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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsBarnes & Noble CEO James Daunt’s claim that a bookstore offers “a better book” is a defense of the experience around buying it—not a claim that the physical book itself is different. In a January 3, 2025 report, GeekWire described the chain’s revival as a return to books-focused stores, where browsing and conversations can make discovering a book more rewarding.
What Daunt means by “a better book”
“It’s the same book, but I promise you it’s a better book,” Daunt told GeekWire, describing the pleasure of buying a book in a bookstore. The line is a metaphor for the experience around the purchase. It does not mean a copy bought at Barnes & Noble has a different edition, text, or reading quality from the same book bought on Amazon.
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Barnes and Noble Physical Gift Card | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Barnes and Noble Physical Gift Card | $25.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Barnes & Noble eGift Card | $100.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Barnes and Noble Physical Gift Card | $40.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Daunt’s case is that a physical bookstore offers more than access to a title: readers can browse shelves, encounter books they had not set out to find, and talk about books with staff or other readers. That is his view of the bookstore’s value, not a measured finding that every customer has a better experience in a shop.
How the bookstore and Amazon serve different kinds of browsing
Daunt’s explanation, as reported by GeekWire, is that Amazon’s online reach can serve readers looking for specialist or less commonly browsed titles, while a physical store can devote shelf space to books customers are more likely to discover in person. This is his account of how the channels complement one another; GeekWire’s report does not independently establish that Amazon’s reach causes bookstores to stock fewer specialist titles.
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| What a reader wants | What the report says about the channel | What is not established |
|---|---|---|
| Browse and discover | Daunt emphasizes the experience of encountering books in a store. | No controlled comparison shows which channel leads to more discoveries. |
| Find a specialist or less commonly browsed title | Daunt says Amazon can serve readers seeking titles that may not merit prominent physical shelf space. | The report does not measure stock breadth or establish availability for a particular title. |
| Talk with people about books | Daunt points to the social element of buying and browsing in bookstores. | No customer survey or outcome measure compares reader interactions across channels. |
| Shop with convenience or broad online reach in mind | The report presents Amazon’s online reach as an advantage for access to less commonly browsed books. | It provides no delivery, price, or convenience comparison. |
The practical distinction is not that one channel is universally better. A store may suit someone who wants to browse and engage with books in person; an online retailer may be useful when the reader has a specific or specialist title in mind. The report offers no price data or customer research that would support a broader ranking.
What the reported store figures do—and do not—show
GeekWire’s January 3, 2025 article said Barnes & Noble opened nearly 60 stores in 2024 and planned 60 additional openings in 2025. The second figure was a plan reported at the time, not confirmation that those stores subsequently opened.
Rank #2
- Barnes & Noble Gift Cards can be used at any Barnes & Noble store nationwide and at BN.com
- They can also be used at any Barnes & Noble College location
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
- Redemption: Instore and Online
The same report put the chain at approximately 600 stores at the time of publication, compared with a reported U.S. peak of 726 locations in 2008. Those are figures from the January 2025 report, not verified current totals. It also attributed to Daunt the claim that Amazon accounted for more than 50% of the book market, without specifying the market definition or citing a separate underlying study. That figure should be read as Daunt’s reported statement, not as an independently established market-share measurement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the revival argument rests on
GeekWire framed the chain’s revival as a return to a books-first approach and stores that can respond more locally. Within that account, Daunt’s “better book” line is the emotional case for keeping bookstores relevant even when online retailers sell the same titles: a shop can make browsing and conversation part of the purchase. It is an argument about the value of the setting and experience, rather than proof that bookstores outperform online shopping on selection, price, or any measured customer outcome.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Barnes & Noble Gift Cards can be used at any Barnes & Noble store nationwide and at BN.com
- They can also be used at any Barnes & Noble College location
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
- Redemption: Instore and Online
Rank #4
- Barnes & Noble Gift Cards can be used at any Barnes & Noble store nationwide and at BN.com
- They can also be used at any Barnes & Noble College location
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
- Redemption: Instore and Online
Rank #3
- Barnes & Noble Gift Cards can be used at any Barnes & Noble store nationwide and at BN.com
- They can also be used at any Barnes & Noble College location
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
- Redemption: Instore and Online
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
