Category: Books

Our Top Recommend: The Threat: How the FBI Protects America in the Age of Terror and Trump

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51wCdKxOJhL._SX329_BO1,204,203,200_On March 16, 2018, just twenty-six hours before his scheduled retirement from the organization he had served with distinction for more than two decades, Andrew G. McCabe was fired from his position as deputy director of the FBI. President Donald Trump celebrated on Twitter: “Andrew McCabe FIRED, a great day for the hard working men and women of the FBI – A great day for Democracy.”

A New York Times #1 Bestseller, Author and Former Deputy FBI Director, Andrew G. McCabe writes “In The Threat: How the FBI Protects America in the Age of Terror and Trump, Andrew G. McCabe offers a dramatic and candid account of his career, and an impassioned defense of the FBI’s agents, and of the institution’s integrity and independence in protecting America and upholding our Constitution”.

The Threat recounts in compelling detail the time between Donald Trump’s November 2016 election and McCabe’s firing, set against a page-turning narrative spanning two decades when the FBI’s mission shifted to a new goal: preventing terrorist attacks on Americans. But as McCabe shows, right now the greatest threat to the United States comes from within, as President Trump and his administration ignore the law, attack democratic institutions, degrade human rights, and undermine the U.S. Constitution that protects every citizen.

Some of the compelling reviews on this book talks on:

In this new book, the author defines how the FBI tries it’s best to protect America on terrorism  and the credibility of the Intelligence service while facing it’s own threats in maintaining it’s very embodied purpose in the age of the Trump presidency.

We give this book five stars for 2019.

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Our Holiday Choice, “Amber Brown Is on the Move”

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51k8Y4gio4L._SX309_BO1,204,203,200_  Amber Brown is On The Move 

Can’t believe the season is almost here just about when the talked about US Mid Term Elections concluded yesterday, Nov. 6, 2018.

Now it’s back to the wish and shopping list in time for the Holidays of 2018.  As we celebrate the diversity and the huge turn out of the youth in the recent concluded elections, it’s time to prepare our kids for the festivities and educate them of the historic process. After all, our kids are our future leaders in the next generation.

We love reading the Amber Brown series with kids when they visit our bookstore! It is a perfect series to discuss real life situations and it way that simplifies intense subjects for young children. We are down to the last few books in the series and I have to admit I will be sad to let Amber go. Through books and he Amer Series as an example, we empower our children of understanding life realities in an easier manner for them to understand.   Great for discussion and for inspiring children to reach within themselves for personal essays.

Bruce Coville author of this book as a young reader  loved Mary Poppins and Dr. Dolittle, and had fond memories of rising ahead of the rest of his family so he could huddle in a chair and read THE VOYAGES OF DR. DOLITTLE. He also read lots of things that people consider junk (Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Tom Swift, and zillions of comic books). His only real regret is the time he spent watching television, when he could have been reading instead. (A mind is a terrible thing to waste!) Just like today’s television counterpart our our tech toys and smart devices, it still important that we educate our kids through reading interesting books.

Watch out our Amber Series as well as selected juvenile fiction and non-fiction bestsellers at ADLE International

We have most of these books on the lowest price deals, free shipping and surprised discount deals this holiday shopping 2018.  And most of all checked out the great rare classics which you may not even think still exist out there.

Happy Shopping this 2018 Holidays.

Our Team at your service.

Ci6 Keynote Speaker Chelsea Clinton on Teaching Kids the Value of Persistence

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Source: Ci6 Keynote Speaker Chelsea Clinton on Teaching Kids the Value of Persistence

The daughter of former President Bill Clinton and 2016 presidential contender Hillary Clinton, Chelsea Clinton is the author of the number-one New York Times bestselling picture book She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World, which received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, and She Persisted Around the World: 13 Women Who Changed History (both Philomel). Clinton is also the author of the New York Times bestselling It’s Your World: Get Informed, Get Inspired & Get Going! (Puffin Books) and, with Devi Sridhar, Governing Global Health: Who Runs the World and Why? (Oxford University Press).

On October 2, Clinton, who serves as the vice chair of the Clinton Foundation, where her initiatives include helping to empower the next generation of leaders, will publish Start Now! You Can Make a Difference (Philomel), a middle-grade title for young activists.

Muscatine is the owner of Politics and Prose with her husband, ABA Board member Bradley Graham. A former Washington Post reporter and White House speech writer during the Clinton administration, Muscatine is currently writing Hillaryland, her story about working with Hillary Clinton, to be published by Penguin Press.

At the Thursday, June 21, breakfast, following Muscatine’s introduction, Clinton thanked booksellers in the audience, some of whom she recognized from her previous book tours. “I’m so grateful to all of you because without your support and partnership, I wouldn’t be able to have the reach that I hope to have with the work that I feel called to do and the obligation that I feel to children in our country,” she said.

