I am a software developer living in Portland, OR. Inspired by Thom's books (We the People and Last Hours) and other progressive and environmental books and DVDs, I decided to create a website to give people a simple tool for circulating books among friends.

The result is: http://www.bookproject.org

The website is free to use (and no advertising), and the privacy and security are tight.

The website works as follows. A person who wants to circulate a book (or DVD) visits the website to get a book code for their book. They write the book code onto a piece of paper and tuck or tape it into the book (or DVD case). Then they hand the book on to a friend. When the friend finishes the book, they hand it on to a friend of theirs, and so on. Each person who reads the book can make an entry in its "travelog" on the website (using a nickname), and can use the website to follow the book's downstream travels.

The basic idea behind the website (explained more fully in the FAQ) is that circulating issue-oriented books and DVDs can be an effective way for people to cultivate progressive thought and discussion in their community, provided there is a circulation framework that allows the participants to watch the books travel and comment on them.

The website also has a chapters (groups) feature, which allows any group of people to form their own private area within the website. Within a chapter, people can read each others' comments on the books they are circulating, and chapter administrators can post messages (and send an email newsletter) to the group.

I'd appreciate any suggestions or other feedback on the website, and by all means try circulating a book or DVD if you're interested.

Thanks for the creative attempt as well as the grunt work Rich, many happy returns!