Dear friends,

I don’t know about you, but I spent my summer talking. 

I talked to friends, old and new; I talked to family, old and new, and I talked, of course, to customers, old and new. 

Summer offers up those early mornings, long lunches and late nights that allow for a different kind of conversation. Conversations you can start over your first cup of coffee, pause (ideally to read a book) and pick back up later; conversations where there is ample time and opportunity to have one opinion at the start and end up somewhere completely different hours or even days later.

This made me think of the much discussed and, in some corners, much mourned ‘lost art of conversation’. How we seem to have lost the interest in and, as a consequence, the ability to have honest and at times difficult conversations with people with whom we disagree. Instead, we have resigned to taking residence in our own ‘bubbles’, placing ourselves voluntarily and comfortably within the safe confines of our own opinions, choosing not to confront and challenge others - or indeed ourselves. 

In ancient Greece and Rome - cradles of our democracy - debate was not only accepted, but strongly encouraged, even paid for. In Socrates’ words (ish), truth was to be sought through questioning and debate for how else could we hope to become enlightened enough to make the right decision. ‘The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing’, he said, understanding that true knowledge only starts when you accept how much you still have to learn.  

With the increasingly narrow choices served up by algorithms and AI, our bubbles are becoming increasingly impenetrable, creating a reality where, ‘if this is all I’m seeing, this must be all that’s out there, and therefore most people must be agreeing with me’, which in turn makes the inevitable bubble burst that comes with hearing ‘the other side’ so much more shocking, divisive, and to many, worth avoiding at all cost.

Whether out of fear or complacency, we are increasingly shying away from truly engaging with friends and family with opposing views to ours, choosing comfort over confrontation, not realizing that a few minutes of - perhaps heated - debate can lead to a lifetime of better understanding.

We are all guilty of falling for the easy way out, especially in a world where we are made to feel that there are dangers lurking around every corner, so, this summer, I decided to dip my toe into the ice cold, at times treacherous, waters of disagreement and discuss thoughts and ideas so comfortable and reasonable inside my own mind, but much more tricky when faced by the ‘opposition’.

It seems to me that genuine advocacy for change must involve sitting with the discomfort of strong opposition and showing a willingness (and an ability) not just to stand one’s ground but also to listen and make the shift when the opposing argument is simply stronger than yours. Such endeavors take practice.

How did it go, you ask? Do I have any friends and family left to talk to? Well, I am happy (and relieved) to report that on the other side of those awkward conversations, tense silences and strong comebacks, we found ourselves more educated on the topics we discussed, more knowledgable about each other, and, joyfully, in closer relationships.

Highly recommend!

Dear friends,

In a recent interview, Anders Ladekarl, head of The Danish Red Cross, now retiring after 19 years at the helm of the organization, was asked what he felt had most changed since his early beginnings in the field 25 years ago.

He replied without hesitation, ‘the sense of altruism’. Once readily present, now elusive at best. 

Where once we lent a helping hand out of a sense of commitment to our fellow human beings, it is now entirely permissable to offer aid if, and only if, it is economically and politically beneficial to us.

So have we all just up and become more selfish, or are there bigger issues at play here?

The German sociologist Hartmut Rosa argues that modern life with its rapid and relentless acceleration in everything from communication to transportation has resulted in ‘a fundamental feeling of alienation, where the world feels cold, indifferent, and solely something to be managed or conquered’. 

He posits in his theory of resonance that some of these feelings of alienation are due to a lack of resonance in our lives — the lack of a genuine, responsive relationship to the world, one in which we are touched by it and answer it in turn.

And herein lies perhaps the (optimistic) answer to the question posed above.

What if the loss of altruism so acutely felt by those in need isn’t the inevitable result of increasing selfishness, but is due ‘simply’ to the fact that we have lost our way; that we have given up so much for what we are now realizing is so little? 

Rosa’s theory has as much to do with our own malaise as it does with the knock-on effects on others, and he believes that a solution can be found in the (re)cultivation of deep relationships with ourselves, others, the natural world, and society.

So as we turn off the computer, switch on the auto response, and pack our bags in pursuit of rest and relaxation, perhaps we can include, along with the books and the sunscreen, a healthy dose of Hartmut Rosa resonance theory. 

