Top 100 book apps: Free Books - 23,469 classics to go!

Since we believe in the digital future of books as a way to reduce eventually the footprint of books, we also believe in apps. Book apps are integral part of the digital age of books and we want to share with you some great book apps we find and thus we are assembling a list of the top 100 book apps.

In order to get into our list apps need to both book/ebook related and affordable - we choose only apps that are either free or cost less than $2.

So every Monday we will update you with a new app on out list of top book apps. Today we're happy to introduce you an app that helps you find free books.

Our app today is Free Books - 23,469 classics to go by Spreadsong. This app is for iPhone and iPad and it's free.

Here are more details about the Free Books App:
Ah, to describe an app in two words... Free Books is just that- Free Books! Browse our handpicked collections, download any of our 23,469 classic books, and read with our fully featured ereader. Notes, highlights, bookmarks, dictionary support -- it’s all here.

Have your own ebooks? We have you covered, thanks to Dropbox integration and a fantastic ePUB reader. Just import your books and read anytime, anywhere.

Free Books unlocks a world of public domain content, allowing you to acquire the great books of human history. Letters of leaders, the collected works of geniuses, the finest Victorian novels, the plays of Shakespeare, the philosophy of Seneca and Marcus Aurelius, the autobiographies of Benjamin Franklin and Andrew Carnegie. It's all here, along with tens of thousands of other books.

We could go on- personalized recommendations, beautiful high resolution covers, author pages, Email to Computer, Night Mode reading- but that would just get away from the point.

23,469 of the greatest books in human history, accessible with the tap of your finger. Free.

If you have any questions or suggestions don't hesitate to drop us a line at hello@classicly.com- that's what we're here for!

Last book app - Weird but True

You can check top 100 book apps at http://www.ecolibris.net/bookapps.asp. As you'll see, this list is in work, but we promise to update it every week until we'll have all 100 book apps.

You're also welcome to check our list of 100 green apps.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant a tree for every book you read!

Clean body? Sustainable Sushi? Raw for Dessert?

This is not a list of of daily tasks, but just some of the great green books you can get for free as part of our green gift giveaway:

So how does it work? very simple - when you balance out 50 books by planting 50 trees with Eco-Libris, you can now you can get a free copy of one of these great books (all printed on recycled or FSC-certified paper): Clean Body, Raw for Dessert, Greening Your Small Business, The Simple Little Vegan Dog Book, Sweet Utopia and Sustainable Sushi.

All of these books are printed on recycled or FSC-certified paper and readers can choose from this list the book they would like to receive as a gift from us.


And that's not all:

Readers who will balance out 25 books by planting 25 trees will also receive a $10 gift card for Strand Book Store of New York City, one of the world's best independent bookstores with over 18 miles of new, used, rare and art books. These cards are good for any in-store or online purchases and they never expire.

And readers who will balance 100 books by planting 100 trees will also receive a $25 gift card for BookSwim, a Netflix-style book rental .library service, lending you paperbacks, hardcovers and college textbooks.

More details about our green gift giveaway can be found on the campaign's page at http://www.ecolibris.net/gifts.asp

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Promoting sustainable reading!

Sushi? Tofu? Vegan? Dessert? You can choose - it's free!

This is not an invitation to give us a call the next time you go to a restaurant. This is a reminder of all the great books you can get for free on our green gift giveaway!

Yes, we have a book on sushi (Sustainable Sushi), another one on tofu (Tofu Cookery), Vegan (well, that's actually for your dog - The Simple Little Vegan Dog Book) and one on Desserts (Raw for Dessert). Not only that these are great and valuable books, but they're also printed on recycled or FSC-certified paper!

So what is this giveaway exactly? Well, for over two years Eco-Libris has been offering eco-conscious readers the opportunity to balance out their books by planting trees. At the same time our company has worked to promote sustainable reading, and reduce books' impact on the environment. Now we're combining the two, with a special giveaway that rewards customers with green gifts that promote green reading, from gift cards for Strand Bookstore and BookSwim to free "green" books, which participated in our green books campaign.

And how do you get a free book? It's very simple - if you balance out 50 books by planting 50 trees, you can choose one of these “green” books as a gift. Just choose a book from the list below and Email us its name after you complete the purchase on the take action page on our website, or enter it in the comments box during the payment process. If you want to, you can also give it to someone as a gift and we'll be happy to send it to them on your behalf!

