The Read Well Podcast

Episode 109: Why Bookstores Matter in a Digital World
Host: Eddy Hood
Date: August 25, 2025

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt episode, Eddy Hood explores the enduring importance of bookstores in today's digital-centric world. Inspired by his own journey to launch a brick-and-mortar location for Edgewater Bookstore, Eddy shares a personal essay on what bookstores mean for individuals and communities. He wraps up with a standout book recommendation, a progress update on his bookstore project, and a sneak peek at next week's exploration of Ralph Waldo Emerson's note-taking systems.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Mini-Essay: Why Bookstores Matter (00:45 – 06:28)

• Bookstores as Community Hubs

  • Bookstores offer a sense of transformation and belonging unmatched by other types of stores.
  • "A bookstore is more than four walls and many books. It's the place we go as a community to find ourselves." — Eddy Hood (01:10)
  • Walking into a bookstore can give you permission to set aside everyday worries and instead embark on your own intellectual or imaginative adventure.

• An Antidote to Modern Isolation

  • In an age where remote work and digital interaction dominate, Eddy emphasizes how bookstores foster essential in-person human connections.
  • "Our communities are losing sight of what it means to be a community. We've separated ourselves with Zoom meetings, artificial intelligence, and social media...sitting by ourselves, wondering why we feel sad and overworked." — Eddy Hood (03:55)

• Bookstores as Places of Self-Discovery and Healing

  • The act of browsing, selecting, and reading a book in a physical space is depicted as transformative, even therapeutic.
  • “Somehow bookstores mend my soul and make things right with the world.” — Eddy Hood (06:10)

2. Book Recommendation: The Best Poems of the English Language Edited by Harold Bloom (06:30 – 10:05)

• Why This Book?

  • A curated treasury of English poetry spanning Chaucer to Robert Frost, selected and introduced by acclaimed Yale professor Harold Bloom.
  • Eddy praises the thoughtful introductory section, “The Art of Reading Poetry,” as an accessible guide for both poetry newcomers and aficionados.

• Bloom's Approach

  • The anthology is organized by poet, each with background on the poet and contextual notes for key works.
  • "You may or may not agree with Bloom, but he has many great poems in here...a very nice companion if you'd like to dig into some poems you've always wanted to learn or read throughout your life." — Eddy Hood (09:20)

• Book Details

  • Over 900 pages; originally $24.99; Eddy bought his copy at Barnes & Noble.

3. Edgewater Bookstore Update & Kickstarter Campaign (10:07 – 14:12)

• Moving from Online to Physical Space

  • After a year of successful online operations, Eddy is pursuing a physical store, motivated by a potential property that became available.

• Kickstarter Overview

  • Crowdfunding goal: $25,000 in 30 days; $5,000 raised in the first 24 hours.
  • Personal investment: $100,000 from Eddy; commercial loans require a larger down payment, hence the campaign.
  • “A Kickstarter campaign is all or nothing...if we as a community achieve the goal, then your pledges are captured and Edgewater will be able to make that down payment.” — Eddy Hood (11:47)

• Donor Incentives

  • Six giving tiers, each with unique rewards:
    • Reading lists (e.g., “89 books I would buy if I were starting my home library over”)
    • Access to online deep reading courses

4. Upcoming Episode Preview: Emerson's Note-Taking System (14:14 – 16:38)

• Introduction to Ralph Waldo Emerson

  • American poet and leader of the Transcendentalist movement, renowned for promoting self-reliance and personal authenticity.

• Teaser for Next Week

  • Eddy will discuss how Emerson filled and indexed over 260 journals, extracting ideas for his speeches and writing.
  • Books informing the episode: Mind on Fire (Emerson biography) and First We Read, Then We Write (about Emerson's note-taking).
  • “If you have been at your desk or thinking about your own notebook taking system and you feel maybe a little disorganized...next week I’m going to be sharing what I’ve learned as I’ve studied the Emerson note taking system.” — Eddy Hood (16:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Magic of Bookstores:
  “A bookstore is more than four walls and many books. It's the place we go as a community to find ourselves.”
  — Eddy Hood (01:10)

• On Community and Isolation:
  “We use these tools [technology and social media] from our cubicles and our living rooms, sitting by ourselves, wondering why we feel sad and overworked. I often feel sad and overworked.”
  — Eddy Hood (04:25)

• On Bookstores Healing and Self-Discovery:
  “At your bookstore, no one is forcing you to become something that you’re not. You get to choose your own adventure as you meander through the aisles...”
  — Eddy Hood (02:30)

• On Poetry and Harold Bloom:
  “Bloom walks you through sort of his strategy for thinking about this figurative language and how to make the most of of these great works.”
  — Eddy Hood (08:05)

• On Building Edgewater Bookstore with the Community:
  “So far it’s going well...the generous listeners in this community have already helped by donating $5,000, which is just blowing my mind.”
  — Eddy Hood (12:30)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:45 — Mini-Essay: Why Bookstores Matter
• 06:30 — Book Recommendation: The Best Poems of the English Language
• 10:07 — Edgewater Bookstore Update and Kickstarter Details
• 14:14 — Next Week’s Preview: Emerson’s Note-Taking System

Tone and Style

Eddy’s voice is warm, passionate, and reflective, blending practical information with a sincere love of books and the reading life. His personal anecdotes and inclusive language (“we as a community”) create a feeling of genuine connection with listeners.

Summary Takeaway

Eddy Hood passionately advocates for the irreplaceable role of bookstores as sanctuaries and community builders in an increasingly digital and isolated society. Through a personal essay, a thoughtfully chosen book recommendation, and transparent sharing about his new bookstore’s journey, he invites listeners to rediscover the magic of physical spaces and reading together—while teasing a practical, inspiration-packed episode on Emerson’s legendary note-taking system for next week.