The radical community bookshop “news from nowhere “ will be celebrating its 50th birthday in 2024 and long may it continue to thrive. It began in the heyday of the feminist movement of the 1970’s when women such as the artist Hannah Wilke in her work challenged the objectification of women, photographer Cindy Sherman explored gender roles and stereotypes, Helen Reddy sang about a message of female strength in “I am a woman” and Andrea Dworkin was perhaps the extreme of feminist writers of that decade. There was social upheaval too in the 1970’s when women marched, lobbied and protested for equal rights in the workplace and in society as a whole. It was also a period of time in the USA when rape was determined a crime of violence, the judgement in Roe vs Wade permitted legal abortions.
Throughout the 50 years since its opening in 1974, news from nowhere has survived as a not for profit women’s cooperative, meaning that it has no boss or individual owner, and the workers there share tasks, responsibilities and decision-making earning equal rates of pay. Committed to social change the women running it hope that the literature they stock empowers and inspires people to make positive changes in the world.
The comprehensive range of books on the shelves cover subjects such as feminism, anti-racism, LGBT+ rights, socialism and much more besides. In addition, they also stock fiction, and poetry, children’s books, and books on health and wellbeing. Across every subject on the shelves, you will find women’s voices coming through loud and clear. Books tackling issues such as domestic violence, FGM and other oppressive acts affirm the importance of the continuing fight for women’s rights, while books by feminist authors provide insight into inequality and ideas for change.
There is an area devoted to children crammed with vibrant picture books, gripping fiction and fascinating activity and information books. – all guaranteed not to be racist or sexist! With comfy chairs for breastfeeding, or just tired mums, and a box of toys to occupy small hands the relaxed atmosphere allows women to read at their leisure. They also have books ideal for anyone caring for or working with children and young people, on parenting, play, education, nurturing, confidence and self-esteem.
Finally, but not least there is a plethora of books on spirituality, health and wellbeing, the environment, climate change, gardening and much, much more. If you visit Liverpool go to “news from nowhere”, and you could spend hours just browsing through the cornucopia of books on sale there. It is perhaps one of the best bookshops in the UK for the wealth of knowledge it contains. You do not have to go anywhere else!
“News from Nowhere” can be found at: 98 Bold Street, Liverpool L1 4HY
Search and order from: www.newsfromnowhere.co.uk
Browse the radical booklists at: www.newsfromnowhere.org.uk
Issue 1
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