Independent bookstores are beacons of hope, offering intangible commodities such as connection, empathy, and knowledge, in addition to physical books. The convenience and discounts of Amazon have long threatened their very existence. Since 2015, Independent Bookstore Day has worked to combat this threat on the last Saturday of April. This year’s festivities fall on April 25. Fast Company sat down with Andy Hunter, founder and CEO of Bookshop.org , to talk not only about the holiday and his organization’s work to offer an Amazon alternative. A cultural awakening around independent bookstores Since the pandemic and continued high cost of living, we as a society have undergone a social awakening and become more intentional about where we are spending our hard-earned money. This even translates to bookstores. The cultural awakening makes Hunter optimistic. “People are really galvanizing around bookstores as a force for good in our culture,” he says.…