The first time the two met was when Muscatine worked for Hillary Clinton; Chelsea Clinton was just 13 years old and living in the White House. At the time, Muscatine received some impassioned advice from Hillary on raising her kids to be readers: “Your mother was fierce, relentless, incessantly reminding me to read to my children — constantly. She badgered us and others who had children along with me in the White House; she would constantly be sending us books and CDs…Not that I wouldn’t have [read to my kids], but it was so important for me to hear it from her. So I was wondering, when you had Charlotte, did she do the same thing to you?”

Chelsea Clinton’s daughter, Charlotte, is now three years old, and her son, Aidan, is two. She said her mother inculcated her with the same message about the importance of reading to kids and making sure they grow up in a language-rich environment.

“I do think that the stories we tell our children are profoundly important for how we help them either expand or limit their world and how they think about their own possibilities within our world and our shared future,” Clinton said.

Affordablebooksonline Goes Mobile

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Contact: Carlos Rodiriguez

ADLE International

Phone 415-874-5637

Fax 415-252-7961

info@affordable-booksonline.com

 818 SW 3rd Ave. Ste. 284

Portland, OR 97204

 ADLE International

Press Release

Affordablebooksonline, our flagship website 15 years ago goes live as a Mobile Friendly Website

The wait is over to rewrite and convert our web scripts.

Portland, OR, February 11, 2018:  Two years took to rewrite html, java, csv scripts and themes to enable our flagship store, http://www.affordable-booksonline.com. It was the longest ever compared to our online portfolio of websites @adlegroup. We could have just defuncted the site but founder, Alex Esguerra patiently waited for its conversion to the mobile enabled e-commerce world today. At the height of it’s launched in the early 2000, web traffic was averaging 3000 visits a day. We then lost ranking as the internet online websites all were structured to be mobile enabled viewing them on smart devices like iPhone, iPad, tablets and android devices,

It will take some time for us to take the traction again, Sarah Walker, Director of Retail Operations writes in an inter-office memo to the team. Recapturing back the huge customer base will take time but we are ready to the challenge while we also slowly add new website content. For now at least our inventory and order management is real time daily.

Our avid followers and likers at: https://www.facebook.com/affordablebooksonline whom were the ones pushing for the change are the reason why we patiently waited two years to convert the website. Moving forward in 2018 and beyond, we will mix our books with new, used and vintage conditions in gearing towards the vision of “affordable books” even to limited earners. Know your contact’s name, telephone, fax, and email

Wishes the http://www.affordablebooksonline.com team big hugs and welcome to the mobile world.

The Civil War Revisited on “American Oracle”

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americanAmerican Oracle

August 28, 1963, a century after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, Martin Luther King, Jr., declared, “One hundred years later, the Negro still is not free.”  David W. Blight’s richly interpretive American Oracle contextualizes the sentimentalized celebration of the Civil War in the early 1960s within the tense realities of the civil rights era and the Cold War. Blight unravels the complexities of Civil War memory and meaning at a time when most white Americans considered restoration of the Union, not emancipation, as the war’s grand result. (John David Smith Charlotte Observer 2011-09-25)

The author cited May 17, 1962 when Martin Luther King, Jr. who then was the head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) sent an open letter to President Kennedy for a National Rededication to the Principles of Emancipation Proclamation. He also asked that an Executive Order Prohibiting Segregation  in the United States. For King he was appealing deep to history and memory.

As we celebrate “Independence Day” as we remember our forefathers on how they have fought for freedom, let us also remember what Civil Rights activist like Dr. King fought for, Inequality still exist and we have to be forever vigilant in the ideals of true freedom where every American has equal rights in this country.

The current and present events that prevail such as fight for equal pay, gender neutral work opportunities, freedom of speech, equal wealth and income distribution,  are just some examples on a vast list of work still needed today. From the issues on the travel ban, immigration, the replacement of the Affordable Care Act are examples of a long list we as citizens should continuously monitor and take steps in continuing the fight of our forefathers and civil rights activist like Martin Luther King.

David Blight satisfactorily takes his readers back to the Civil War’s centennial celebration and beyond. On July 4th why not focus in the things essential to equality.

