What is the
   secret peace?
Jesse Richards
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My Favorite Books
Bookstores | Specialties | My Signed Books | My Friends' Book Lists | Intro: My List

NYC Bookstores

Map of all the bookstores in New York

At least, as far as I can tell ... if it's on this map, I've visited it in person. I try to keep this as updated as I can. If you think of any I've missed, let me know at jesse@jesserichards.com! These stores are where I've done a lot of the research for my own book, The Secret Peace. Check out my blog at www.secretpeace.com.

Barnes & Nobles | Comic Shops | Magazines | Borders | Other Bookstores

My Favorite Bookstores

Barnes & Noble 6th AvenueBarnes & Noble 6th Avenue
Ok, I'd love to fill this list completely with tiny secret independent booksellers but it's not going to happen. Barnes & Noble is too good. So back off! This one is smaller than the Union Square store but calmer and better organized. The best part is the café - it overlooks the store and is the best way to spend a Sunday morning.

Update: Closed in March of 2008. So sad! B&N HQ must have finally noticed there were 5 stores within 6 blocks of each other. But I refuse to remove it from the list.

Kramerbooks & AfterwardsKramerbooks & Afterwards
Washington D.C.
Visit web site
This is a superb store with a huge selection and the best food in any book café ever. This was another one of Marc's week-long jobs.

McNally Robinson (Jackson?)
I only recently discovered this cool bookstore even though it's on Prince Street, only a few blocks from where I work.

St. Marks Book ShopSt. Marks Book Shop
This is superbly located and has a surprisingly comprehensive selection in certain departments.

 

Barnes & Noble Union SquareBarnes & Noble
Union Square

Huge - 4 stories! But so
crowded and not a lot of "fun" parts. Lots of good book signings here, though. The cafe is nice ... if you can get a seat.

Sarasota News & BooksSarasota News & Books - Visit web site
(AKA Sarasota Books & Music, according to Rachel.) This is nowhere near any of these other bookstores. But I've visited Sarasota three times while Rachel was performing in shows down there, and have hung out in this shop killing time while she's working. They've got a nice selection of books and a quiet cafe. I found a signed Brad Meltzer book there.

Idlewild
Colorful travel bookstore arranged creatively: Set up by region/country, but in each section there are novels, nonfiction, art and poetry books from that country as well as travel books. Also, really nice second-story bay window and layout.

The Harvard Coop
I've only been to Boston a few times but I love this store. This is where I first found the Oxford Short Introductions series.

Book Culture
I was waaaaay out fo my neighborhood when I found this: on the upper west side near Columbia. Nice two-story shop with lots of Very Short Introductions.

Shakespeare & Company
Broadway in SoHo
There used to be one of these only a block away from me, but this one is cozier and more unique. They have great recommendation tables.

Micawber Books
Princeton, NJ
This is my favorite bookshop back near the ol' homestead. They have a huge selection of Penguin classics and a long table of new recommendations running the length of the store. Update: closed in 2007. So sad.

Unoppressive, Non-Imperialist Bargain BooksUnoppressive, Non-Imperialist Bargain Books
Carmine Street, the West Village
All overstock, so very inexpensive books. Heavy on Eastern religions but also has film books, biographies and literature classics.  

Barnes & Noble Lincoln Center
Another good one with way too many floors.

Strand
A million miles of books in Union Square. I recently attended a fantastic authors' signing here. But in general, it's hard to find things here and they don't have as large a selection as you would expect.

Borders
Broadway at Wall Street
For some reason this is better than the rest of the Borders in the city. I met Bill Clinton here and got his book signed.

This cool magazine shop I found in Greenwich Village last week and will add here once I find it again. Wish me luck. It's not any different than many other magazine places, but it is the largest I've found.

Borders
Bridgewater, NJ
I used to walk to this one from Somerville. Not bad.

Partners & Crime - Visit web site
Mystery Booksellers in Greenwich Village. By that I mean they sell mysteries, not that they're shrouded in mystery.

Computer Book Works - Visit web site
Store of only computer books, downtown

Barnes & Noble Hamilton, NJ
Years after I moved away, they finally built a bookstore that's practically walking distance from my house!

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