“The only way to do this is solidarity.” ~ Cory Doctorow

“Solidarity or solidarism is the provision of mutual moral and material support among the members of a group in times of need.” ~ Wikipedia

Cory was in town tonight, speaking at a Munro’s Books event. Two notes before continuing:

1. Up Local Book Stores! Thank you to the venerable Munro’s for hosting another memorable evening.

2. Speaking of the focal memorabilia, if you ever get a chance to see Cory speak, strong recommend. In lieu, give him a follow, yesterday.

For who-knows-how-long - I don’t, because not for a moment was I not hanging tenaciously on every word - Cory freestyled one of the most cogent, wide-ranging, up-tempo, illuminating pieces of low-key, high-fidelity advocacy I’ve ever heard.

The quote above was some of last words he uttered before crisply ending, pivoting on the ball of his foot to his right, and heading to sign copies of his latest book, A Reverse Centaur’s Guide to Life After AI (also: strong recommend).

And, while those words were in specific response to an audience member’s question about how to approach responding to AI as a skilled trades worker, it kinda felt like Cory’s answer to the whole shebang.

“From Indigenous leader and former justice minister of Canada Jody Wilson-Raybould—and educator and lawyer Roshan Danesh—comes a how-to guide for a new type of leadership.

We live in a time of paradox. At once, it feels like we are pulling together and pulling apart.

In this era of extreme polarization, traditional leadership models rooted in competition and hierarchy are failing to bridge the gap. In The Inbetween Leader, Wilson-Raybould and Danesh offer an alternative—one that fosters interconnectedness, empowers diverse teams, and maintains unity without erasing difference. […]”

/via greystonebooks.com/products/…

New 📚 day, with thanks to new LBS Meant Well Books for ordering it in.

Super-happy for a first visit and library adds at a wonderful new LBS in my ‘hoodish: Meant Well Books. ❤️

“In June 2025, a mother and daughter opened Vancouver Island’s only mobile book truck, taking it to markets, events and neighbourhoods with the goal of making reading more fun and accessible.

They noticed something pretty quickly: community forms around books. From there came more stops, more events (Reading Parties!), more partnerships, and eventually a book scooter for smaller pop-ups and local deliveries.

And now, just in time for another rainy season, they’re adding a permanent place to the mix: a brick-and-mortar bookshop in Victoria.“ 👏

/via www.meantwellbooks.com

I recently finished reading: Quiet Champions A Way Forward for Mentors in Turbulent Times by Ian Chisholm 📚, which I highly recommend.

My intent is to write a review. For now, this quote feels like a good way to summarize what you can expect from what Ian shares:

“This four-word mantra is a good one to keep up your sleeve. You are the work reminds us that our role as mentors is to help others realize that they, themselves, are the most important piece of work they will ever undertake - and the best way for them to realize that is to experience us doing that same work on ourselves right alongside them.”

Jennie just surprised me with a copy of You Matter More Than You Think Quantum Social Change for a Thriving World by Karen L. O’Brien 📚… looking forward to the read.