📚 To All The Books I Meant to Read
Learn how to buy better books and all the other things we've been up to!
✨ Newsletter Exclusives
password: BOOKWORM
Find some sweet and scholarly wallpapers inspired by our latest videos and take a tour through Toronto’s iconic BMV Bookstore in the ~ secret ~ part of the website using this month’s password (it is case sensitive btw).
🤠 Rapid Round Up
🔖 We released a bookmark to track your thoughts and habits while reading. Our initial order sold out but you can pre-order a pack for the next shipment our shop! We expect to be able to get them to you in late April / early May!
🧩 Tom Scott let us back on lateral and we struggled to solve questions on sweaters, airports, and scoreboards. Give it a listen here!
📖 Sabrina turns a new page in her book buying habit by finding out how to build a to-be-read that she will actually read in this video.
🍫 Melissa found the cavity in our sweet tooth as she explored how chocolate might go extinct in this video.
🐝 Sabrina creates a spelling bee and promptly loses while on a quest to figure out why English is so whack in this video.
🎧 Rnb Self Care | Mixtape No. 25
Seasonal depression hit different this year and prompted Melissa to compile this warm and cozy self-care playlist.
🔓 Patreon Content | Unlocked
Oops, we got existential and discussed our careers and things we want to do outside of the YouTube channel.
📚 Buy Better Books | Advice
Sabrina worked with booktuber Jananie K. Velu (@thisstoryaintover) to collect some advice for how to buy books you’ll actually read.
Follow the imprints. Publishers and their subsidiaries (called imprints) can specialize in a sort of story. So, if you have a book you particularly enjoy, you can look at other titles under the same imprint.
Use social media to expand and curate your discovery. You can make use of snappy short-form recommendations algorithms (TikTok, YouTube Shorts) or intentionally follow influencers/curators (Instagram, YouTube, Substack). They can introduce niche titles that suit your tastes.
Join a book club. Sharing an experience with friends can be a great motivator to continue reading! Plus, they can make more informed recommendations based on your personal relationships. If you can’t join a book club in person, there are also some options online.
Keep track of your favourites. It’s easy to forget how you feel about a book after you finish but using goodreads, storgraph, or our bookmark to record how books make you feel can teach you what to look for and what to avoid in future purchases.
Be critical of hype. It can be fun to read popular books and join the conversation. However, if the book is far from your interests and you wouldn’t’ve picked it up if it weren’t for the hype, it might be better to wait in your library hold queue rather than spending your money.
Renew your library card and download Libby. Sabrina learned that experimentation is essential for readers because it gives new authors a chance and it diversifies your reading. However, you don’t necessarily need to spend money to give stories a chance. Libraries (and Libby) can give you free access to thousands of books and audiobooks!
*This message sponsored by Shopify
However, if you already have great taste in books, have you considered starting your own bookstore? Social media and streamlined platforms like Shopify make it easy for bookworms to compete with massive corporations. You can focus on specific markets, use your expertise, and make some money while pursuing your passion.
🔦 Phil Edwards | Creator Spotlight
Did you know that the inaugural Answer in Progress spelling bee champion actually has a Youtube channel?
Phil Edwards makes amazing explainers exploring the niche histories that make our world the way it is today.
🙏 Thank You
Thank you for subscribing and following our chaotic little journey - see ya next month!
from ur neighbourhood nerds,
Sabrina, Melissa, and Taha<3