i bought every book i saw strangers buying at the bookstore

one thing about me....... i am NOSY!! so i bought every book i saw strangers buying at the bookstore, and i'll read them too! (with @dakotawarren)
[ad] if you’re struggling, consider therapy with BetterHelp. Click betterhelp.com/edwards for a discount in your first month
links:
📚 second channel: / @jack_in_the_books
💬 join my close friends group chat: ig.me/j/AbYJiZjwhG6WakBT/
📖 I wrote a book! amzn.to/31meIaN
💻 contact: [e-mail] (just .co!)
social media:
📕 instagram: / jackbenedwards
📙 tiktok: / jackbenedwards
📒 twitter: / jackbenedwards
📗 spotify: open.spotify.com/user/jackben...
📘 goodreads: / 20013214.jack_edwards
FAQs:
😭 what happened to your intro? it got copyrighted ://///
🤠 how old are you? 24!
📆 when is your birthday? 18th october 1998 (libra)
🎓 where did you go to university? i studied english at durham!
🔎 where do you live? New York and London
💼 what is your job? research assistant in the publishing industry
🎥 what do you film with? lumix gh5 + canon g7x
👾 what do you use to edit? final cut pro
📫 how do I contact you? [e-mail] or social media!
Video Chapters
00:00 introduction
01:53 Foyles
02:11 Boulder by Eva Baltasar
02:38 Permafrost by Eva Baltasar
04:34 Hatchards
05:50 [ad] BetterHelp
07:06 The Road by Cormac McCarthy
08:54 Waterstones
09:30 The Lonely Skier by Hammond Innes
11:19 The London Review Bookshop
12:36 Butter by Asako Yuzuki
14:35 Daunt Books
15:29 About Uncle by Rebecca Gisler
17:14 Novelist as a Vocation by Haruki Murakami
18:36 BookBar
19:40 Greta & Valdin by Rebecca K. Reilly
sub count:
📊 1,360,278

[@justsomebody1171]

Fun fact: The library where I volunteer at has a rule that the shelf with returns isn't allowed to be empty because people like to browse it and look at what others have read.

[@meremeth]

My library has a 'recently returned' shelf, and I do love to browse it hehe

[@Hallmark44]

Why I always go to the discount rack of bookstores, tbh. Get to see what everyone else is reading for half the price.

[@silverrraven5349]

i love that idea, my library doesn't have that. you return the books through a chute into the back room where they are promptly reshelved in their usual place

[@animeeddie2104]

Describing The Road as a 'road trip' book is WILD.

[@jack_edwards]

in my defence i haven't read it 😭😭😭😭

[@CaptainThugRdx]

​@@jack_edwardslmaoooo

[@dr.flaherty9372]

@@jack_edwardsit’s certainly a road trip book…

[@tmtb80]

While The Road is quite a trip. Sutree is the shit. Highly recommend. Many sentences are so beautiful they'll catch your breath.

[@theambitiouslawstudent4828]

I was just thinking that exactly! The amount of in depth analysis I had to do on that book for English lit coursework forever makes me remember every minute detail of this book and well jack is in for a journey with this book 😂

[@user-bn1tj8dt5q]

jack back at it again with the slightly creepy booktube video ideas

[@jack_edwards]

it's a fine line between curious and weird

[@Ammara-lx6is]

@@jack_edwardshe’s on coke again!!!

[@themisfitcloud1771]

What a beautiful way to see through someone's eyes, reading the words they've read and perhaps be connected to one more stranger in this world.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Dakota & Jack out on a bookstore crawl? The limit of chaos does not exist.

[@dakotawarren]

my role in this video is simply to jest

[@iishayx]

I would absolutely love if you would consider starting a podcast where you just pick a book and share your thoughts and reflect about it. Something about the way you speak is so calming and I would be so motivated to finish a book just to engage with a new podcast episode. All the best!

[@jack_edwards]

a podcast........... may be coming

[@iishayx]

​@@jack_edwardsYayyy, that would be exciting!! Thank you and all the best always!!!

