History

[close] Reading takes you places. Where in the world will your next book take you? If you love world literature, translated works, travel writing, or exploring the world through books, you have come to the right place! ATW80 began in 2009 as a challenge on TNBBC. The separate group was established in 2011. Anyone can join and participate in the challenges or readings at any time. Challenge participation is not a requirement of joining. Anyone who loves reading books from around the world is welcome here. The main purpose of this group is to travel the world through books, experiencing new authors and cultures along the way. Want to read about the world? We have close to 50,000 books cataloged by setting and more are added each week. I personally started reading around the world in 2008. This venture has introduced me to far off lands, fresh viewpoints, and many new authors I might not have discovered otherwise. Here is a record of my travels since 2009: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/18478768-diane-s-world-travels-by-book I have worked very hard gathering resources for others to use and coming up with new activities. Please ask permission before copying and please give appropriate credit. The copycatting is getting ridiculous and tiresome. "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” - Dr. Suess “There are too many books I haven’t read, too many places I haven’t seen, too many memories I haven’t kept long enough.” ― Irwin Shaw Globe Stand Photo: Daniel Loiselle/Getty Images

[close] This global discussion group has been designed to encourage debates about important and underreported issues of our era. All you need is an enquiring mind and a desire to gain or share “underground knowledge”. This is also a place to discuss the controversial topics explored in The Underground Knowledge Series (non-fiction books) by James Morcan & Lance Morcan as well as the Underground Knowledge podcast show.

[close] Click HERE for the latest group announcements. "It reminded me of ____ but in space." "I read ____ in high school, and actually liked it." "It's like a cross between ____ and ____ with a little Harry Potter thrown in." "YOU'VE NEVER READ ____?!?" You know the drill. Your friends reference it, your husband/wife/boyfriend/girlfriend/"sort of thing?" raves about it, even your favorite movies quote it, or it IS your favorite movie but you've never read the book. This group is for those of us for whom one of the following may apply... - we have finally developed a taste for reading and are severely behind on classics; - we kindaaa, sortaaa, but actually slept through English class in high school and used Sparknotes/Hollywood remakes to write our book reports; - we buy a book that everyone is talking about and it sits on our shelf, and sits there... and sits there; - we've heard the hype and are finally getting around to reading the actual book; - we want to expand our horizons beyond the single genre we usually read and want to do so with some time-tested material; - we just plain old want to get everyone off our backs for not having read _____. Every month we'll choose three books to read: 1) a classic (that everyone has probably read but us), 2) a "modern" classic or popular book that everyone is talking about, and 3) a bookshelf catch-up in which we choose a book the group has already read to catch-up with other members.

[close] To whom it may concern: Welcome to the intellectual elite that is our books association. We represent the future of our society, and strongly believe sharing our sources of inspiration might contribute to a better world for our grandchildren, cats, and other relevant organisms. Please join (we are desperate). This is not a request, this is a threat. We know who you are. Come join the dark side. I know you secretly watch anime, now read this book on the Japanese economy. I dare you.