Here are some more details on the "green" books you can choose from:

Raw for Dessert: Easy Delights for Everyone

Author: Jennifer Cornbleet

Now you can have your cake and eat it too! You can stay vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, kosher, or just plain health-conscious and still eat delicious cakes, pies, compotes, crumbles, custards, sorbets, ice creams, cookies, and candies. All raw!

Here are Jennifer's favorite no-bake, no-guilt treats. You'll learn to avoid white sugar, white flour, dairy products, trans-fats, saturated fats, and processed foods. And you'll be able to make easy-to-follow recipes for a reasonable amount of money, in a reasonable amount of time.

Some of the delectable desserts perfect for every occasion are: Summer Berry Compote, Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Chocolate Cupcakes, Crème Brulée, Lemon Tart, Pumpkin Pie, and Knockout Brownie Sundae. Gorgeous color photos provide all the inspiration you need.

Sustainable Sushi: A Guide to Saving the Oceans One Bite at a Time

Author: Casson Trenor

Sustainable Sushi answers the question on the minds of millions who enjoy eating fish: how can we indulge the desire to dine well while keeping our health and the health of the oceans in mind? With painstaking research found in no other book on the market to date, this pocket-size guide profiles dozens of the most common fish and shellfish one might encounter at a sushi bar, details where and how they are caught, whether or not they are safe, and how they figure in the current fishery crisis.

Written by a fishery and sustainability expert who was himself netted long ago by the allure of Japanese cuisine, Sustainable Sushi offers simple, clear explanations of such topics as mercury and PCB levels, overfishing, and species extinction. In a storm of seafood shortages and frightening statistics, Sustainable Sushi shows readers how to enjoy the sushi bar without guilt.

Greening Your Small Business: How to Improve Your Bottom Line, Grow Your Brand, Satisfy Your Customers - and Save the Planet

Author: Jennifer Kaplan

The ultimate resource for small business owners who want to go green without going broke. Greening Your Small Business is the definitive resource for those who want their small businesses to be cutting- edge, competitive, profitable, and eco-conscious. Filled with stories from small business owners of all stripes, Greening Your Small Business addresses every aspect of going green, from basics such as recycling, reducing waste, energy efficiency, and reducing the IT footprint, to more in-depth concerns such as green marketing and communications, green business travel, and green employee benefits.

For companies too small to hire consultants to draft and implement green policies and practices, this guide is designed for easy use, featuring:
• Simple ways to make the workplace greener
• Two plans of action for going green (divided into two levels)
• Definitions for green terminology and jargon

The Simple Little Vegan Dog Book, Cruelty-Free Recipes for Canine

Author: Michelle Rivera

The Simple Little Vegan Dog Book by animal rights advocate Michelle Rivera shows how your companion canine can become a satisfied omnivore. This compendium of nutritious, plant-based recipes provide the nutrients your dog needs in order to maintain good health as well as the flavors they love according to the enthusiastic response from pets being fed this diet.

Although vegans will now be able to extend their lifestyle to include what they feed their dogs, you needn't be a vegan or vegetarian to profit from this information. Most dog owners are concerned about the quality of ingredients in commercial dog food.

Sweet Utopia, Simply Stunning Vegan Desserts

Author: Sharon Valencik

Sweet Utopia shows how to create the luscious flavors and familiar textures of traditional desserts without the use of eggs or dairy. These easy-to-make, yet sensational, desserts are all lactose- and cholesterol-free and perfect for vegans, anyone allergic to dairy or eggs, those who need to watch their intake of saturated fat, and last, but not least, lovers of sweets everywhere.

These recipes cover a wide array of goodies including cakes, cookies, pies, puddings, and other treats and are accompanied by over 130 full-color photos that provide inspiration and anticipation.

Tofu Cookery (25th Anniversary Edition)

Author: Louise Hagler

TOFU COOKERY 25th Anniversary Edition celebrates a quarter of a century of helping people prepare delicious dishes featuring tofu. Since then, tofu has become a household word, the health benefits of soy have been validated by thousands of scientific studies, and a goldmine of soy products can be found in supermarkets nationwide.

The best tofu dishes, however, can still be made at home. Soy-foods pioneer Louise Hagler expertly shows how easy it is to add a little tofu to both your favorite comfort foods and gourmet fare. To reflect today's tastes and trends, new recipes were added and the original recipes revised to use less salt and smaller amounts of more healthful fats. The latest cooking methods preserve nutrients as well as flavor.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Promoting sustainable reading!

An interview with Fiona Robyn, an author with a new novel offered to read for free online!

Fiona Robin is not only a supporter of Eco-Libris, but also a gifted author who has released lately her latest novel, 'Thaw' with an offer you can't refuse: you can read it online for free!