That one 'simple 'summer accessory might be just what we need to reconnect not only with what matters to us, but also with what matters to those most in need.

Happy summer and see you at the shop!

Dear friends,

Can you imagine? 

When we opened our doors on this day in May 2009, there was no such thing as Instagram. We relied entirely on word of mouth to get customers into the shop, and guess what, it worked! 

Here we are, seventeen years later, in a book business that’s been pronounced dead more times than I care to recall, yet thankfully, to quote the great writer Mark Twain: ‘The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated’.

And not just that. As befits a newly minted 17-year old, we are apparently hipper than ever.

Any young actor, musician, model and influencer worth their salt has a bookclub, promotes books, and walks the streets of New York, Paris and London carrying a bookshop tote. Harry Styles recently declared that he would only grace the cover of Runners World magazine if interviewed by Haruki Murakami himself; Dua Lipa’s book choices are known the world over, and everyone wants to spend time in Reese Witherspoon’s bookclub orbit. 

Reading has become, in a word, glamorous. 

So what is going on? 

Well, based on extensive research conducted over many years in a small independent bookshop on a quiet side street in the suburbs of Copenhagen, it seems clear that while cheap prices, convenience and technology may be here to stay, we are rapidly realising that the one thing they cannot deliver is joy. The mesmerizing one click ease of being able to do everything from the comfort of your own home in leisure wear is slowly but surely losing its magic and being replaced by loneliness, estrangement, and a need for connection.

Enter: the local independent bookshop!

Done well, we deliver on good books, good stories, good people, and good community. 

We deliver, in a word, joy!

The past seventeen years have seen us grow from one bookclub to twelve, from monthly events to weekly ones, from the few orders that fit on one handwritten page to the many orders that now require the use of Google sheets. 

Strangers have become friends, and a bookshop has become home. 

Much more important than what we do, however, is what you do. You give us your time, your support, and your loyalty. You drop by, you text, you send emails, and, sometimes even, letters and postcards. You appreciate our help, look to us for recommendations, and take the time to chat. You share your life stories, easy and hard, funny and sad, and we cherish it all.

We wouldn’t be here without you. Thank you!

So, while AI may be coming for us all, there is no doubt in our minds - or in the minds of trendsetters and instagrammers across the globe -  that the stories we share, the books we read, and the communities they create are making this a great time to be alive!

Thank you for being a part of the Books & Company family and, as always, we look forward to seeing you at the shop!

Isabella and your friendly team at Books & Company

Dear friends,

On January 1, 2026 I asked ChatGPT : 

What is the value of a bookshop?

It answered:

The value of a bookshop can be understood in a few different ways, and proceeded to break it down into points of economic, cultural, educational, social, personal, and symbolic value, finally concluding that:

In short, a bookshop is valuable not just for selling books, but for nurturing minds, strengthening communities, and keeping culture alive. If you’re asking for this in a specific context (essay, economics, business valuation, or literature analysis), I can tailor the answer to that.

AI had done its job, and while I was indeed asking in a specific context, I didn’t need a tailored answer.

The arrival of a new year offers more than the promise of the new. It presents us with an opportunity to reflect, to take stock, to consider where we are, how we got here, and whether this is indeed where we want to be. 

For far too long, we have played fast and loose, with ideals, values, and beliefs, feeling that economic prosperity was all that mattered. The past year has shown with blinding clarity that arriving at the brink, be it of war, of democracy, or (various degrees) of societal breakdown, can shake us to the core, but it can also steady the hand. Many of us are fearful, resorting to apathy, ripe for polarization, but we could choose instead to consider what really matters; what our values are, who we want to be in the world, and what we believe is worth fighting for. Steady our hand. 

This is our chance to press the reset button, not just reevaluate, but to reach further; break free from routine thought, stop settling for what we know, and start taking risks to not merely improve upon what we have, but to invent the new. It is our chance to stop being paralyzed by fear, but instead be galvanized by determination, courage, and passion. The possibilities are endless, for the betterment of lives, for the betterment of nature, for a redirection of our collective moral compass.

I am not in the prediction business. For that I have missed the mark way too often, and if 2025 has taught me anything, it is that all bets are off. But if I were, my crystal ball might well reveal a (re)focus on values; around dinner tables and conference tables; in town halls and board rooms; among local politicians and global leaders; in books, and in bookshops. 

