The idea of “The Bookman” was born at the same time as Sam's daughter. An English teacher for 17 years, before that a journalist, Sam took parental leave to be at home with his new baby. “I was thinking what I can do to keep my brain ticking over, to maybe bring in some money,” explains Sam. “A glass of red wine later and I suddenly had it. I love books. Books have driven everything I've done.” Then he began to work as a bookman.

However, he didn't want to follow the standard book subscription model where everybody who signs up receives the same collection of books. Instead, he buys his books from independent booksellers and subscribers receive books that are selected just for them, depending on their own personalities. The model becomes a real hit and his customer base stretches across Europe, ranging in age from 4 to 95.

“The Bookman is all about sitting down with you and finding out what you like. It's not about what I like or what I think you should read. It's a personalised service.” Sam's consultation service is offered over the phone, by Zoom or through an email questionnaire.

During the pandemic (疫情), he offered free books to those who couldn't go out. “People in tough times are helpless, when they are starved of company, and desirable books are just for them. I want to do something that might make people feel better. Sam said. By the end of that first lockdown, he'd given out 350 books. Meanwhile, he got a lot back from it himself—lots of grateful cards and letters from extremely lovely people who were on their own and appreciated the company of a book.

He won't ever stop being The Bookman, picking out books for strangers, books he hopes they will love, books driven by his own passion for reading and sharing stories.

Moochie the Soochie Visits the Peace People

By Quinton Crawford

Price: $3.00             Words: 2,800

Language: English

This is a two-story children’s book. Story 1: Moochie visits children on every continent to learn a little of their languages. Story 2: Moochie travels through human history to find people in times of peace. Kids can learn greetings in over nine languages from around the world in the book.

Jokes Series 4(Fruits)

By BodhaGuru Learing

Price: Free               Words: 21,320

Language: English

This is a book on funny jokes for children and is a colorful picture book. It has many jokes on fruit. Fruit keeps us healthy and now it has come to make us laugh. Let us laugh with funny jokes on fruit.

Three Wolves

By Chris Sheerin

Price: $4.99             Words: 50,440

Language: British English

Two officers secretly enter Yellowstone National Park and steal a female wolf from her den(兽穴). Little do those men realize, however, that the female wolf is highly valued by her pack(一群), and that they will do anything to find her.

Three Wolves is told not through the eyes of man, but through wolves. It is a story of hope and courage, of dreams and superstitions(迷信), in which you might at last be persuaded that wolves know more about nature than man.

The Officer’s Whistle

By Matthew Howorth

Price: $3.20             Words: 24,540

Language: English

Simon is in his last year at prep school(预科学校）and always seems to be in trouble. He finds a feeling of comfort in history lessons. When doing a homework task, he finds an old box dug out by his father. It holds secrets of a relative who fought in World War I. Looking through it, Simon discovers the story of Tom Beal, who applied to fight in 1914 and finds an old whistle. What story does it hold?

Some architecture books worth reading

This list of books would serve as both essential reading and an excellent gift for those studying architecture or working in the field. These editions are filled with so many artistically impressive works that they're accessible to non-professional beauty and design lovers and even young readers.

World Architecture:A Cross-Cultural History

Richard Ingersoll

Paperback $125.95

This book is primarily a college-level text, yet its collection of more than 800 superb color pictures makes it appealing to anyone who appreciates interesting buildings. It also includes an instructor's CD of PowerPoint presentations.

·Exploring related societal issues

·Useful timelines and case analysis

Architecture:A Visual History

Jonathan Glancey

Hardcover $30

Want to explore architecture but lack experience in the field? Here's a great choice. This in formative but easy-to-understand book covers everything from ancient stupas(舍利塔)to contem porary skyscrapers. Its clean format together with more than 400 images also provides abundant in- formation that engages readers’ interest.

·Thirteen 3D artworks

·Structures around the globe

Seeking New York:The Stories Behind the Historic Architecture of Manhattan -One Building at a Time

Tom Miller

Paperback $22.5

This book allows readers to revisit Manhattan's splendid past through its incredible architec ture.Those who appreciate city planning,construction,or the Big Apple should never miss it.

Lots of specific information

Showing destroyed structures

The Story of Buildings :From the Pyramids to the Sydney Opera House and Beyond Patrick Dillon

Hardcover $19.99

This one can be used as a wonderful way to introduce architecture to children. The book has a unique format,with detailed drawings that take readers inside well-known buildings. At the beginning of each chapter, there's an overview of a certain historical stage.

·Featuring 16 famous buildings

·Plenty of double-page images