[@cherifa0mebellil88]

@@jack_edwards can't waiiiiiiit I love listening to you talk abt books reviewing them and sharing your HONEST opinion ... and a podcast is just a dream come true 🍀

[@jjk4754]

as much as i love reading books i know i’ll love, sometimes reading a book that you’re not sure on is a great experience, and even reading a book you are disliking is interesting too, it can really help me understand my taste in books even more

[@tmtb80]

Oh my gosh, now I just want to recommend so many books to you.

[@jjk4754]

@@tmtb80 you can never have too many recommendations

[@JamesLawner]

“Reading Books from Strangers” sounds like a Sally Rooney novel 😂

[@hrldn170]

Disappointing to see yet another BH sponsor on this one, with all the information coming out about how horrible they are and how they sell customer information- they literally worsen customer health. Not sure how you can continue to sell their services on your platform. If there is a contract, how long could it be? It has been months. I really wish you would reconsider this- someone struggling could take your recommendation and end up worse than before. Being an influencer comes with responsibilities- you're not responsible for anyone's mental health, but I can't imagine knowing all the public information about this company and still plugging them on your channel for potential vulnerable people to follow. This isn't just a gimmick water bottle or a mediocre online course you're selling- you're dealing with high stakes here. Selling therapy should never have been normalized. Even if you don't care about the ethics at all, I can't imagine that this is doing any good for your reputability or your public persona. I love your content but the BH sponsorships seriously make me question if you are someone I want to continue supporting.

[@JantineSchimmel]

How is this the first comment about BH I see? I am appalled that influencers do not do their due dilligence before saying yes to sponsors like this anyway, and now I read that it's not the first time Jack worked with them and he still goes on doing ads for them. I might not have been a subscriber for that long yet, but I guess here's another channel I have to unsub from. There are sponsors that will just be never okay, and BH is one of them - and a one time sponsorship without doing a check on what he sponsors is bad enough, but for MONTHS???? Ugh

[@hrldn170]

@@JantineSchimmel Yes, unfortunately they're a long time sponsor of his channel. I've been watching him for more than a year and they've been a consistent sponsor. When all the info about BH was first going viral there used to be more comments about it on his vids but to my knowledge he never acknowledged them, and people figured there's some contract he had to finish fulfilling for them. Then they stopped coming up on his vids for a while so I thought maybe he was done but this video popping up makes me doubt that he is being forced to do this under contract obligation. How long could this "contract" be, not to mention nobody knows if it even exists in the first place- it's all just benefit of the doubt that I am more and more reluctant to give him. I'm just appalled because I feel like the info about them is worth breaking contract for. I can't imagine selling their services the way he does in these vids. And the comments about BH have dwindled as well, which is disappointing. More people need to let him know this is not behavior they condone.

[@JunoNichols]

I just saw a video that says "Influencers are not your friends, they're business." Jack doesn't give a f@#£ as long as he's getting the bag just like the other influencers advertising sh!tty products/services.

[@krisdijne]

Well said!

[@halfwaytothehill2164]

Hello!!! Please listen to your community

[@eword97]

The clip of you and Dakota smelling books together brought me so much joy

[@PokhrajRoy.]

List of Books 2:20 ‘Boulder’ by Eva Baltasar 2:39 ‘Permafrost’ by Eva Baltasar 7:07 ‘The Road’ by Cormac McCarthy 9:29 ‘The Lonely Skiier’ by Hammond Innes 12:38 ‘Butter’ by Asako Yuzuki 15:32 ‘About Uncle’ by Rebecca Gisler 17:16 ‘Novelist as a Vocation’ by Haruki Murakami 19:41 ‘Greta & Valdin’ by Rebecca K Reilly

[@kaygreig656]

Plus Permafrost by Eve Baltasar about 3 mins ish

[@laraconde]

Eva*

[@PokhrajRoy.]

@@laracondeEdited

[@birdyinabox]

🙏

[@sambennett9769]

10:24 “lead up to a crescendo” nails on a chalkboard to a musician lol, the crescendo is the buildup itself

[@ghostlykelp]

Basically said ‘lead up to a lead up’ LOL

[@juf9055]

i thought crescendo was like the climax?

