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An online bookseller with a sense of humor
Posted by Kevin Salwen on 04.25.2010Share

My buddy Karen just ordered The Power of Half from Better World Books. If you don't know Better World, it's the online bookseller of mostly used titles that has a deep social mission to support literary around the world. To date, it has donated nearly $8 million to those programs, largely through books purchased from schools.

Beyond the mission of helping people read, I love the note that Better World sent as her order confirmation:

Hello Karen,

Your book(s) asked to write you a personal note - it seemed unusual, but who are we to say no?)


Holy canasta! It's me... it's me! I can't believe it is actually me! You could have picked any of over 2 million books but you picked me! I've got to get packed! How is the weather where you live? Will I need a dust jacket? I can't believe I'm leaving Mishawaka, Indiana already - the friendly people, the Hummer plant, the Linebacker Lounge - so many memories. I don't have much time to say goodbye to everyone, but it's time to see the world!


I can't wait to meet you! You sound like such a well read person. Although, I have to say, it sure has taken you a while! I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but how would you like to spend five months sandwiched between Jane Eyre (drama queen) and Fundamentals of Thermodynamics (pyromaniac)? At least Jane was an upgrade from that stupid book on brewing beer. How many times did the ol' brewmaster have one too many and topple off our shelf at 2am?


I know the trip to meet you will be long and fraught with peril, but after the close calls I've had, I'm ready for anything (besides, some of my best friends are suspense novels). Just five months ago, I thought I was a goner. My owner was moving and couldn't take me with her. I was sure I was landfill bait until I ended up in a Better World Books book drive bin. Thanks to your socially conscious book shopping, I've found a new home. Even better, your book buying dollars are helping kids read from Brazil to Botswana.


But hey, enough about me, I've been asked to brief you on a few things:

Then there is the regular stuff about tracking and shipping info. Gotta love the sense of playfulness ....

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