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Of Books, Inc. & Independent Bookstores

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When I had a few moments to myself during my sister’s wedding weekend in San Francisco, I did something I love to do when visiting another town, visit a bookstore. And there was a delightful independent bookstore not far from my hotel, Books, Inc in Laurel Village.

This smallish (compared to the chain stores) shop reminded me how much I enjoy browsing in an “old-fashioned” bookstore. Here, instead of immersing yourself in one section, you find yourself starting in one section, then moving without thinking into another.

This store was one of those “independent stores,” you know, those who complain how they are losing business to Amazon and the chain stores.  I sympathize with this bookstore’s complaint.

I have tried to frequent such stores because the staff there tend to know and love books, but find that at some shops, the highly literate clerks have an attitude or lean far, far to the left and their store’s selection shows it.

Not so at Books, Inc. While I chanced upon a number of left-wing books on the shelves, I also saw offerings from Bruce Thornton (colleague/ideological ally of Victor Davis Hanson), David Frum and William F. Buckley, Jr. Jonah Goldberg’s Liberal Fascism was prominently displayed.

Not only that, The staff could not have been friendlier. As a result, I felt compelled to buy a book (always nice to find a reason to add another volume to my collection).  I don’t mind paying extra for a book when I buy it at a store with supportive staff and unbiased offerings.

If Independent bookstores are to survive, they will be places like Books, Inc. in San Francisco’s Laurel Village where you have a friendly staff and a selection which includes a panoply of political perspectives.

I had forgotten the pleasure of browsing in a smaller store where one section just flows into another. And the delight in perusing volumes which cover the gamut of American political opinion — as well as mythological texts, collections of poetry and bound reflections on human kindness.

So next time you’re in the Bay Area, pay a visit to Books, Inc.  And if the shop’s selection is as diverse as that I observed, buy a book and tell the clerk there you appreciate their inclusion of conservative tomes.  That is, if you think the market should reward broad-minded booksellers.

Comments

  1. I love the way bookstores smell. When my brother and I were kids, my mother used to leave us in the mall’s big bookstore while she went shopping. Built-in babysitter.

  2. I had forgotten the pleasure of browsing in a smaller store where one section just flows into another.

    I dig small bookstores, but I like a bit of definition to the sections. I get a tad annoyed when looking at Gay/Lesbian and then the next thing I know, I’m looking at Native American or African American. I like to know where Military History stops and World History begins. I like the delineation between True Crime and Biography.

    But that’s just me.

  3. #1
    And yes, I was thinking of the smell while reading Dan’s post. The big stores are, I guess you could say, sterile as far as that goes. I remember it well from the library where I grew up. It had been there since the 50s and the smell almost slapped you in the face when you walked in the door.

    It was exhilirating.

  4. I miss Duttons in North Hollywood. It was an old rambling house turned into the best bookstore ever. The occult section was in an old closet.

    Doug retired a few years ago, and now it’s a Busy Body store – ugh!. I’ll never forget when my oldest was 15 and wanted to read the Divine Comedy. I asked Doug which translation he recommended. He was so thrilled that a teenager wanted to read the classics, he personally walked me through all the options. 

  5. To be honest, I love the wide variety at the "big box" bookstores.  But I do prefer going into an independent bookstore and talking to an owner or staffer who really loves books.  The first time I was in New York for a long weekend we stopped very briefly outside The Strand and all I could think was, "My god I could spend the entire weekend in here!".

    (BTW, OT:  is the "Live preview of comment" not working for anyone else?)

  6. How lucky you were, Dan.  I’d give my right arm to find a decent "independent" book store.

    My favorite for many years not only featured a huge selection of recently published books it had a section in which it bought and sold old books.  And it was staffed by older men and women who were well read and had a good knowledge of books available.  On many occasions I’d give them titles I wanted and within weeks they’d have them for me.

    The book store was in an old building and it and the old books had a special and enjoyment aroma  and warmth missing in the vinyl and chrome mall spaces.

    I regret that deaths of owners and staff and the impact of competition from the big chains closed the door of that beloved relic.

  7. If you’re pining for the return of independent book stores, then stop supporting politicians who are pro-big business and anti-small business.  Laws and tax breaks in this country going back decades (under both republicans and democrats) have heftily favored big business in many ways.  Look at the models used by places like Wal-Mart and Home Depot:  These companies regularly (and legally) threaten chain suppliers who do business with smaller companies, causing higher prices and/or inability to get product in those smaller stores and eventually put them out of business.  For the last several years, I can recall a similar story coming out every time a new "Harry Potter" was released:  smaller stores either wouldn’t carry the book or would have to charge a price so high that they had difficulties in selling it.  In some cases, they reported that they couldn’t carry the book because of their inability to sponsor the release events that the publisher was requiring on the day the title was released.
    I do find it interesting that this store you mention is located in a city so despised as a liberal bastion.  Actually, I find it pretty funny that even though most its stores are located in a geographic area around San Francisco, it operates only one store in Southern California, and that location is at Disneyland.  what’s with that?

  8. Wow! Kevin! You are the true champion of the buggy whip theory of market protection. And I thought the modern Luddites had all died off.

    The mom and pop stores can not compete with any big box unless they concentrate on customer satisfaction, follow models of success in other communities, stay current on management skills, develop aggressive marking skills, emphasize the value in service and quality, cut waste to the bone, keep a positive business attitude, provide items the box store doesn’t and study their competition and out think them.

    Why should the government take any interest in protecting a bunch of inefficient suppliers who bring you limited choices at high prices? 

    Liberals always yell at the store. How come the sheeple flock to them? Is it because sheeple know where to shop for the best prices and the widest selection? Liberals can not stand it when their sheeple act on their own and ignore the pronouncements of the gods.