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How To Be Books takes a break for health and wellbeing

How To Be Books takes a much-needed health-focused break Explore our content on our website and YouTube in the meantime. We will be posting less frequently during this time.

In a world that constantly buzzes with activity, the importance of taking a step back to prioritise health and well-being cannot be overstated. Today, we’re announcing a significant but essential decision at How To Be Books. To ensure the health and wellness of the site, How To Be Books is taking a short break. During this period, we will be posting less frequently as we focus on recharging and…

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Glasgow 2024 Hugo Awards voting fraud uncovered

Glasgow 2024 Hugo Awards voting fraud uncovered "Many of these votes favoured one finalist in particular, who we will call Finalist A." #HugoAwards #WorldCon #SciFi

The Glasgow 2024 Hugo Administration Subcommittee announced on Monday (July 22) a significant breach in the integrity of this year’s Hugo Awards voting process, revealing that nearly 400 votes were fraudulently influenced to favour a particular finalist. Nicholas Whyte, Glasgow 2024 Hugo Administrator on Hugo Awards voting fraud detection Possible fraud during voting uncovered at Hugo…

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Books2Door announces record-breaking half-year results

Accessible online retailer Books2Door announces record-breaking half-year results "2023 has been our strongest year to date, and we’re only halfway through," says Books2Door founder #Books2Door #books

Books2Door, a leading online book retailer known for its major discounts on books and box sets, has reported exceptional growth in its half-year results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2024. The company’s total sales reached a notable £2,718,892.56, marking a 38 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. Specialising in making reading accessible, Books2Door offers up to 80…

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Academic authors alarmed over Taylor & Francis and Microsoft AI deal

Academic authors alarmed over Taylor & Francis and Microsoft #AI deal "I get no payment for using my research labour, never mind the bigger problems of this energy-intensive extractivism..." #tech #publishing

The academic publisher Taylor & Francis, a subsidiary of Informa, has come under fire from its own authors after partnering with Microsoft in an AI deal worth $10 million. The agreement grants Microsoft access to the publisher’s vast repository of “advanced learning content and data.” However, the backlash has intensified as authors reveal they were neither consulted nor offered any form of…

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Tilly Loves Books thanks open letter supporters over Waterstones firing

Tilly Fitzgerald, who runs Tilly Loves Books, thanked more than 500 open letter signatories after being fired by Waterstones "[It] really and truly has meant everything - not just to me, but to the #LGBTQIA+ community," she told How To Be Books

Tilly Fitzgerald, a former Waterstones employee and a prominent figure on social media for book enthusiasts, has publicly expressed her gratitude following substantial backing from the literary community in an open letter. Fitzgerald’s dismissal from the bookstore chain has sparked significant controversy and debate around freedom of expression and the responsibilities of employees on social…

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Tilly Loves Books sacked by Waterstones over gender critical author comments

Bookseller, who runs Tilly Loves Books on TikTok, sacked by Waterstones over gender critical author comments. Store now faces backlash "I was speaking of my choice to throw my own books of theirs away as I didn’t want to personally support them." #lgbt

Waterstones has faced significant criticism after dismissing a bookseller, Tilly Fitzgerald, who had declared on social media that she would “tear up and bin” the books of an author due to their views on gender issues. Why did Waterstones sack influencer Tilly Loves Books? Fitzgerald, a book influencer and Waterstones employee, used her TikTok page, Tilly Loves Books, to share book reviews. Her…

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Arnaud Lagardère re-appointed as CEO while battling embezzlement claims

Arnaud Lagardère re-appointed as CEO of #Hachette parent company while battling embezzlement claims "I am obviously delighted to be resuming my position as chief executive officer of the group that bears my name"

The board of directors of Lagardère SA, the conglomerate parent company of Hachette Livre, has unanimously reinstated Arnaud Lagardère as the chairman and chief executive officer. This announcement marks a major turn in company leadership since Lagardère stepped down from the role on April 29, replaced temporarily by Jean-Christophe Thiery. Why did Arnaud Lagardère resign? Arnaud Lagardère’s…

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Neil Gaiman denies sexual assault claims made by two women

Neil Gaiman denies sexual assault claims made by two women, saying encounters were consensual Gaiman has said New Zealand police did not accept his “offer of assistance” #NeilGaiman

Neil Gaiman, a best-selling author known for works like “The Sandman” series and the novels “Good Omens” and “American Gods,” has responded to sexual assault allegations from two women, as reported by Tortoise Media. These claims surfaced in Tortoise’s four-part podcast “Master: the Allegations Against Neil Gaiman,” which was released on a Wednesday (July 3). Warning: Contains distressing…

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Labour government welcomed by UK publishing sector

#Labour government welcomed by UK #publishing sector "We are optimistic that Labour’s recognition of the importance of the UK’s creative industries and research institutions provides a strong basis for collaboration over the coming years."

