Book Nook: How to Resist Amazon, and Why

 My older daughter has gotten a lot more interested in social justice and other causes, and is starting to try to move away from big-box stores. I've always been uneasy about certain things as well with certain corporations, so it was a good time to read How to Resist Amazon and Why: The Fight for Local Economics, Data Privacy, Fair Labor, Independent Bookstores, and a People-Powered Future!.

The book is actually the second edition of a previously published book, updated with a significant amount of new data, including some issues that, as of the book's writing, had not quite been resolved. I appreciated that the author did update the book and make sure that the content and data were still relevant and accurate!

If I was going to complain about one thing in the book, it would be the title. Based on the title, I would have assumed there would be a lot more"how" than "why." Instead, the book was a lot of "why" and only one chapter of "how." That being said, it definitely touched on a lot of things - some data I already knew about Amazon, other things I didn't, and the uneasy relationship many people have with Amazon as sort of a necessary part of their lives, due to its presence in so many industries.

The book was clearly well-written and well-researched, and gave me a little impetus to change things as well. I can't avoid Amazon entirely (no one can, if they use the internet), but when possible, I can gradually start making other choices as well.

About Microcosm Publishing

Portland's most colorful, authentic, and empowering publishing house and distributor, Microcosm Publishing & Distribution is a vertically integrated publishing house that equips readers to make positive changes in their lives and in the world around them. Microcosm emphasizes skill-building, showing hidden histories, and fostering creativity through challenging conventional publishing wisdom with books and zines about DIY skills, food, bicycling, gender, self-care, and social justice. Microcosm was started by Joe Biel in his bedroom as a distro and record label in 1996 and is now among the oldest independent book publishing houses in Portland, OR. Microcosm focuses on relating the experiences of what it's like to be a marginalized person and strives to be recognized for spirit, creativity, and value. All books are printed in the U.S. on post-consumer papers, and the company doubles the industry average in number of women authors and prioritizes hiring of special needs employees.