ at Work
I hated it when someone asked me “What do you want to be when you grow up” when I was a kid. I should have just said A Book Doctor
(via the kid should see this)
Book Bedroom Dreams
It’s not real, but it’s beautiful.
The Song of Significance
Seth Godin launched a new book, titled The Song of Significance: A Manifesto for Teams and the People Who Lead Them. It is a a rousing contemplation on work: why it is the way it is, why it’s gotten so bad, what all of us–especially leaders–can do to make it better. I deeply resonate with this blurb on the book description:
“The choice is simple. We can endure the hangover of industrial capitalism, keep treating people as disposable, and join in the AI-fueled race to the bottom. Or we come together to build a significant organization that enrolls, empowers, and trusts everyone to deliver their best work, no matter where they are.”
Unreasonable Hospitality
“You have to be unreasonable to see the world that doesn’t yet exist!”
– Will Guidara
A Good used Book
A Good Used Book is a pop-up book store specializing in sharply packaged vintage paperbacks. My daughter is a fan. And we both agree, they have the most adorable branding. You can read an LATimes article about them here.
The Virtue of Owning Books You Haven’t Read
“When considering whether to buy yet another book, you might well ask yourself when you’ll get around to reading it. But perhaps there are other, even more important considerations, such as the intellectual value of the book in its still-unread state.”
The Virtue of Owning Books You Haven’t Read: Why Umberto Eco Kept an “Antilibrary”
Book Art
I am completely enamored by Alexander Korea-Robinson’s book art.