Why Books Still Matter: Honoring Joyce Meskis by Karl Weber

If books didn’t matter, nobody would try to ban them.

In a nation struggling to cope with polarization, disinformation, acrimony, the power of books—to inform, enlighten, and inspire—is more important than ever. To honor Joyce Meskis, the legendary bookseller who founded Denver’s Tattered Cover and became a champion of First Amendment freedoms, a team including some of today’s leading publishers, booksellers, authors, and free speech activists offers reflections on the vital role of books in our nation’s cultural, civic, social, and economic life.

Why Books Still Matter U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper on bookselling as a mission-driven form of entrepreneurship—a way of nurturing communities and enriching culture while helping city economies flourishFreedom of speech activist Chris Finan on a century of battles against censorship and the crucial role of books and booksellers in defending libertyBook marketing guru Carl Lennertz on how a generation of innovative booksellers transformed the magical process by which authors and readers discover one anotherBookseller Clara Villarosa on creating one of the nation's greatest Black-owned bookstores—and why representation on the printed page is so important for Americans of every backgroundLibrarians Nick Higgins and Amy Mikel on why they decided to make banned books available to young people from communities across the U.S.—and how they did itCivil liberties attorney Steve Zansberg on a new way to think about the right to free expression and its vital role in a democratic societyBookseller Carole Horne on how independent bookstores from Cambridge to Austin to Salt Lake City pioneered the "buy local" movement, glorifying what makes every city and town unique. . . and other noteworthy figures from the worlds of publishing and bookselling providing unique insights into the glorious past, the embattled present, and the essential future of books. All proceeds will be donated to the American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom.

“It’s hard to imagine a more powerful tribute to [Joyce Meskis’s] life. Readers who want to honor Joyce Meskis, or who simply are passionate themselves about books and reading, will luxuriate in this essay collection.”—Publishers Weekly BookLife

"Consistently engaging and approachable. Those inside the book business will find here a valuable analysis of their trade, while those on the outside are given an accessible introduction to the industry. An impressive, fitting tribute to an iconoclastic bookseller.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Why Books Still Matter is a paean to bookstores and their readers, written by wise industry leaders who are brilliant business people, know that words and ideas are powerful and community dialogue can change the world, and have courageously supported freedom of expression in their own cities. It will deepen any book lover’s devotion to the power of words and books.”—Gayle Shanks, Founder & Co-Owner, Changing Hands Bookstores

"Believing that booksellers were bound to their own version of the Hippocratic oath—as fierce protectors of the First Amendment—Joyce Meskis was a superhero for the reading community. Her legacy blazes on in all of us who are determined to read widely and freely—and in the pages of this remarkable book.