[@ghostlykelp]

@@juf9055 a crescendo in musical terms means ‘start building up’ or ‘get louder’, it’s not the word for the climax itself. I’m not sure if it has another meaning outside of music, it may do

[@margaritacantero7768]

“I don’t judge you for your decisions so don’t judge me for mine. Buying books and reading books are two separate hobbies. Thank you very much.” Gonna write that down.

[@samanthahackett8162]

"Buying books and reading books are two different hobbies" LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK! I've been saying this my whole life

[@fw3614]

Once I read a few paragraphs of a book a woman was reading next to me on the T in Boston. When she got off I saw the distinctive cover but not the title or author. So I combed through a bookstore until I found it - Still Life with Woodpecker by Tom Robbins. That is how I discovered one of my favortite authors of my twenties.

[@Groundedsquirrel]

What a book and author to discover without knowing anything about Tom Robbins! Thanks for this, I haven’t read him in ages.

[@hebulanebula]

I have this book 📚 ❤ and I’ve done the same thing...except I never found the book... with this reminder , now, all I remember is that it was a thin green covered book. 😅

[@Groundedsquirrel]

@@hebulanebula maybe if you write a bit here about what you read someone will recognize it!

[@hebulanebula]

@@Groundedsquirrel I did look up green covers on Goodreads , and there are 621 books, but none of them look like hers. The problem is, I no longer remember any of the words . I wish I had just asked her . 🤷🏻‍♀️📚😁

[@me1123581321]

Dakota's dress is PHENOMENAL!! ❤❤ Also, I absolutely love these "read what other people are reading" episodes. I'm so nosey, but how else are we meant to get a sense of our surroundings??

[@mayleennrecaj7777]

Can’t believe I am so obsessed with your videos that the algorithm decided to feed my addiction

[@jerseyjhayne1707]

mr. jack edwards, you have ignited the bookworm in me. i have stopped reading for a while because well, digital times, i’ve preferred watching stuff instead of reading but i discovered your channel a few years ago which has made me come back reading. falling in love with something i have fallen out of love of is one of the best things in life. thank you for making me experience that

[@maryseptihet]

12:00 - milk snake by toby buckley!! it’s a debut poetry collection from ireland and I highly recommend it !!

[@jack_edwards]

thanks for the rec!!

[@Taetaele]

I really want to see a new series where you review old classics from each country, as an Italian I would be really curious about your idea on the masterpieces of authors like Svevo, Pirandello, Verga, Primo Levi and Umberto Eco that we study at school!

[@buecherwuermin]

I had to read Primo Levi in school for my italian finals in Switzerland. His work is so good! I had to reread it in English/German though because i felt like I didn't get the nuance bc my Italian is not that good.

[@terri3401]

Jack buying The Road, Cut to an ad where in the background we see a DIFFERENT copy of The Road.. then later on saying “The Road by Cormac I would have bought for myself” … Sir it looks like you already did 🤣

[@ravensramen]

thats exactly what i was thinking 💀

[@matilderrr]

he has too many books at this point if hes forgetting he has them 😭😭

[@xepherauden7647]

I knew I saw it in a past video!! Thought I was going crazy

[@dovemakes]

@@matilderrr to be fair, I have significantly fewer books than Jack and I've accidentally bought a couple doubles myself lol

[@ursaminor2052]

i think he filmed the ad in a bookstore

[@PokhrajRoy.]

4:18 OUR GIRL GETS RECOGNISED

[@sn0wflake]

As a bookseller, I just find Jack so endearing in this video. Making sure to buy a book at each store (even at the start), being super nice to the cashiers, asking interesting questions, and even fixing the displays 🤧 thank you, Jack

[@lazedaisies]

i wish you would also included your reviews of these books in the video cos your reviews is what always sold me for the book, and not the blurbs. i trust you that much 😂 but i’m definitely adding butter to my tbr cos i love japanese lit too!

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Jack: “I’m not going to the counter and not buy anything.” Me, on a book ban: “Hehehehehe…”

[@dorianhayes4162]

Today is Independent Bookstore day, and I’m getting ready to go out to 28 stories this weekend-this is the perfect accompaniment!