This is definitely a bold move (although there's a growing evidence that such steps actually help to boost sales of printed titles), and we thought it's an opportunity to speak with Fiona about her books and her innovative marketing strategies. We also have a signed copy of the book we're giving away, so check the details at the end of the post.

Hello Fiona and congrats on your new novel. Can you tell us what it is about?

Thank you. ‘Thaw’ follows 32 year old microbiologist, Ruth, as she thinks about whether or not to carry on living. She gives herself three months to decide, and the novel is her journal over these three months.

What was your inspiration for this novel? for the characters?
My characters always appear ‘out of nowhere’, and it was the same with Ruth. As I got to know her, the story emerged. I knew she was a troubled character, and that she used photographs as a way of staying sane, and then I realised she would want to have her portrait painted, and so the Russian painter Red came into being…

This is the fifth novel you publish within only 3 years. How do you it?
I had a head start! I’d been writing for six years when I found my publisher, Snowbooks, and they wanted to publish all three of my novels. There will be more of a gap before the next!

\You decided to do something quite radical and enable readers to read it online for free - why?
It is radical. It’s an experiment, really – my hope is that some people will read it online and then want to buy my previous novels, or that some people will want to read to the end before waiting for it all to appear online. We’ll see if it helps or hinders my sales in the long run!

You're not just a fruitful and talented writer, but also an innovative marketer - can you share with us couple of the strategies you used so far to market your books? what do you find the most effective?
Thank you. I’ve always tried to find marketing strategies that will feel like fun, whether or not they help me to sell more books. I’ve always enjoyed writing my blogs, and I’ve had great fun on my virtual book tour and with the Thaw project. It’s difficult to know what is most effective, but it does seem to be a cumulative thing, and patience is essential. There is a very fine line between asking people to help and becoming annoying, and maybe it’s inevitable that you cross it with some people, so a thick skin is also helpful!

What do you find more challenging - writing a book or marketing it later on?
Both are very challenging, and both are great fun. It takes a very different kind of energy to write a book – a reflective, introspective kind of energy – whereas marketing is all about putting my energy out there. Both activities can be very tiring in different ways, and I need to have a recharge after finishing a book and after a marketing campaign.

Do you think social media is really working? Is it just a better way to communicate with your readers or also a marketing tool?
I do find new readers for my books on Facebook and Twitter, and so I think it does work as a marketing tool, but you have to be even more careful about putting people off – nobody wants adverts for books on their Facebook page all the time. I try to use these tools more as building a profile for myself, by writing about the things that interest me, and then hopefully if people like my writing style they’ll also check out my novels.

How many hours a day do you spend on facebook, twitter and other similar social media platforms?
Hmm, a good question! Maybe an hour or two (or sometimes three). I COULD spend an hour or less if I was focused and I didn’t end up going off on random tangents.

You are an ongoing supporter of Eco-Libris and I know the environmental issue is very important to you. Do you find similar awareness and concerns among readers?
I don’t think people tend to think about the environment when they’re reading a novel. Balancing out our paper consumption by paying for Eco-Libris to plant trees is such a brilliant idea – everyone should be doing it!

Finally, what is your next project and when we can expect your next novel?
My next novel, ‘The Most Beautiful Thing’, is on the horizon, and follows 14 year old Joe as he spends the summer in Amsterdam with his aunt Nel. I already have the NEXT novel queued up in my head, but I’m hoping to take a break yet. I’m looking forward to a quiet summer!

Thanks Fiona!

You can read more about 'Thaw' and the other novels written by Fiona Robyn on her websites - www.fionarobyn.com and www.plantingwords.com

GIVEAWAY ALERT!!

We're giving away a signed copy of Thaw, courtesy of the author, and of course a tree will be planted for the copy!

How you can win? Please add a comment below with an answer the following question: What do you think about enabling readers to read a book for free online? Will it benefit the authors eventually? Submissions are accepted until next Tuesday, March 16, 12PM EST. The winner will be announced the following day.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: plant a tree for every book you read!

The economy is weak? public libraries provide a solution

When prices are rising and over all the American economy doesn't do that well, there's at least one institution that has more customers and its volume of operation is growing significantly: the public library.

NPR reported two weeks ago on this interesting phenomenon - more and more people are finding, either for the first time or back after many years of absence, the great advantage of libraries: access to books, newspapers, magazines and cultural activities for both adults and kids, and it's all for free.

