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Story by
Rokali
Published on February 5, 2008 in Etsy News |
Photo by first name Clip, last name Art |
In January of 2007 I started the Etsy Book Club. Together we read The Wal-Mart Effect, The Perfect Store and Ben & Jerry’s Double Dip: How to Run a Values Led Business and Make Money, Too. After each book we held an online workshop and invited people to the Etsy Labs for a nice long discussion. (We even got the author of The Perfect Store to participate in the workshop discussing his book.)
Then Anda inserted Buckminster Fuller's turgid Critical Path into our reading list, and the book club quietly passed away. Sorry, Bucky! You're getting the boot.
I'm restarting our book club with Yunus's Banker to the Poor. This is a wondrous piece of prose. Many people say "Oh, I know what microcredit is," and leave it at that. Yunus is onto something much, much larger. He does a lot of work that enables people to make a living making things, which is Etsy's biggest goal. What's more, his sentences are candid and clear.
This book has a sequel, the recently-released Creating A World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism. We'll read this next.
Then we'll watch a documentary, Manufactured Landscapes, and read Deep Economy by Bill McKibben. Both of these explore the production of everyday goods. After watching Manufactured Landscapes, you'll never look at a toaster oven the same way again.
During the month we can spark forum posts to share thoughts as we read and gather material for the workshop. This workshop will take place on Thursday, February 28th, at 1pm EST. (We'll try and record it for anyone who can't make it, too.)
Here's the calendar so far:
February: Banker to the Poor & Creating a World Without Poverty
March: Manufactured Landscapes (DVD), Deep Economy
April: Please post your suggestions in the comments
You can order the books from Powell's, Amazon, anywhere else, or borrow from your local library. If you want to participate in this month's book club, you'll need to get 'em quickly!
| Tags | book club |
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29 comments Login to add your own!
TickledPinkKnits
This morning I was listening to a WNYC podcast of Leonard Lopate's recent interview with Yunus about his latest book and thought that it's wonderful to be part of Etsy, a company very much aligned, in my opinion, with the principles of what Yunus calls "social business". What a perfect opportunity to read the book and be part of a discussion right here on Etsy!
Listening to Yunus also reminded me to visit Kiva.Org (http://www.kiva.org) again, read up on its progress, check up on the small loans (to a seamstress and a flower farm owner in Samoa) I made last year, before discovering Etsy, and to explore more small businesses looking for modest loans.
idealbunny
What a great idea. I just wanted to throw in there that instead of shopping at mega-giant Amazon for the books why not visit your local independent bookseller? Or give them a call. I'm going to pick up Banker to the Poor today!
qwynwyn
I may not be able to join the book club, but I'll add these books to my reading list!
jascamille
selflesh
Sounds great Rob!
+
Thanks TickledPinkKnits for reminding me about Kiva. I'm looking into lending today!
Best,
>s
mmmfiber
Wow. Good stuff.
Need to make room in my own reading list for these titles.
winifredStudios
Just got online and requested these titles from the library!
Shutterkate
I'm giving it a shot! Let's hope expedited shipping via half.com lives up to its name!
anda
Sorry, but Critical Path was awesome. I'll be holding my own book club while on maternity leave for those of us strong enough to soldier through it.... hahahaha
Shutterkate
is there a designated book club page where we can keep up with stuff? or do i have to root through storque articles/forums to find info on it??
ArgyleWhale
I just looked up the word turgid. I hope I'm literate enough to keep up with the book club.
Rokali
I'll post another Storque article mid-month with an update and links to relevant forum posts. Good idea!
prisma
I've already read an excerpt on Banker to the Poor.. it seems to be very intriguing! (Does that seem suprising for a seventeen year-old? ;D)
I'll definetely need to see if this is at the library this weekend.
projectfelt
Very cool. I have been waiting for this to come back. I may not able to join the workshops as I work fulltime, But I will certainly be reading along with. It may be nice to give a time frame for when the book should be done. Or is that a given?
daniellexo
atomicq
rippleriverstudio
I've added these titles to my reading list and look forward to digging in! So many books, so little time. Thanks for putting this together.
rippleriverstudio
I'm looking forward to the book club--the titles sound thought provoking. Thanks for putting this together. And thanks for the kiva.org link. Meanwhile "Manufactured Landscapes" reminded me of this: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?...
XOHandworks
Yeah for the return of the book club! Loved it last year!
I requested the book from the library last week, but I'm 26th in line so I think I'll have to get it somewhere else :)
fenrislorsrai
April suggestion:
Why we Buy: The Science of Shopping by Paco Underhill
All the things that go into why people buy things that have absolutely nothing to do with the product itself.
amandathon
YEA Books!!!
April Suggestions:
The Small-Mart Revolution by Micheal H. Shuman
A Whole New Mind-Why Right Brain Thinkers will Rule the Future by Daniel H. Pink
How local businesses are beating global competition and how the folks running/employed by creative businesses will change the future
pawandclawdesigns
I've had both his books on hold at the Library what feels like FOREVER!
damn you, Stephen Colbert!
if they arrive in time, i shall join in, for sure.
the last ones were very fun.
erinelizabeth
Excellent! I look forward to reading them.
Also, my library (Arlington VA) has Banker to the Poor available as a free audiobook download on their website. You have to have an Arlington library card to get it, but perhaps other libraries do this as well.
sarawearsskirts
i recommend watching 'manufactured landscapes' on as big a screen as possible. i walked out of the theatre completely awestruck.
magickalrealism
Hey, could you give us a date for WHEN you'll be meeting online? I work best with deadlines. :)
Stockton
erinelizabeth that is a great tip! I was on a long waiting list at the Toronto Public Library, just went back and checked and they have it as an audio download as well ... (though I would rather *read* it ^_^)
itswhimsy
I'm in! I'm going to order the books right now. Yeah!
ps- ditto on the magickalrealism's request for dates.
SpankMe
Rokali! thanks for the 'Banker to the Poor' Book club, it's hard to convey in a few words the impact of that book on peoples lives. Especially if read in combination with Deep Economy, two incredible books with the power to open up peripheral vision. As for April's book how about 'American Mania' by Peter Wybrow?
Previous Page
Yay! I love bookclubs!
Will there be a list of links to forum discussions on the book (or just one big thread) so that we can easily find them and take part without scouring the forums?
Thanks!