Yes, I buy and check out fresh books, but I love to drop in on used bookstores for a handful of cheapies. I can scan them for tidbits and nuggets for my writing and speaking. (See, for instance, my quick takes on books under this site’s Browsings section.) I pass some along; for a few, I get a little cash or credit at McKay’s just west of Nashville; and I add still others to my “permanent” collection. One of my favorite bookstores is Goodwill, where I can pick up volumes for a buck or two each. But then there’s the Goodwill Thrift Store on the east side of I-65 just south of downtown (as if Goodwill weren’t a thrift store to begin with). But at this one, they basically toss things together, without the fancy hangers and such. And the books, many of them intriguing, are dumped without any sorting onto big tables. The price: $.59 a pound. 

On this particular day, I dropped by while I was running my traps, and I tossed a bunch into my cart. Snap judgments with very little financial risk. Here’s what I was thinking as I pulled one book after another from the pile. 

I Rant, Therefore I Am, by Dennis Miller (.8) 

-a conservative comedian; maybe a few laughs

To Know As We Are Known: Education as a Spiritual Journey, by Parker Palmer (.4)

-acclaimed as sensitive dude by sensitive dudes awhile back; forgot why

The Day America Told the Truth: What People Really Believe About Everything that Really Matters, by James Patterson and Peter Kim  (1.3)

-James Patterson wrote a book with Bill Clinton; is he a truth sorter?

The Hotel and Restaurant Business, Third Edition, by Donald E Lundberg (1.7)

-once read about parsley as plate covering in a restaurant mag; interesting stuff

Maybe It’s Time to Laugh Again: Experience Outrageous Joy, by Charles Swindoll (1.3)

-some Swindoll jokes or funny stories?

Financial Peace: Restoring Financial Hope to You and Your Family, by Dave Ramsey (1.3)

-Ramsey’s big down this way; on radio daily; a synopsis I suppose

The Matthew Henry Commentary: In One Volume (4)

-figured this as a giveaway; sure enough, to a young inquirer today

Falling Behind: How Rising Inequality Hurts the Middle Class (.5)

-working on justice book; inequality a big topic; maybe something to use

Doctor Who: The Essential Guide (1.7)

-may send this to a big Doctor Who fan

Is God to Blame: Beyond Pat Answers to The Problem of Suffering (.6)

-taught apologetics, even one on POE/S; conference this summer; grist for my mill

The Biggest Lie in the History of Christianity: How Modern Culture is Robbing Billions of People of Happiness, by Matthew Kelly (.3)

-a lie by Christians or a lie about Christianity? I’ll check it out

A Book of Famous Explorers  (1)

-illustrations for speaking and writing; something for grandkids too

Does the Noise in My Head Bother You: A Rock ‘N’ Roll Memoir, by Steven Tyler (1.7)

-always like to mine these for spiritual references

Ministerial Ethics: Being a good minister in a not-so-good world, by Joe Trull and James Carter (.9)

-taught ethics for years; maybe some new material for writing; SBC guys

The Life and Labors of George Muller and George Muller on Money and Possessions (.5)

-giveaway copy of a classic

My Fair Lady: A Musical Play, by Alan Jay Lernrer (.8)

-just cited “Rain in Spain” in an essay; chance to revisit the “Book” for this musical 

My Southern Journey: True Stories from the Heart of the South, by Rick Bragg (1.1)

-love/hate relationship with this “good ole’ boy” gone NYT

The Way Baseball Works (1.8)

-well illustrated; gets down to insiders’ stuff

God Bless John Wayne, by Kinky Friedman (1.2)

-oops, a novel; expected essays or a memoir; headed Texas Jewboys band

Wild at Heart Field Manual, by John Eldredge (1)

-checking back in with shirts off/tom-toms in woods/father wounds guy

Lucky: How Joe Biden Barely Won the Presidency, by Jonathan Allen & Amie Parnes (1.8)

-still doubt it was just luck, cf. 2000 Mules Dinesh D’Souza.

The Football Book (4.2)

-Sports Illustrated coffee-table book; honors my OBU classmate, Cowboy DB Cliff Harris 

The Method to the Madness: Donald Trump’s Ascent as Told by those Who Were Hired, Fired, Inspired—and Inaugurated (1.2)

-voted for him twice; glad I did; will scan for good/bad/ugly/pretty anecdotes

Historic Williamson Country: Old Homes and Sites, by Virginia McDaniel Bowman (1.9)

-my Franklin, TN, daughter-in-law might want this for decoration

Tennessee 24/7: Amazing Photographs of An Extraordinary State (3.2)

-already sent phone photo of Kurdish wedding to my Kurdish friend