[@PokhrajRoy.]

“Sounds like a dream blunt rotation..” THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A FAMILY FRIENDLY CHANNEL 😂

[@valkyrie_cain86]

I love Greta & Valdin! It got me out of a reading slump, and is my favourite read of the year so far. Would recommend drawing a map of the family relations though, as there are a lot of characters to keep track of.

[@emmelineysun]

The copy I read had a list of characters at the start

[@valkyrie_cain86]

Same. I've been reading in a bookclub though, and many people still found it hard to keep track with the list.

[@jasmin2186]

I tend to struggle with connecting to the characters in Japanese literary fiction often and yet those novels always have such amazing concepts! (she contemplated while adding butter to her tbr optimistically)

[@sarahalsaeedi2600]

I absolutely love your book videos and brilliant bookish ideas! Your London tour took me on a virtual journey to some of the best places in the city, and I felt like I was right there with you. Thank you for sharing your amazing content! 🤩

[@snedadoku5038]

literally all i needed right now, i was scrolling your old vids and then *notification*

[@matthiasgotsch8264]

jack, you give me so so much calm. You seem like the perfect guy to read in silence with and talking about the books we read afterwards. :)

[@aaron_osborne]

I fell in love with Dakota’s content especially her journaling video recently.

[@pranjuliagarwal1264]

39 sec ago? Dammit. That's salvation.

[@jack_edwards]

thank you for being here!!

[@meapenalealea8724]

What an absolutely fantastic video Jack - cannot wait to see what you think of the books (I loved the one you made about the train on the same theme these are great videos !)

[@emilyglonek7417]

13:56 I got genuine chills listening to the summary - I need to read that book!!

[@evamatlach1986]

„Hit the road Jack“ 😅 As an Austrian who wasn‘t in London until now this bookstores are all so amazing! I have to go to London immediately! 💚

[@glovaldebenito]

Hey! An idea for a future video!! Maybe you should have one of those scratch maps and scratch all the countries you’ve read from before.. and then pick countries not scratched and make a video about books from those places!! 😊

[@bertalorenzi4329]

so happy to see as a catalan that writing in your own language can get you this recognition from all around the world thank you!! and i also recommend you irene solà (when i sing mountains dance, my personal favorite)

[@bookthoughtswitheilish]

I love how all the bookseller's seemed really friendly/helpful everytime you asked what the previous person bought ☺

[@LC-fx2lo]

Those bookstores are so beautiful, I want to cry. I could live there. 😍😍

[@Groundedsquirrel]

Love this concept, seeing the bookshops and jotting down reading ideas.

[@white_edits9439]

We need a video of you reading these books I’m so exited about what you will think of butter since I just started reading it!

[@jubidrawer]

All the bookstores in London look so gorgeous!!!

[@kv2661]

I love these videos because I’m just constantly going back and forth to goodreads super excited to add books to my want to read list

[@WithSquared]

I just bought 4 books for independent bookstore day, and I challenged myself to pick up books that I've never heard of before and based my choices only on the cover art and blurbs that interested me the most. it was fun to go in blind and come out with books I didn't know I wanted to get because I usually just go in, get what I'm looking for, and go. I might try this out at some point too, this seems fun!!

[@dollstylist041poll3]

The Road is a book you never forget. I think about it constantly

[@leonnoel9501]

kinda funny that you specifically go looking for The Road at Hatchets and then there's just a different copy already behind you in the ad 5:52

[@58angieb]

'Hatchhards' of Piccadilly, London (booksellers since 1797) ,& not as Jack mistakenly said,'Hatchets' 😊

[@rukky.sshonubi4797]

Im grateful you took us along on your journey. This made my day.

[@gulk.5307]

obsessed with your videos, jack!