According to the NPR story, librarians all over the country report that many people are checking out books rather than buying them. Libraries are also reporting on significant growth in the usage of many of their (free) services, such as computers, magazines, newspapers, etc.

From my own experience with the library in Newark, DE, I can't really say whether it's also true here or not - the library, which I go to in the last couple of years, always seems busy to me and the parking lot is full most of the times.

By the way, and this important point is also true here in Newark, a big advantage of many libraries is their accessibility. Many of the libraries are within a walking distance or next to a bus station and don't require a long and expensive travel with a car to get there.

My hope is that even when the economy will get back on its feet, people will keep going to libraries and find out that libraries have a great value on both difficult and easy times. There's an important place in our communities and cultural life for both bookstores and libraries and I hope both will thrive and provide us with access to these little treasures called books!

Yours,

Raz @ Eco-Libris

Plant a tree for every book you read!

Think Green! - Green Children's Book Review & Giveaway

Anna Hackman of Green-Talk has recently reviewed Think Green! by by author Jeanine Behr Getz and illustrator Jenny Nightingale, and thinks it's a wonderful tool to teach children how simple actions can ensure that the Planet remains safe for all creations that inhabit it. Greener choices that reduces kids' impact on our world, are illustrated throughout the book.

She is also giving away a copy of the book to one lucky reader that will tell her one lesson he or she would like to teach a child (green or otherwise.) Good Luck to everyone. The contest will run until Friday, May 16 at 6PM eastern time. So hurry up!

Free books on HarperCollins website

Free stuff is always great and free books online is even greater. The New York Times reported earlier this week that HarperCollins Publishers will be offering on their website free electronic editions of some of its books on its website, including books of Paulo Coelho, Neil Gaiman and Erin Hunter.

The idea, explains Motoko Rich in the NYT, is "to give readers the opportunity to sample the books online in the same way that prospective buyers can flip through books in a bookstore".

This step is part of a variety of online promotions that HarperCollins Publishers announced on in a news release last Monday. Two options will be offered to readers on their website - in the “Full Access” Program, a select number of titles can be seen in their entirety for a limited time, and in the “Sneak Peek” Program, readers will be able to view 20% of many new titles two weeks before their on sale date.

According to HarperCollins news release, a key component of this program is the launch of a year-long promotion of bestselling author Paulo Coelho’s books. Each month an entire book will be available for free. The first book, currently accessible, is The Witch of Portobello.

“I believe that online reading helps increase book sales,” said Paulo Coelho. “I am very pleased that HarperCollins is able to make my titles available online for my fans to read.”

Besides Coelho's book, you can all find now on HarperCollins website the following free books:

"Mission: Cook! My Life, My Recipes and Making the Impossible Easy" by Mr. Irvine

"I Dream in Blue: Life, Death and the New York Giants" by Roger Director

"The Undecided Voter's Guide to the Next President: Who the Candidates Are, Where They Come from and How You Can Choose" by Mark Halperin

"Warriors: Into the Wild" the first volume in a children's series by Erin Hunter

Another writer that will also have one of his books posted in the 'Full Access' progam is Neil Gaiman, the fantasy novelist, short story and comics writer. Gaiman invites readers of his blog to help him choosing the book that will take part in the program. You can do it on Gaiman's blog (go to the post from February 9 and click on your favorite book). The updated results can be seen on this page.

I liked what Gaiman had to say to the NYT about his participation in the program and the concept behind it: "“I didn’t grow up buying every book I read,” said the English born Mr. Gaiman, 47. “I read books at libraries, I read books at friend’s houses, I read books that I found on people’s window sills.” Eventually, he said, he bought his own books and he believes other readers will, too."

Gaiman gave a further explanation to the point he tried to made on his blog: "I think the point I was making wasn't so much that eventually you buy your own books, as that there's not and there has never been a simple one-to-one relationship between the books you read and way you find authors and the books you buy. It's more complicated than that, and more interesting. It's about the way that it's assumed that books have a pass-along rate, that a book will be read by more than one person. If the people who read the book like it, they might buy their own copy, or, more likely, just put the author in that place in their heads of Authors I Like. And that's a good place for an author to be."

The free electronic editions would be available only for one month and readers won't be able to download or print the books, but nevertheless it's still a good opportunity to explore some great books at no charge. If you like any of the books there, but hate to read on your computer screen, try to see if there's any bookmoocher out there who is offering this book. It's also free!

In any case, it would be interesting to see if free content will actually result in increased sales as HarperCollins is hoping to be the case here. I promise to keep you posted as soon as HarperCollins will report on the results of this new initiative.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: plant a tree for every book you read!