let’s barter books like tapers traded tapes

introducing project kathekon's book barter service

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Despite what Jerry says, books are magic. Full stop. But I didn’t always think so.

I hated reading as a kid. I would rather do laundry, clean dishes or pull weeds than sit and read a book. Other than a school assignment that required reading more than Cliff’s Notes or the summer when I read a few Matt Christopher books - I still remember acting like the main character in Miracle at the Plate¹ by attempting to bat cross-handed - I rarely met a book I didn’t loathe.  

That was until I lived with my sister in Queens the summer after my sophomore year of college. Filling my hour commute on the E train down to World Trade Center with a book from the library she accumulated as an English major was the jump start I needed. I read ten books that summer, and I’ve been making up for lost time ever since. 

Taking it a step further, buying used books and finding someone else’s name, their notes and underlined passages, deepens the appeal to me.  These books in particular tell two stories: that of the writer and that of the reader. So it should come as no surprise that a few months ago, after looking at the stacks (and stacks (and stacks)) of books in my living room (and office (and bedroom)), I took BG’s advice and started giving away recently read books to friends, colleagues and family members, preferably with my name, thoughts and markings throughout.

This was the genesis for project kathekon’s book barter service.  Here’s how it works:

• First, the offeror reads a book. You put your name in the front book jacket. Maybe you put the date you started and finished it. Perhaps, you add a review. You put notes in the margins. You underline.

• Next, the offeror makes a pitch. Assuming you found it worth reading, fill out this form with your name and email, the title, author, a one-word review (hyphenated words count as one), a few words about why you’re offering up the book, and a picture of the book, if you feel inclined. Don’t forget to hit submit.

• We at project kathekon will start a new thread in the book barter section with the pertinent details.  An email will go out announcing the new book. 

• Now it’s over to the community.  The prospective offeree asks for the book in the comments section with a book to barter back to the offeror. Assuming the offeror agrees, information is exchanged so the mailing of books can commence. Pro tip: Media Mail via USPS is cheap so long as you only mail a book (or tapes, for that matter).

• Missed out on the book on offer? Ask in the comments if someone else has a copy with an offer of your own and a way to get in contact with each other. We’re happy to facilitate information exchange if that helps.

• Already read it and have a thought to share? Post your thoughts in the comments.  Let’s get a conversation started.

• Oh, and offerees?  When you’re done with the book, pay it forward. You can hop back in the same thread with another copy on offer. Give it to a friend. Or a stranger (no danger). Just make sure you’ve put your name, thoughts, and review in the front. And tell them about project kathekon while you’re at it.

And there you have it. Sure, this process is slow. Yep, it’s absolutely more complicated than it needs to be.  And yes, it’s easier to just go to the local bookstore, order it, or download to your Kindle. But where’s the fun in that?  

So with this weekend being the unofficial start to summer (also known as peak reading season) and with Ralph Waldo Emerson (May 25) and Walt Whitman (May 31) having birthdays this week, it’s time to get started. I’ve put a book to barter here; what would you like to offer from your library?

1. As an affiliate of Bookshop.org (read: they are not Amazon), project kathekon will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. You’ll also help a local independent bookstore in your community.