Today I’m going to share some digital bookstores whose business models are purpose-driven and believe in the power of books to change lives. In my last update, I revealed some changes the blog will undergo regarding the affiliate links I share in my reviews.

My series, The Woke Agenda, is a safe, non-judgemental space that aims to inform. If you’re not totally committed to shop ethically (it goes for sellers too), for any reason, know that it’s fine. In this world, it’s practically impossible to be 100% environmentally sustainable. The important part is to make conscious decisions on how you spend your money.

Go to content ↓

On ethical shopping

The obvious alternative for getting books is borrowing them from a library. They offer different formats, and you can request a book if they don’t have it in their catalogue already. Being a regular user of your local library helps them receive more funding.

While I’m no expert on ethical consumerism, I am aware of the consequences the publishing industry has on the planet: deforestation, carbon emissions, and waste. That’s not even taking into account the introduction of AI (as with everything else) and its catastrophic aftermath: air and water poisoning, mental-health repercussions, disregard for copyright in data training, etc.

“Every time you buy a product, you’re quietly funding the company behind it, and that company may be using a portion of its profits to support political candidates or causes you’d never voluntarily back at the voting booth.”

(What Does It Really Mean to Vote with Your Wallet – and Does It Actually Work? – Shop How You Vote, 2023)

Every little decision can make a difference.

If you have the opportunity, you can visit your local brick-and-mortar independent bookstore. They’ll be happy to give you a recommendation, it fosters community, and I haven’t met a reader who doesn’t love entering a physical bookstore.

Some of us don’t have that luxury. Not everyone can afford physical books, and not every store offers lesser-known titles. For people like me, who mostly reads indie books written in English in a non-English-speaking country, it’s unlikely I’ll find what I’m looking for in my local bookstore.

Most of the following options are certified to adhere to responsible business practices, working towards the betterment of our world by meeting the highest standards of social and environmental impact.

---

Buy directly from authors

Some authors prefer to sell their books directly. It might be due to distrust of bigger retailers, lower fees, or to get a curated audience. They can use sites like Gumroad, Payhip, Smashwords, Ko-fi, or another e-store of their choice.

Of course, not every author wants (or is able) to take this approach. Either they are legally constrained, or don’t want the hassle of tracking sales on other platforms. Check their website or social media to find options for where to buy their books.

---

Better World Books

This is one of the alternatives where I’ll be sharing affiliate links to. They are all for ethical business practices by fostering a safe work environment that contributes to their community, and for a sustainable model that minimizes waste by recycling or donating unsold books, while reusing packaging materials. They also invest their proceeds to fund literacy around the world.

→ Better World Books

---

Libro.fm

With their 100% employee-owned company, this audiobook retailer partners with local bookstores worldwide to make an economic impact in communities. You can even choose an independent bookstore to support!

They amplify excluded voices and diverse representation by featuring a Banned Books section on their website, where they share books, resources, and organizations to help others join the fight against book bans. I commend their commitment to accessibility by offering only DRM-free books and working to improve the usability of their app and website for people with screen readers or other assistive technologies.

→ Libro.fm

---

Bookshop.org

Although they currently ship only to the US and UK, you can buy ebooks and audiobooks in their online store. Pick a local bookstore to support, or contribute to the sharing pool. This will be my go-to for affiliate links as I’ve found more indie ebooks on their site than other options since they sell titles from Draft2Digital and IngramSpark. I’m also curating some recommendations lists in there!

→ Bookshop.org

---

xigxag

Another audiobook bookstore; they offer no subscription and an innovative pricing model of “the more you read, the less you pay”, reducing the price of an audiobook depending on how many you’ve purchased in the year. Their exclusive technology lets you share audio quotes and navigate books in an integrated text, images, and audio format.

→ xigxag

---

Second-hand books

For those who cannot resist the feel of a physical book, not a particular site, but some online shops where you can give used and rare books a second life instead of ending up in landfill.

• Biblio: They offer carbon-offsetting on all orders, and bring literacy around the world through their non-profit: BiblioWorks.
• Oxfam Books: While not exclusive to books, selling second-hand albums, homeware and clothing, they sell thousands of books through their online store. They work with partners in over 80 countries to fight injustice and poverty.
• World of Books: A carbon-neutral alternative that supports “causes that boost literacy and protect the planet”.
• Awesome Books: They believe businesses should be inherently environmentally sustainable; they donate books to those in need and fund reading programs in schools.
• ThriftBooks: The self-proclaimed “largest online independent used bookseller” donates books to schools, nonprofits, and communities rebuilding after natural disasters.

---

Offer an honest review

Reviews help books get visibility; they are great for authors to find their intended readers.

If you are an avid reader, you can always opt for requesting ARCs and reviewing them. This can usually be done through review sites, like NetGalley or BookSirens, but some authors might offer digital (or even physical) ARCs directly. Don’t be afraid to approach your favorite indie author, especially if you’ve already reviewed some of their works before; they’d be glad to get their book into your hands.

---

If you wish to contribute to the series, contact me via email at tinyelfarcanist@gmail.com.

---