Bring humanity back to bookselling

By Dylan Pichnarcik Editorial Staff I just finished another book. Instead of picking up my phone and scrolling through Amazon in search of another gut-wrenching mystery novel to occupy my attention for a short time, I made one of the most important decisions of my life. I decided to grab my keys, make the long trek down Adams Road, get in my car, and drive to my local Barnes & Noble. After a short time, I emerged from the store triumphant, with my next read tucked neatly in a bag. Without any time lost for shipping and handling. While this may seem small, it is not. This sacred practice of physically going to a bookstore is under siege by major corporations, like Amazon. While Barnes & Noble is also a large corporation, they have something Amazon does not - personality. This is a calculated strategy by Barnes & Noble’s CEO James Daunt, who in 2019 was appointed to turn the company around, according to a video published by The Wall Street Journal. The strategy implemented by Daunt gave power over selections and displays to Barnes & Noble retailers at individual stores, according to The Wall Street Journal video. This was done to appeal to more readers in specific communities. Now, booksellers can advertise selections, host events, and stock books that people in a specific community want to read. How can a wholesaler whose office is 3,000 miles away from my community tell me what I would like to read? At least, if I go to my local Barnes & Noble, there will be recommendations from real people who are not focused on profit margins. While Barnes & Noble is a major corporation, the company is making a conscious effort to appear independent and remind consumers about the appeal and charm of shopping in a physical bookstore. As one of the few remaining major bookstores in the United States, Barnes & Noble is the only thing standing between Amazon and independent bookstores. If Barnes & Noble is the only bookstore you have ever been to, I encourage you to make the switch to independent bookstores - there are at least 20 independent bookstores in Boston and the surrounding suburbs, each with a different personality and charm with a selection that will peak the interest of any book lover. While these cramped shops, which often smell of old paper, may not be the cheapest option for purchasing books, independent bookstores are not pushing an agenda, or working to appease shareholders. They are there to serve as pillars of the community and providers of life-changing stories. Which isn’t something the “Add to cart” button can get you. Perhaps it's a conversation that sells you on a book or a tiny handwritten slip of paper that says “Recommended by bookseller.” These irreplaceable nuances are what make bookstores vital. And while an algorithm may be able to tell you what you will like based on your search history, it will never be as authentic as the connection you make with your local bookseller. Or as authentic as sitting in a bookstore on a cold windy night listening to an author talk about their most recent work. Moments such as these will foster a sense of community. In a time where much of our country is divided, independent bookstores can bring people together. Think about your bookseller next time you go to buy a book on Amazon. What might they recommend if you went to their store and asked? Would it be more suited to your interests? Talking to your local bookseller will give you an authentic recommendation, rather than having been chosen by Amazon’s algorithm. Plus, you won’t have to wait two agonizing days for your book to arrive on your doorstep. While Amazon may be able to sell books for less, they will never replace the feeling of going to a bookstore, getting lost in the stacks, and leaving satisfied with your choice. Along with that, many bookstores have extensive used book sections which, if you are a broke college student and desperately need a copy of Jack Keroac’s “On the Road” for a class, a used book department is a great place to start. However, for various reasons - some better than others - people choose to shop at Amazon and that is OK, if it is absolutely necessary. But choosing to shop on Amazon out of convenience contributes to the monopolization of the book market. Amazon owns 13 publishing companies whose books often appear on Amazon’s recommendation list, which as a corporation makes sense. Obviously, promoting authors who work for you is fiscally advantageous, but next time you click on a book with the illustrious “Amazon’s Pick,” think about who is publishing that book and if it is being marketed for a specific reason. Don’t waste time waiting for shipping. Make the drive, grab a cup of coffee, wander among the jam-packed shelves, and walk out with a physical copy that you can crack open the second you get home. Not only will you be satisfied by having a new book to dive into, you will also be supporting a small business, a disappearing beauty in our country.