The ThriftBooks Blog

By Ashly Moore Sheldon • January 01, 2020

Happy New Decade! We are embarking on a brand-new era. It may seem a bit arbitrary, but we humans like to retrospectively infuse these tidy ten-year periods with distinct personalities. Here we review the character of the last five decades and make some guesses about how the 2020s will be remembered.

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By Ashly Moore Sheldon • November 22, 2019

On this day in 1819, the prominent author Mary Ann Evans was born. But you may not have heard of her because her books were published using the pseudonym George Eliot. And she’s not alone. There’s a long history of famous women writers who adopted male pen names.

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By Ashly Moore Sheldon • September 02, 2019

Labor Day is more than just the last hurrah of summer. It is meant to honor and celebrate those who work—which is most of us. The day is also a time to reflect on worker's rights. This blog post focuses specifically on the history of women and girls working in America and the challenges they have faced.

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By Ashly Moore Sheldon • August 14, 2019

Woodstock 2019 might be cancelled, but that doesn't mean we can't celebrate the 50th anniversary of the renowned 1969 music festival. Woodstock was more than just a concert. It is a cultural touchstone, emblematic of the peace-loving, youth movement for change the 1960s and 70s.

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By Ashly Moore Sheldon • July 02, 2019

We hear a lot these days about how divided the US is, and it's true that politically we seem to be struggling to find common ground, so for our nation’s birthday this week we made a list of 10 American things that we hope everyone can enjoy!

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By Beth Clark • March 06, 2019

Hedy Lamarr wasn't just an actress who made history, she was a brilliant woman who shaped the future with her inventions. US Patent 2,292,387 in particular…the technology that made cell phones, WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth, and more possible. Read on for more about the exceptional woman you'll want to thank the next time you get a text. (Unless it's from someone lame, but that's on them, not Hedy.)

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By Beth Clark • March 02, 2019

The Women's History Month theme this year is "Visionary Women: Champions of Peace & Nonviolence" but March celebrates all women, including the 8 below who are champions of peace, persistence, and empowerment. (And nonviolent unless you count J.K. Rowling's stinging Twitter clapbacks, but we're not).

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By Beth Clark • February 20, 2019

Black history IS history, and Black History Month is a time to celebrate both contemporary and traditional black history, beginning with a nod to Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the scholar who established what we now celebrate in an effort to collect, document, and backfill all of the history that was missing because it never made it into the books. Below are 14 scientists, mathematicians, and engineers who have made significant contributions to furthering the human race for people of all color.

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By Beth Clark • February 08, 2019

Literary-themed bars across the US beg the question: Are you really alone if you're with the spirit(s) of your favorite authors or books? We don't think so. (And we're betting you've taken a book into a bar before.) Below are 9 establishments bookworms can drink their books in or even borrow one from the bar's library to read while sipping a cocktail.

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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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