[@yvonneandbeyond]

Loved this video! I've actually just moved to New Zealand and picked up Greta and Valdin in a very cool bookshop in Wellington called Pegasus Books (They have super tall shelves and ladders! 😍). Very excited to hear your take on G&V when you've finished it! :)

[@elliembh1726]

I saw butter in a bookstore literally just the other day and said I bet jack would like this

[@melyibarra809]

Dakota and Jack!!!!!! A hit already

[@Woman_of_Basil]

Every video of Jack and Dakota has such an infectious giddy energy to it. I’m in love with every video from this duo.

[@nacho6438]

dakota is so funny every single frame she's in

[@jack_edwards]

i'm single-handedly trying to destroy her cool and mysterious aesthetic

[@jack_edwards]

cool and chaotic instead

[@desaravladasi2062]

@@jack_edwardsthis is literally what my best friend does to me 😔 (this is a lie i can’t stop yapping)

[@clr395]

Seeing as you are enjoying Eva Baltasar, another amazing Catalan writer is Irene Solà, with her "When I sing, Mountains dance"

[@paperboundfolio]

“Is this being 25?” Jack, it’s 11pm on a Saturday and I’ve been ready for bed since 7. If it isn’t 25, it’s definitely 29 😂

[@quinncrochet19]

"It's giving Joe from YOU" 😂 I laughed so hard. I love you and I'm so glad I found your channel at the beginning of this year ❤ Currently reading Sula because of you and I love it so far!!

[@erina2600]

Aaaaa excited for you to read Greta and Valdin!! There’s one point where Greta literally hops on the bus that I get on everyday, and gets lost in a park so close to where I live which I just adored - it’s so fun seeing such familiar details in a book that’s getting very popular

[@Fledge858]

I’m amazed at how continually inventive you are! Book Shop Crawl! I loved your commentary as always, and getting out in London with you and Dakota?!?! So much fun. One of your very best of all time. Plus, you encouraged me to yank The Road up into my Amazon cart (been putting off that read for waaaay too long) and also Greta & Valdin. Maaayyybee Butter. See what you do to me? Us? (I’m sure I’m not the only one… 🛒📚) I am so jealous of all the gorgeous bookshops in London 😮😮😮

[@hiitsme9086]

My day instantly gets better when jack posts THANK YOU ❤ you are an UNDERRATED youtuber

[@lilybugslibrary]

Watching you and Dakota was fun all on it's own. You add in book shopping and it was terrific. :)

[@charliepearson7388]

Yay, so happy to see you got Greta and Valdin! It's such a lovely book. As a fellow New Zealander myself, it's so great to see her work getting international recognition.

[@PamsShenanigans]

that edition of The Road is so simple yet so pretty!!

[@efkharisto]

What a crazy mix of books you've got there Jack! The only one I've read is The Road (which I loved) and the one I'm looking forward to is Butter (can't believe that it's based on a true story!)

[@johnmavroudis2054]

Buying a book, is the greatest recommendation possible. LOVE this video and your adventures and enthusiasm. Cheers!

[@ramantinuwal1810]

Jack is so consistent. The last time he mentioned bookbar, he said the same thing.

[@XIII306]

what an unexpected collab- im here for it!

[@Ebony.B]

Love these videos with Jack and Dakota ❤

[@dovemakes]

If you ever make it to the Pacific Northwest usa, particularly Portland, you NEED to go to Powells! I'm literally about to head over there right now, it's the largest independent bookstore in the world. You'd love it, it's the size of an entire city block and 4 stories tall. New and used titles, rare book room, a bunch of zines and small press, a little cafe, and over a million books being sold at any given time. I love this concept, I think I'll ask the cashier while I'm there just to see what they say!

[@imahotmess872]

hey im a writer, and ur videos always put a smile on my face. i discovered u 2 yrs ago i think and i was already obsessed with ur channel. and ive actually read some of the book that you’ve mentioned before so thx for that! and omg ur so nice to ppl it makes me jealous! u earned a new sub!😊

[@enelabe]

Not "Hit the road Jack" LMAO your humour is amazing

[@shareuhlin]

"one thing I'll never mind is my own goddamn business," LMAO relatable

[@headoverheels80]

hi jack! love that you're going to be reading a book set in NZ that's so cool! just wanted to let you know that maori is pronounced differenly to how it's spelt - it rhymes with moldy. i think there are vids on youtube that may explain it better lol but just thought i'd let you know in case you do a review for the channel! :)

[@indiethebindi]

The Dakota/Jack friendship is top-tier 💛

[@an33y]

Genius idea and way better thought-out idea than I thought it would be. I thought you were going into a bookstore and buying every book you see a stranger reading that you haven't read.

