Real Voices
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Free Books
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Real Voices ✒ Free Books ✒
Big Shoulders Books
Great books have no price
join our community.
Big Shoulders Books is an innovative, social-justice publishing initiative, based at DePaul University. Our goal is to disseminate, free of charge, books by and about Chicagoans whose voices might not otherwise be amplified. BSB aims to make meaningful contributions to discussions of injustice and inequality, and to celebrate the tremendous resilience and creativity found in Chicago.
Since our founding in 2011, we've distributed well over 100,000 copies, while providing hundreds of DePaul students with practical, hands-on training in the craft and business of publishing.
Please join our audacious experiment in making free books that inspire generosity and create community.
Testimonials
“History is so much more than dates and names of events. It is a vibrant, emotional, colorful, and personal account of the past.”
“I have given this book away so many times that I finally have not gotten it back... It is a book that I find myself doubling back to all the time when trying to explain the passion I have for working with and teaching my gifted students on the Southside of Chicago.”
“My job is to focus on creating a therapeutic environment that fosters healing and growth. Your books have been a very important aspect of this by providing our residents with material that they can read, reflect upon, use to assist in self-expression, and in the development of coping skills.”
“Sometimes I feel like I won’t be able to live long enough to actually do something positive for our city and that’s my biggest fear... Passing on these books will help me get some peace of mind, knowing at least I took my first steps.”
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Support our community! Your donation goes directly towards uplifting and disseminating Chicago voices. Collective support goes far and any amount helps to make our mission possible.
The best way to support Big Shoulders Books is to get your own copy of one of our releases! Interact with local writers and spread the word!