The Publishers Association has expressed its support for the new Labour government in the UK, reiterating its optimism that the political party recognises “the importance of the UK’s creative industries.” Labour government promises collaboration with publishing industry Following a landslide victory, Labour secured 412 seats, ushering in Keir Starmer as the new prime minister, ending 14 years…

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Ismail Kadare books: five top reads by Albanian author

Ismail Kadare books: five top reads by Albanian author “Bellos’s translations...first introduced English-speaking readers to the work of this great, lamented, world-class writer", says Booker Prize CEO Gaby Wood #IsmailKadare #books #Albania

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UK literary festivals call for financial support: where to donate

UK literary festivals call for financial support as Bloomsbury gives £100k: where to donate "[All] our festivals operate mixed-funding models...Without this, festivals cannot continue to thrive and engage new audiences." #Donate #BookFair

Nine prominent UK literary festivals, who cut ties with investment firm Baillie Gifford, have issued a joint statement to reiterate their indispensable role in society and to call for greater support amid funding challenges. Book festivals improve our world.And we need your support to flourish.Today we are proud to join eight other UK festivals with a message of our collective impact and shared…

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Books on suicide sold on Amazon amid serious concerns

Books on suicide sold on Amazon amid serious concerns Amazon has told us that it may sell books that "some may find objectionable" #Amazon #tech #books #MentalHealth

A recent coroner’s report has highlighted a disturbing case involving the sale of disturbing and potentially dangerous books on Amazon UK.  Amazon has said that it may sell books that “some may find objectionable”. Warning: Contains distressing content The report, issued by the coroner David Ridley, details the death of 61-year-old Deborah Jane Cooper, who died by suicide. This incident has…

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PEN Pinter Prize 2024: Arundhati Roy awarded for her 'unflinching' voice

PEN Pinter Prize 2024: Arundhati Roy awarded for her 'unflinching' voice "I wish Harold Pinter were with us today to write about the almost incomprehensible turn the world is taking," Roy said. #ArundhatiRoy

Celebrated author Arundhati Roy has been named the recipient of the 2024 PEN Pinter Prize, an award presented by English PEN in memory of Nobel Laureate Harold Pinter. The prize recognises writers of outstanding literary merit who embody Pinter’s spirit of examining the world with an “unflinching, unswerving” gaze. The award ceremony is scheduled for October 10, 2024, at the British Library,…

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Code Dependent by Madhumita Murgia: human cost of AI's data colonialism - review

Code Dependent by Madhumita Murgia: human cost of #AI's data colonialism - #review Murgia’s “Code Dependent” serves as a critique of the so-called "data colonialism" where state and corporate powers use tech to exert control over vulnerable population."

We’re all inundated with information about this profound shift in the digital world. From exciting advances in automation to the dark side of job insecurity and deepfakes, artificial intelligence has set the globe alight. Among the various essays, articles, and commentaries on AI travelling the interweb, Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction finalist Madhumita Murgia illuminates a sobering perspective on…

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Internet Archive forced to remove 500k books from digital library

Internet Archive forced to remove 500,000 books from digital library by court "We understand that this is a devastating loss for our patrons, and we are fighting back through the courts to restore access to these books." #InternetArchive #libraries

The Open Library project, a service offered by the Internet Archive, has seen a dramatic reduction in its capacity to lend digital books globally. This change follows a recent US district court decision that favoured major publishing companies in a copyright infringement lawsuit against the Internet Archive. As a result, over 500,000 e-books have been removed from availability, significantly…

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Libraries Change Lives Week on integral role in UK

Libraries Change Lives Week on its integral role in the UK "[We] wanted to show government at all levels the enormous value of libraries to their communities – locally and nationally", says CILIP CEO #LibrariesChangeLives #libraries

This week, CILIP, the library and information association, proudly hosts Libraries Change Lives Week across the UK. Aimed at illustrating the profound impact of libraries, this initiative features over 150 stories shared by librarians about their contributions to communities in various sectors. 🧭North, South, East, West – Libraries do it best!From Penzance to Shetland & Derry/Londonderry to…

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Fossil Free Books faces backlash, corporations evade scrutiny - opinion

Fossil Free Books faces backlash, while corporations evade scrutiny - opinion "All books exist within a culture dominated by power hierarchies" #books #literature #politics

“In my country, and I guess in most other places, writing is always a very political act, it cannot afford not to be,” Helon Habila, ‘Travelers’ author There’s been a swathe of arts events, festivals, and gatherings being scrutinised in recent days over their links to dubious corporations. Among these, Fossil Free Books has faced an onslaught of anger and general backlash from mainstream…