The ThriftBooks Blog

By Ashly Moore Sheldon • December 18, 2019

You may be gearing up for some boisterous (read volatile) holiday get-togethers with the family. How about some stories of highly dysfunctional clans to get you in the right frame of mind? Here are twelve books that will leave you thinking, "Well, we're not that bad!"

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By Ashly Moore Sheldon • December 13, 2019

Here's our third installment for the best books of the past decade. Each week for five weeks, we are presenting ten of the best books of the past decade in two different genres. A total of ten lists of ten: 10 x 10 equals 100! This week's lists are Humor and Short Story Collections. Here are our picks for the top ten of each.

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By Beth Clark • February 05, 2019

If you've ever unintentionally (or not) chosen disaster, lost your way, lost yourself, or wondered what the point of adulting is, or if there even is one, chances are good that you'll love Choose Your Own Disaster by journalist, author, and Entertainment Weekly correspondent, Dana Schwartz. In her own words: "I wrote this book about love and sex and eating disorders and traveling and career uncertainty. I hope you read it and maybe feel less alone."

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By Beth Clark • January 31, 2019

Did you know that Eoin Colfer, author of the Artemis Fowl series, also wrote book #6 in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series by Douglas Adams? Or that David Foster Wallace's editor finished writing The Pale King? True story. Turns out, there have been other handoffs and collaborations, so here are five of the best and the stories behind them.

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By Beth Clark • January 22, 2019

If the term "self-help" makes you roll your eyes or the thought of going on a play date with your inner tween makes you cringe, then this blog is for you! (Note: we do use the term "self-help" but only because the thesaurus alternatives are lame and "independent quest for human improvement" doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue.)

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By Beth Clark • January 01, 2019

New Year = Let the resolutions begin! Orrr...not. 2019 is new, but really, you woke up the same old you (older if you overindulged NYE), so maybe it's time to embrace your real, gloriously imperfect, weird self and say hello to anti-resolutions instead of the same old same old. (And good-bye to celery without peanut butter and raisins!)

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By Beth Clark • December 19, 2018

'Clapping back' is the act of (or art of, depending) responding to criticism or any other form of attack (real or perceived) by putting someone in their place. How? With a 'clapback': a quick, targeted, and clever reply that establishes a boundary and shuts the conversation down. (Previously known as a 'burn.') Below are some current and historical examples, plus a few pro tips.

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By Beth Clark • November 16, 2018

Long before she became the queen of Twitter or the beloved author of Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling was (and still is) a voracious reader...a habit she shares with the majority of the world's ultra-successful people. Keep reading for 7 books she loves—the author who inspired her fangirl moment might surprise you. (Hint: they have the same hair color.)

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By Beth Clark • October 04, 2018

Vodka is so much more than 007's famously shaken, not stirred martini of choice...it's a beverage that's spanned twelve centuries, shaped entire cultures, and helped more than a few of us endure life's inevitable ups and downs. But what IS vodka, anyway? Like, what is it made from? How is it different from other spirits? Did Russia really run out of vodka at the end of World War II??

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By Beth Clark • August 23, 2018

Back to school time means beach reads come out of your bag and textbooks go in, but that doesn't mean the fun is over. While we (obviously) embrace all things learning and reading (because books), even we have to admit that some textbooks are a bit, um...dry. To ease the transition, here are 22 alternative academic titles that are entertaining, practical and, well, educational.

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