Quarantine doesn’t necessarily mean more time to read. If you’re anything like our family, you have less time, fewer outlets for stir-crazy kids (and adults), and general exhaustion at the end of each day. For moms, juggling remote work and kids, you might feel like you have five jobs. Yet, in the age of social distancing and a relentless spigot of news, books are still selling well. Children’s books and books about pandemics are popular. According to one bookseller, “People are definitely buying stacks of books. More people are buying what might be called ‘ambitious reads,’ or big, fat books.” Apparently we make time to read, even amid global pandemics.
Whether you’re looking for something to stir your heart in the gospel, a fun read about distant lands or imagined places, or a book to give to the littlest ones around you, there are plenty of options to choose from. Thankfully, a number of publishers—Christian and non-Christian alike—have steeply discounted or made several books available for free. Our own TGC bookstore has a number of significantly discounted titles you can browse.
Happy reading.
Audible
On their website, Audible wrote:
For as long as schools are closed, we’re open. Starting today, kids everywhere can instantly stream an incredible collection of stories, including titles across six different languages, that will help them continue dreaming, learning, and just being kids. All stories are free to stream on your desktop, laptop, phone or tablet. Explore the collection, select a title and start listening. It’s that easy.
Littlest Listeners
Elementary
Tweens
Teens
Literary Classics
You can view the entire library here.
B&H/LifeWay
B&H has discounted a number of titles to $4.99 in ebook for trade (Kindle, Apple, Nook, Kobu, and so on) as well as $4.99 for print on LifeWay.com (website only).
LifeWay has made their entire curriculum available for free, including The Gospel Project.
Banner of Truth Trust
Banner of Truth writes:
Friends, we are in the midst of a situation that, for most of us, is unprecedented in our lifetimes. We do well to remember that our God is the God of the Bible; the same today as in days gone by; the God who Flavel wrote about; the God who the scriptures tell us is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble. In these difficult times when our churches, jobs, and physical health are being so disrupted we can be encouraged that our Lord is carrying out his providential care for all of his children and he does so with all mercy and wisdom.
To that end, Banner of Truth has steeply discounted several books on God’s providence:
Crossway
Crossway has made the following ebooks available for free:
Crossway is also giving free access to their ESV.org basic subscription plan to those who haven’t yet subscribed through May 31, 2020. The basic plan includes the following resources:
- 9 study Bibles, including the award-winning ESV Study Bible (containing 20,000+ study notes, 80,000+ cross-references, 200+ charts, 50+ articles, and 240 full-color maps and illustrations)
- A suite of original language tools related to The Greek New Testament, Produced at Tyndale House, Cambridge
- The complete interactive Knowing the Bible study series which consists of 45 volumes covering the Bible’s 66 books
See all the free resources Crossway has produced.
Focus on the Family
Adventures in Odyssey—one of the best radio programs for children and adults alike—is making four weeks available for free.
The Good Book Company
Most books and ebooks here are discounted 40 percent off.
Lexham/Faithlife (Logos)
Lexham/Logos/Mobile Ed are preparing an offer for institutions whose students are losing access to their libraries but need to complete courses, assignments and projects. It will offer free access to Lexham, Mobile Ed, and Public Domain resources along with select journals and other resources to students and faculty of these instructions through the end of the semester.
Faithlife provides free books every month, so take a look at this month’s offerings.
Ligonier
For the first time ever, Ligonier had made their entire library of hundreds of teaching series free to stream. And for those who have Amazon Prime, these are available to stream on that platform. Through at least June 30, Ligonier has also made their group studies available for free.
Moody
Moody is offering several of these titles for 50 percent off.
P&R
Sally Michael’s “Making Him Known” series for children is discounted on Kindle. Normally $16.99, these are priced at $7.99 each.
10 of Those
As always, 10 of Those is offering steep discounts on their titles. You can get 10 ebooks for $10! Here are some of TGC’s books:
Westminster Bookstore
Westminster Bookstore has released a free PDF document of 15 chapters from 15 different books that help us to orient ourselves to God in uncertain times. You can purchase those books at a discounted price, with free shipping if you use the code “READSLOW.” This expires March 31, 2020.
Zondervan
Sale on Zondervan’s Counterpoints series. Save up to 74 percent on eBooks. Save 50 percent on print editions. Discounts expire March 29.
MasterLectures by Zondervan Academic allows you to stream thousands of video lectures on the Bible and theology. It is now free for the first 14 days, and then 50 percent off the first three months when you use the code “LEARN.” Titles include: