Why Big Issue vendors are giving away free books: 'Reading is the world'

If you buy a magazine from one of our Big Issue vendors, you could be in for an extra bonus – a free book! A new Quick Reads collection of short stories, All Around the World: Stories by Booker Prize Writers, curated by acclaimed author and 1993 Booker Prize winner Roddy Doyle, will be available free to every reader.

The collection, published by Vintage, is on sale for £1 at Waterstones, BookKind and bookshop.org. But our readers can get a copy for free. Big Issue has partnered with the Booker Prize Foundation and The Reading Agency to make great fiction accessible to everyone. Hundreds of copies have been distributed to Big Issue vendors to read and give away to customers. But if your vendor has run out, you can still claim a free copy – scroll to the end to find out how.

Many of our vendors are keen readers. Here’s what two of them had to say.

George Anderson, Big Issue vendor and science communicator

“I felt there was a common theme of loss, or thwarted expectation, and people having to adapt to that. That theme ran through most of the stories, but they were all a good read in and of themselves. I’ve always enjoyed reading. I enjoy the feel of a book. It feels better than reading from a screen somehow – more comfortable. And I enjoy using your imagination. 

“Reading is almost like mindfulness. It takes you into a different place while keeping you in the here and now. Many people in Big Issue land maybe don’t come from strong reading backgrounds. John Bird himself struggled to read and write because of his circumstances growing up and actually learned in prison. And he went on to create one of the most well-known magazines on the planet.”

André Rostant, Big Issue vendor, frontline worker and writer

“I’m an avid reader. I’ll read anything – laundry lists, bus stops, till receipts. I love reading books. Even if I don’t immediately enjoy a book, somebody put their heart and soul into writing it so I’ll generally stick with it and try to understand why it was written. Life gets in the way. You have to survive. You have to work, shop, look after children, deal with councils, deal with housing.

“People in difficult circumstances don’t always have the luxury to sit and read. And a lot of people don’t feel confident reading. They grow up never being encouraged to read or told that reading is for them.

The advantages of reading? Good heavens – it’s the world. I could be standing in Covent Garden, but if I open a book I could be on Mars, in another dimension, another time. I could be a knight, a fairy, an elephant. Reading speaks to humanity because it comes from humanity.”

Missa Lee, Big Issue sales and  support co-ordinator

“There are 12,000 free Quick Reads by Booker Prize authors going out to public libraries, prisons and bookbanks, and of course Big Issue readers, which is exciting. We’re really grateful for this partnership with The Booker Prize Foundation and The Reading Agency because reading is important. Connecting that with Big Issue vendors and  Big Issue itself – which prides itself on being accessible to anybody and everybody – makes it really special. Reading can inform people, entertain people, educate people. It’s a healthy thing to do and an enrichment to anybody who picks something up to read. Some of these stories explore grief and human emotion in really deep ways. I don’t know how they packed so much depth into such short stories.” 

All Around the World: Stories by Booker Prize Writers is published by Vintage, and is out now for £1 from bookshop.org and Waterstones retailers. 

But if you’re a Big Issue reader you can get a copy absolutely free.

How to claim your free book

Click on this link to the Google Play store or enter the redeem code 4UU8Z020R747X in the Google Play store.

Terms and conditions

Offer: Eligible readers may claim one free Google Play code for one copy of All Around The World: Stories by Booker Prize Writers in [either ebook or audiobook] format.
Promoter: Big Issue Group. The offer is run in conjunction with Penguin Random House UK. Google Play is the redemption platform and is not the promoter of this offer.
Eligibility: Open to readers resident in the UK and Ireland aged 13 or over. 
Offer period: The offer opens at 01.00 am on Monday 8 June 2026 and closes at 23.59 on Sunday 14 June 2026, or earlier if all available codes are claimed. Codes must be redeemed before the download link/code expires.
Availability: A limited number of codes is available. Codes are available on a first-come, first-served basis and may run out before the closing date. The Promoter has made a reasonable estimate of likely demand.  One code per person/Google account. Codes are non-refundable, not for resale and have no cash value.
Redemption: Codes are redeemable through Google Play only and require a valid Google account, internet access, a compatible device/app and compliance with Google Play terms. Your Google Play account country/region must be eligible for the offer. Consumers outside the UK and Ireland, or whose Google Play account settings are outside the eligible territory, may be unable to redeem.
Access after redemption: Once validly redeemed, the title should remain available in your Google Play library, subject to Google Play terms.
Technical issues: The Promoter is not responsible for inability to redeem caused by Google Play unavailability, device incompatibility, account settings, network failure, incorrect entry of a code, or circumstances outside its reasonable control. Lost, expired, deleted or misused codes will not be replaced except at the Promoter’s discretion.
Changes: If the advertised title or format becomes unavailable for reasons outside the Promoter’s reasonable control, the Promoter may substitute an equivalent title or format.
Rights: Nothing in these terms affects your statutory rights.
Privacy: Google’s use of personal data in connection with redemption is governed by Google’s  terms and privacy policy.
Contact: For Google Play redemption issues, contact Google Play support.
Law: These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales, without affecting any mandatory consumer protections that apply in your country of residence.

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. 

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