Used Books World

ADLE International

Understanding Trump, The Case to be President

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Trump
Understanding Trump

Branding, Not Attacking as author Newt Gingrich writes about Winning, Big League on this new bestselling book, Understanding Trump

Being a businessman and the first elected US President who has not held a previous public office is the greatest strength Donald Trump has and I must say the best person who should know about branding than anyone in the Republican party.  As seen before during the primaries he defeated his primary contender Jeb Bush as being combative and maneuvering to be on the offense. Something as seen nowadays on his presidency on his continuous attack and every effort to reverse the policies of his predecessor Barack Obama. As any good salesman, he or she will focus on the conversation about you and the topic in order to build the rapport, get your sentiment and agreement as seen in the past books he has written like in Trump: Art of the Deal

Any Television follower of the show, “The Apprentice” remembers Mr. Trump in his famous words of “Your Fired”. The case of the recent firing of the controversial FBi Director and the Obama appointed attorney generals who have been routine to any newly elected president except that it got controversial because of the familiar “Your Fired” rhetoric. As the Former Speaker and Bestselling Author Newt Gingrich thoroughly explains the case of the vision and personality of President Trump through this bestselling book, the fact remains is that the recent actions in the first 100 days. Such are the cases of the Travel Ban to selected Muslim countries, the building of the border wall, the non-importance of climate change, the vision of making Great America without Free Trade, the envision health care reform, the reversal of trade openings with Cuba, and the admiration of President Putin. Notwithstanding the first President to have accused the media of wrong and bias reporting.

The book has great visions looking forward on what the Trump presidency wants to accomplish yet the arguments on the current events are side by side with the pros and cons. But as any bestselling book, the name,  personality, curiosity of the reader lies beneath on why this new book is now running out of printed copies as of this writing.

As any book lover and reader who normally is in tune with current events, I’ll let them make their decision on how to rate this book. For now, let’s stay tuned, compare what has been written to what is going to be accomplished.

Alex Esguerra

Affordable Books On Line

 

 

 

What happens now with the Healthcare Act?

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sick

An American Sickness a great recent bestseller written by Elisabeth Rosenthal who is physician verifying how dysfunctional the American Healthcare system is.  With recent changes from the Affordable Care Act to the new Healthcare Care, the question lies if the new law even made the American Healthcare to be more “Un-Affordable” paving the way for Americans to be more non-insured.

The easiest way of comparisons with the 2 laws referred to is the normal encounters on our daily living that touches on anything about our health. Such instances would be when going to the pharmacy if one has a regular prescription re-fill, was there a change in your copay, did you used to not pay anything or did your co-pay increase or decrease?

If you have to visit your providers like medical doctors, dentist or optometrist, is there a co-pay changed or are your providers still on the selected HMO or PPO network of your insurance? In such cases if your a the state funded Medicaid, are your providers willing to accept this type of insurance? Sometimes it’s not just a matter of not accepting medicaid, some providers don’t qualify or don’t want to go through the hassle of a long list of compliance and reporting requirements so they can participate in state funded insurance networks.

With the onset of the new Healthcare law, patients with pre-existing conditions will fall under a high risk pool? What it means and outcome we still don’t know at this point. However, what’s going to happen is that these individuals will again end up choosing not to any prescribed preventive care due to affordability or as seen the past racking up huge unpaid medicals bills with collection agencies running after them again. This book discusses on the best practice of negotiating with billing offices when they receive a huge medical bill. Thank god nowadays the credit reporting systems have now classifications and the credit bureaus may or may not allow collectors  inundating one’s personal credit file on unpaid medical bills. In spite of this in 2014 as quoted in the book, the Medical and Debt Responsibility Act requiring credit bureaus to delete reports of delinquent medical debt once settled or resolved never made it through the committee due to the credit agencies opposition. And as the book and we all know, Medical cost and billing is big huge business in the American Healthcare system.

It’s still to early to see the outcome of the new Healthcare law but each person must be vigilant on how it will affect each of us and to ensure were not eaten alive with the big business of the Healthcare system.

Alex Esguerra

ADLE International

 

Media Mail Tracking A Persistent Issue in Bookselling

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Why does a USPS Tracking Number show up as Not Available or Not Valid?

Quora.com on Tracking Issues We started ADLE International in 1998 and it’s 2017.

After almost 19 years in bookselling with all the new technology, mobile and apps integration, one thing is still far outdated. The USPS website tracking on Standard Media Mail desperately needs help Mr. Postmaster General. We now have the 45th President Donald Trump and this issue maybe one thing that can be addressed.

Nowadays that online selling platforms start-ups are trying to get a slice of independent booksellers, they have little idea why USPS tracking issues persist and why standard media mail  is the standard cheapest way to ship books in the bookselling industry.

There’s these magical emerging start-up marketplaces that will not pay booksellers by withholding the payments they have processed until a valid tracking shows delivery or en-route information. Sadly, as much as they are emerging due to their mobile technology, traditional booksellers will shy away from this platforms. On the earlier posts, we have discussed why some third party channel web e-commerce providers don’t want books a category as they there’s no money. So a small independent bookseller making cents in an order to be  totally deprived of a $10 net sale will definitely get scared away just because a “USPS tracking is not available or not valid” per the USPS website.

