How do I get ahold of this guy? I’ve been scouring the net for about an hour for contact info and no one seems to have provided anything.

thought i’d post this up here – and mike, you can reach him or the other owner at 816-531-9673 – at the bookstore.

this is the official response – it seems that many people are missing the whole point:

There are worse crimes than burning books, one is not reading them. ~ Joseph Brodskey

The individual who won�t read has nothing over the individual who cannot read. ~ Mark Twain

For ten years Prospero�s Books has been in the front lines of the literary arts, both as a bookseller (www.prosperosbookstore.com) and as a publisher (www.unholydaypress.com).

As a used bookseller, we have put our money where our hearts are � surrendering our hours and our revenues to sharing the world of books and, more importantly, the ideas they contain with anyone who would listen.

During these ten years we have seen reading decline dramatically. The National endowment of for Arts study on literary literacy (http://www.nea.gov/news/news04/ReadingAtRisk.html) in America which painfully highlighted the rapid decline of reading in America. In our own community, we�ve watched as bookstore after bookstore has folded.

Yesterday, we performed an act of art � a wakeup call to all who value books and ideas. Over the last 10 years, Prospero�s Books has 20,000 books we�ve collected that people simply will not read. We receive hundreds more each week.

At Prospero�s we fundamentally believe that the literary arts are not dead. We believe that there is still much about the human condition and our time still needing to be said. In so saying, we challenge you to get involved in two ways:

1. email these stories to your friends

2. call your local TV, radio, newspaper, blogs, etc. and tell them what is going on

3. For $1 a book (+ postage), you can save these books from the flame. We will not take these $s as profit, but will use them to publish new books.

Many of you have great ideas regarding what can be done with these books that�s better than burning them � we agree with you, and encourage YOU to get involved in sharing the gift of literature. For $1 a book + postage, you can support your local school, prison, etc.

If we are going to again place a spotlight on the importance of books and reading, we need Your help! It is bigger than two bookstore owners in Kansas City.

My greatest fear is that as a culture, we may be beyond saving the books.

We appreciate that you have joined what we hope will become a national dialogue about the importance of books. Thank you.

Sincere Regards,

Prospero�s Bookstore

I don’t believe I’m missing the point. It was done, by your own statement, to create a dialogue. Mission accomplished with me. I think what’s gone on is reprehensible, and that the owners aren’t creating art. However, since I’ve seen that books can be saved for a dollar…I’ll be doing my part and loading my car with as many as I can afford.

I guess my problem here is that first books were burned because of their content, and now they’re being burned because no one’s reading? From where I sit, this is an offensive destruction of art that should not be allowed to continue.

I think many people here are missing the point: these books, like many others in different places, are destined for the landfill. They are the detritus of our society. Thousands of books are thrown in the trash daily by bookstores, libraries, retailers, etc. This is a fact. So, what’s the difference? Bury them or burn them? At least this has people talking, and I don’t think any dumpster in a hidden alley behind Border’s has ever done that. Burn.

Make peace, not war!

This guy is a genius! How much is S+H gonna’ set me back, I wonder…?

I love the idea of this stunt, but wonder about using the $1 per book to print more books. Would it be better spent on literacy programs or lobbying for funding? If people aren’t buying books or reading, maybe we need to address that instead of, well, making more books.