Which brings us back to the question I asked ChatGPT. 

Epictetus, the stoic philosopher, who could never in his wildest dreams have imagined any such thing as ‘the Chat’ said:

It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters,

so as I consider, on behalf of Books & Company, our values and position, my hope for 2026 is that in reaction to the tumult around us, we continue to serve our community as best we can, that we remain open and inclusive, tolerant and trustworthy. 

That we continue to raise the bar for selling books, for nurturing minds, strengthening communities, and keeping culture alive. 

Happy New Year!

Isabella and your friendly team at Books & Company

If ever you’ve struggled to find love in your life (and who hasn’t), you know what it feels like when everyone around you seems to be head over heels; if you’ve ever stumbled through darkness, you know what it feels like when everyone around you seems lit up from inside, and if your purpose in life is escaping you, you know what it feels like to look around and see everyone living their best lives. 

Some of what you’re seeing is true, and some is indeed ‘fake news’, but one thing is certain, none of us are spared hardship of one kind or another, at one time or another, and focusing on what we have to be grateful for, however challenging, is always a worthwhile pursuit. 

So this week, as we look forward to Thanksgiving, and the holiday season beyond, we are reminded of all that is good in our lives, and if you are reading this newsletter, chances are your basket is at least half full.

At Books & Company, we were fortunate enough, last week, to spend time at the World Conference on Lung Health. (Yes, I know, pretty niche, even for a small independent English language bookshop in Denmark:-)

We were there to promote authors and sell their books, and while sales were brisk, and we were lucky to have with us one of those rare stars of the publishing world, John Green of ‘Fault in our Stars’ fame, and a ‘runaway bestseller’ on Tuberculosis, it turned out that the greatest experience lay not in our proximity to fame, but in the meeting with the delegates.

Every single person at the conference had either researched, helped find a cure for, nursed, cured, protected, defended, fundraised, fought, raised awareness for, or themselves overcome, severe illness. Illnesses, in particular Tuberculosis, for which there has been a cure for decades, but from which millions of people continue to perish. 

It was truly awe-inspiring to be surrounded by human beings who dedicate their lives, often for very low pay, and sometimes at very high risk, to the wellbeing of others. They all, in each their way, care for those among us that most of us rarely even think about. The poor, the sick, the disenfranchised, the voiceless, the powerless, and the stigmatized. 

It is easy, in the face of such dedication, to feel inadequate, but the more acute sense last week, thanks to an impressive generosity of spirit, was one of deep gratitude. To quote John Green: “I’ve had a very privileged life because of a birth lottery, and I try to be conscious about it”. 

So this year, along with an immense gratitude for the wonderful community of book lovers that I am so very fortunate to be a part of, I am grateful for the many people around the world who do the good, the immeasurable, and the immeasurably good work of caring for those who cannot care for themselves. 

In an ideal world, gratitude goes hand in hand with aspiration, so I will end my ‘Thanksgiving letter’ with a quote from the late, great, Mahatma Ghandi, shared by Vidya Krishnan, another author at the conference:

“Whenever you are in doubt…..recall the face of the poorest and the most helpless man whom you may have seen and ask yourself if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him….Then you will find your doubts melting away.”

Ghandi’s virtuous words may seem unachievable, but they can help us be conscious of the birth lottery that has given us the life we are privileged to lead.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Welcome back! We hope you have had a wonderful summer of rest, relaxation, and reading, of course.

The shop has, as always, been open all summer, and we have so enjoyed being a watering hole for you as you dipped in and out of the neighborhood, returning from a trip, or embarking on one. Thank you for sharing all your fun, funny, and fantastic stories of summer with us.

As well as our 'regular' friends, we have welcomed numerous new customers - in the shop and online. We have met people from as far away as Indonesia, Toronto, Japan and Kenya (some arrived in minibuses); lovely people who had read about us in guidebooks or found us online, as well as newly arrived singles, couples, and most recently, families with young kids, all arriving in time to adjust to the world famous work/life balance afforded by our little country to the north.