From the Ebay and Amazon years when buyers claimed not receiving the books shipped and constant email exchanges, these new marketplaces does not even provide the customers phone or email to booksellers so a bookseller can’t even confirm in case the book was even delivered. Hence, sometimes the USPS tracking number will never even update but the end customer will received the order. Of course, we would only find out if indeed it was not received if the customer complains.

As much as feedbacks and ratings still help make the case to click buy, it’s still about pricing when making the decision to buy and of course fast delivery. I must say though that in this 19 years, booksellers have tremendously improved by incorporating tracking numbers when they send  a book package in the mail.

With all this said, moreover as stated our US Postal Service are still way behind. From the issue that the tracking number does not even get scanned until the final post office destination to the USPS website updating the tracking information. Were still seeing customers emailing where the package is due to no tracking information then on the same night, the customer emails back they just received the delivery.

So I rest my case, for sure other independent booksellers have their own experiences on this never ending issue.

Alex Esguerra

Affordable Books

 

 


The Future of Web E-Commerce on Bookselling

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It was interesting 20 minute conversation with an Web E-Commerce Platform a few minutes ago. A conversation I happened to have a few months back with another company.

Since 1998 when ADLE International was founded followed by our flagship website on books, Affordable Books on Line  a lot of new inventions and integration has occurred both on the retail front and online bookselling.

As we finally pass our growing pains and slowly build our own branding websites, we try to partner also with emerging e-commerce retailers slowly taking a niche on book sales. Hence this was how this morning conversation came about. Two  months ago,  another bookseller and a book inventory platform reach out to me asking the best way to upload books on these emerging e-commerce retailers. They noticed we are in them and they are also familiar with the years we have desperately tried to deploy our online integrations.

Unfortunately, my answer was “it does not work” which they were amazed. The reality is that if you have the time and capability to manually list each book, enter the data, photos and or convert excel spreadsheets go ahead I continued. The reason behind is that these emerging known retailers are using Web E-Commerce solutions platform where the main goal is for you to open a website,  they design, integrate and charge you monthly fees and commissions.

Every traditional bookstore and moreover new online booksellers uses third party book selling marketplaces to start selling. These is how they make themselves known by buyers and also get the experienced in selling books online. It is also a fact the main database uploads in the bookselling industry uses the mighty “Amazon” system which is totally different with these Web E-Commerce platforms being used by the said emerging known retailers going to selling books.

In my quest for the plight of booksellers, the call I just made was to reiterate the ongoing circumstances and once again to re-verify the facts. Parts of the answers the sales person I was talking to was that their systems are there permanently when integrated and books is one category they don’t cater as it’s too fast moving, you have do keep relisting and they are cheap. I was laughing in my brain as if he just quoted the mighty drop shippers whom everyday what they do is put the book prices lowest and sell to a $0.01 per book if they can. Well, this is another story we have to touch later.

So I then offered the said salesperson what about if we hire you for a service simply just converting the traditional amazon csv files to your said formats so they can be uploaded to these retailers websites. The reply was a reiteration we just do not touch on “books”.

So these blog is dedicated to those especially who had the same questions and those who had asked me recently about this topic. We have a long work still needed in advocacy and if you are part of the American Booksellers Association these is one of the topics we have to unite and address in our industry.

For now, we just have to hang in there, Summer is almost here as well as Going Back to School when we are going to be busy again.

For now, let’s stand united.

Alex Esguerra

 

 

 

 

Below the Belt: A Stone Barrington Novel – What’s new for Stuart Woods

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Below the Belt –  below

From the book reporter,

Below the Belt: A Stone Barrington Novel
by Stuart Woods

  • Publication Date: January 3, 2017
  • Genres: Fiction, Suspense, Thriller
  • Hardcover: 336 pages
  • Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
  • ISBN-10: 0399573976
  • ISBN-13: 9780399573972

Stuart Woods is the author of forty-four novels, including the New York Times-bestselling Stone Barrington series and Holly Barker series. The last twenty-eight of them have been New York Times best-sellers.

The book story goes with newly ensconced in his Santa Fe abode with a lovely female companion, Stone Barrington receives a call from an old friend requesting a delicate favor. .  A situation has arisen that could escalate into an explosive quagmire, and only someone with Stone’s stealth and subtlety can contain the damage. At the center of these events is an impressive gentleman whose star is on the rise, and who’d like to get Stone in his corner. He’s charming and ambitious and has friends in high places; the kind of man who seems to be a sure bet. But in the fickle circles of power, fortunes rise and fall on the turn of a dime, and it may turn out that Stone holds the key not just to one man’s fate, but to the fate of the nation.

When he does a favor for his friend that can be with sensitive damaging information, Stone Barrington may hold the key not just to a man’s fate but to the fate of the entire nation.

Another suspense thriller from Stuart Woods who in 1981 debut through “Chiefs” by winning the Edgar award which started his long prestigious writing career. Over the years, we have continuously supported Stuart Woods great written books.

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