[@marinaescriva-jx4ex]

Will be very interested in hearing your thoughts on Permafrost, and specifically Baltasar's racism. I read it in Catalan, and the only character of colour in the novel, a Chinese guy with two lines of dialogue, is written with all his Rs as Ls. I wonder if the English translation includes that too. Considering none of the foreign characters have a (written) accent in the book, that seemed like a bizarre choice, which my SEA partner found even more offensive than I did. Honestly never picked up another book by her. I'd recommend Irene Solà, or even better, a classic of Catalan literature, Broken Mirror by Merce Rodoreda.

[@zzrdz32]

I can't believe no one has pointed this out...

[@SynapticCleft13]

Mercè Rodoreda is amazing

[@kittyscosylibrary]

Everything about this video was perfection - thank you Jack

[@nita182]

I'm a Catalan living in Switzerland and I've just spent a few days back home and read Permafrost. It is really really good. Can't wait to hear more about what you think about it. I just started Boulder now. It's funny that I only heard from this series because of you, because back in Catalunya Eva Baltasar is EVERYWHERE.

[@SleepyAE31]

14:37 I've never been to London and I don't watch a lot of book/reading channels so when I absolutely knew that I had seen Daunt Books before, it threw me for a loop trying to figure it out. Eventually, I remembered! They showed it in an episode of Who Do You Think You Are. Charles Dance's relative used to own the property and ran an art supplies store!

[@larakuntschik4023]

i hope u do a part 2 wear u reed all the books and give ur opinions

[@SahbaMobini23]

convinced me to go to my city’s book crawl today. this is such a fun experiment!!! and so fun to watch!!

[@nirali_t]

Love that you went to Bookbar! I live right next to it :)

[@moniquebaham]

I loved this video! Of course now I wish I lived in London so I could go to all of the book shops that you and Dakota visited! 📚

[@user-14268]

I'm so obsessed with this video gonna rewatch until I die 😭

[@mandyschmidt7960]

Can't wait for your reviews of these

[@laurenschenck5355]

OBESSED with ur videos and you always have amazing ideas Jack ❤❤❤

[@mshelper4560]

This was like a fun treasure hunt. Thanks for this video!!

[@jessthomas7210]

The clip of you two sniffing the books was sooo precious

[@aslan_jade1120]

Your videos always make me so happy and motivate me to go finish my work quickly so that i can read a good book 💗

[@dianasga9179]

I literally bought Butter yesterday randomly to take to my weekend trip to Sicily!!!! Excited now

[@arlyponcedeleon6049]

I read the road last year and it was so heartbreaking 💔 but so imersive with the descriptions, so i hope Jack loves the book as much ❤❤

[@coolgab21]

Same!!!! I loved it too!

[@sj_sunshine]

bookstore hopping? sign me up - the vibes are immaculate

[@Pazoo_underscore]

JACK AND DAKOTA CONTENT!!!! MY FAVES!! (im so late i was on my dofe im so tired)

[@safoorahafeez]

Me getting greta and valdin as a gift few days back and was waiting for you to review it. So ill wait until you post on your socials on how you find this book

[@Na.29]

Absolutely love dakotas outfit 🥰

[@marikastrom4901]

The Road is fantastic!

[@ElliottShow]

Love your KZbin channel, Jack!

[@jack_edwards]

thank you!!

[@kataaa94]

Omg BookBar is my favorite bookshop as well 🤗 the bartenders/booksellers are so nice and it's just lovely 😍

[@paularunslondon]

They’re so great! I love going in there just to read with a coffee. But it’s even better that if you fill up a loyalty card they donate a book to the local school. I filled up my book loyalty card last week, and will be getting my free coffee next time I stop in :)