We have had customers who found us by accident, such as a friendly Floridian couple just off a cruise ship, doing laundry at the laundromat next door. She trying to figure out where in the world she had landed, he reminiscing about the summer after his return from the Vietnam war when he enjoyed working in a bookstore before joining his father's business to get through college.

And we have had customers who sought us out deliberately such as a lovely young couple from Mexico City who had flown into Berlin, picked up their rental camper van, and set off on a three month tour of Europe. They stocked up on books for their trip, and we gave them tips for where to eat (obviously), what to see, and where to shower! We hope we did justice to their motto:

'Always start your trip in a new city with a visit to a bookshop'.

We couldn't agree more!

As for your booksellers, well, we have read books, made iced drinks, ordered new titles for Fall (so much fun stuff coming), and plotted and planned events and surprises (more on those later:).

The Fall event schedule kicks off on Wednesday, September 17th, and we cannot wait to welcome you and our wonderful roster of speakers. Check them out and add it all to your calendars. You won't want to miss these great talks that we hope will inspire and enthuse. 

Kind regards,
Isabella and your friendly team at Books & Company

A few weeks ago we received five boxes of books that looked strangely unfamiliar. We receive books every day, and for the most part we know exactly what’s being delivered, but on that day in April we looked around to see who might have placed this order. Turns out, the books weren’t for us at all, but for a bookshop in Nairobi, Kenya. Hence the unfamiliarity.

Our first thought, let’s see if we can get these to their intended destination. No luck. The bookshop couldn’t be reached, and after a brief exchange with the publisher the decision was made that it would be too costly to return the books. Now what?

Well, they say everything happens for a reason........

Our bookshop is small, but we go to great lengths to curate diversely and inclusively. We cannot cover the world, all its beauty and all its ills, but we try. However, receiving books meant for a bookshop in Nairobi made us think that perhaps we do not always try hard enough, at least not when it comes to authors and countries we know little about, such as those on the African continent. 

For years we have been conditioned to look towards Anglo-Saxon and European literature, and perhaps in particular towards the Brits and the Americans. Well, the shifting tectonic plates we are attempting to steady ourselves upon these days are a reminder that nothing lasts forever, and the future (or at least part of it) may very well lie elsewhere. 

According to projections from The World Economic Forum, by the year 2100, thirteen of the largest megacities in the world will be in Africa, with Lagos, Kinshasa and Dar es Salaam as the top three with 88.3 million, 83.5 million and 73.7 million residents respectively. 

So what are we waiting for? Let us get to know these countries, their people and their cultures better. 

Inspired by the contents of those five boxes we invite you to check out our new window display, which obviously barely even scratches the surface of what is a fascinating, deep and diverse treasure of literature from countries we so often tend to see only through a Western lens.

Thank you to the bookshop in Nairobi for opening our eyes and helping us look out!

Warm regards,

Isabella and your friendly team at Books & Company

Dear friends,

Happy Tuesday, happy return to daily life.
We hope you have enjoyed a restful, perhaps even (slightly) unplugged, Spring break with time to get through some of your 'to be read' pile.

Many of us re-emerge from the quiet with the realisation that there are many ways of navigating 'the madness of King T...', ranging from total isolation to complete immersion. However, if you find yourself somewhere in the middle, as most of us do, chances are you also find yourself seeking balance and truth. 

At Books & Company, we see ourselves not merely as purveyors of excellent books, as incredibly valuable as that is, but also as providers of content and community. We take pride in creating an environment of dialogue and understanding, regardless of subject and severity, and almost 16 years of experience has shown beyond a shadow of a doubt that that is what people most crave. A space to learn, to listen, to laugh, and to discuss.

Our goal is to ensure our events are as relevant as possible to as many as possible, and sometimes, like now, the stars align and our roster of upcoming events becomes a true reflection of this particular moment in time, covering subjects ranging from prisons to science, from podcasts to climate, and from the digital lives of children to last, but certainly not least, the defense of human rights across the globe.

We are so very grateful to the wonderful authors, experts, and speakers who take the time to help us inform our wonderful community of curious and kind listeners. Thank you!

For more information and to sign up, please click on the events below or go to booksandcompany.dk.

We hope you will join us, and as always, we look forward to seeing you at the shop.

Kind regards,
Isabella and your friendly team at Books & Company