1619 Project Books

The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story will be published by One World Books on 11/16/19, offering a profoundly revealing vision of the American past and present and a dramatic expansion of a groundbreaking work of journalism.

In late August 1619, a ship arrived in the British colony of Virginia bearing a cargo of twenty to thirty enslaved people from Africa. Their arrival led to the barbaric and unprecedented system of American chattel slavery that would last for the next 250 years. This is sometimes referred to as the country’s original sin, but it is more than that: It is the source of so much that still defines the United States.

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Holiday Gift Books for Musicians and Music Lovers

For devoted music fan or pop culture buffs in bookstores, stock and promote the best backlist music books. Music books covering many genres (rock, K-pop, country, punk, hip-hop and more) and formats (from memoirs and biographies to cultural essays and songwriter guides), so there’s something for everyone.

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Around the World in 80 Books

On November 9, 2021, the Penguin Press will publish AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS: A Literary Journey. 

Inspired by Jules Verne’s hero Phileas Fogg, author David Damrosch, chair of Harvard University’s department of comparative literature and founder of Harvard’s Institute for World Literature, set out to counter a pandemic’s restrictions on travel by exploring eighty exceptional books from around the globe. Following a literary itinerary from London to Venice, Tehran and points beyond, and via authors from Woolf and Dante to Nobel Prize–winners Orhan Pamuk, Wole Soyinka, Mo Yan, and Olga Tokarczuk, he explores how these works have shaped our idea of the world, and the ways in which the world bleeds into literature.

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Native American Heritage Month is November

November is Native American Heritage Month. The month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people. Heritage Month is also an opportune time to educate the general public about tribes, to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges Native people have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges. (NCAI.org)

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Mental Illness Awareness Week is October 3 – 9

Millions of people in the U.S. are affected by mental illness each year. It’s important to measure how common mental illness is, so we can understand its physical, social and financial impact — and so we can show that no one is alone. These numbers are also powerful tools for raising public awareness, stigma-busting and advocating for better health care. (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

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Banned Books Week Is 9/26 – 10/2

It’s time for another celebration of the right to read! Join the ongoing and imperative mission by working with booksellers to feature titles whose value has been contested at local and national levels. 

This year’s honorary (and inaugural) chair of Banned Books Week, Jason Reynolds: “To censor a book is to damage the framework in which we live,” adds Reynolds. “Any time we eliminate or wall off certain narratives, we are not getting a whole picture of the world in which we live. And navigating the world in a way that is closed-off, closed-minded, is poisonous. It means that we limit our vocabulary, which complicates how we communicate with one another. We have to celebrate stories and ensure that all books have a space on the shelves and the opportunity to live in the psyches of our children, as they grow into the human beings who will inherit this wonderful place.” 

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Potter Gift Titles

Clarkson Potter and Potter Style publish some of the most inventive, stylish, giftable products perfect for year-round giving – that’s in addition to to journals, stationery, and books. The title list is ideal for stocking up for holiday sales, with a robust and wide-ranging selection.

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Mushroom Book Sales Spike in the Fall

Although across the country there are different foraging seasons, sales of books about mushrooms see the most significant increases in stores and online in September. The PRH list includes a select of titles about hunting, identifying, cooking, use as pharmaceuticals, and other compelling titles.

Ensure that stores are well-stocked with mycology titles for September so they can make sure they’re available when consumers are looking. Great time for promotions too!

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White Elephant, Secret Santa, and More Silly Holiday Gift Exchange Ideas

White Elephant and Secret Santa gift exchanges have become more popular, and certain books and merch from PRH see massive sales increases during the fourth quarter as a result. Titles on this list outsell Q1 – 3 by as much as 16 times in Q4. Tis the season to sell backlist! 

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Transgender Fiction and Non-fiction

Over the past two decades, Americans have experienced a significant evolution in their understanding and cultural acceptance of transgender people.

Consequently, media coverage of trans issues has moved beyond simplistic political dichotomies and toward more fully realized representations, not only of the diversity of the trans community, but also of trans people’s lives, their families, and their fundamental inclusion in the fabric of American society. Today, transgender people’s stories are more likely to be told in the same way as others — with fairness, integrity, and respect. (glaad.org)

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