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Bookstores: A Celebration of Independent Booksellers
Explore the magic of independent bookstores in this beautiful photographic journey across the world.
Bookstores are treasure troves of knowledge and ideas, invaluable for the imagination, and often reflect their owners' personalities in ways internet behemoths could never re-create. In this book, photographer Horst A. Friedrichs opens the door to the world of bricks-and-mortar bookstores, showcasing their variety, quirkiness, and vitality with lavish photography. It celebrates the passion and commitment of the owners with interviews and anecdotes. Explore William Stout Books, a specialty store for architecture and art books in San Francisco, and Baldwin's Book Barn in Pennsylvania, a 5-story bookstore housed in a dairy barn open since the mid-1940s. Discover Gay's the Word, the UK's first and only dedicated LGBTQI bookshop and Livraria Lello, whose Art Deco interior is a temple to reading in the middle of Porto, Portugal. Some of the featured bookstores specialize in a certain genre, some are massive with vaulted ceilings, some are tiny and filled to the brim with books, some are in historic buildings that evoke a different time and place, and some are brand new, hightech, architect-designed spaces. What all the bookstores have in common is that they are all dedicated to spreading the written word to their communities. This is an ideal book for anyone who loves to read, browse, or simply linger in the analog world of books and bookstores.
Bookstores are treasure troves of knowledge and ideas, invaluable for the imagination, and often reflect their owners' personalities in ways internet behemoths could never re-create. In this book, photographer Horst A. Friedrichs opens the door to the world of bricks-and-mortar bookstores, showcasing their variety, quirkiness, and vitality with lavish photography. It celebrates the passion and commitment of the owners with interviews and anecdotes. Explore William Stout Books, a specialty store for architecture and art books in San Francisco, and Baldwin's Book Barn in Pennsylvania, a 5-story bookstore housed in a dairy barn open since the mid-1940s. Discover Gay's the Word, the UK's first and only dedicated LGBTQI bookshop and Livraria Lello, whose Art Deco interior is a temple to reading in the middle of Porto, Portugal. Some of the featured bookstores specialize in a certain genre, some are massive with vaulted ceilings, some are tiny and filled to the brim with books, some are in historic buildings that evoke a different time and place, and some are brand new, hightech, architect-designed spaces. What all the bookstores have in common is that they are all dedicated to spreading the written word to their communities. This is an ideal book for anyone who loves to read, browse, or simply linger in the analog world of books and bookstores.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published June 30, 2020
9 people are currently reading
307 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
June 26, 2021
Highly recommend
July 29, 2020
Völlig überraschendes und unerwartetes Geschenk von einem Kollegen. Ich kann mit Stolz sagen, dass ich mindestens die Hälfte von ihnen besucht habe.
Regalo totalmente a sorpresa ed inaspettato da parte di un collega. Posso orgogliosamente dire di averne visitate almeno la metá.
Regalo totalmente a sorpresa ed inaspettato da parte di un collega. Posso orgogliosamente dire di averne visitate almeno la metá.
April 4, 2021
I really loved this, and wished it was much longer! Maybe there will be more volumes. There are definitely a lot of spots I'd love to see and shop in future travels.
April 17, 2021
You're here for photographs of books. Lots of books. Shelves, rows, and cathedrals of books. You'll find what you're looking for. As a visual experience, there's lots to recommend the book and it lives up to its premise.
I think what left a muted reaction for me was the text and organization of the book. The selections are organized by city and country. It has no intention of being a fully global book, and that's alright. If you had to show everything to be allowed to show anything, we'd have nothing. After a brief introduction, you dive right in.
Each bookstore is introduced in a short interview disguised as an essay by its proprietor. In trying to avoid an interview format, it results in some awkward phrasing. The text has each owner asking themselves rhetorical questions ("Am I concerned about the rise of internet shopping? No, because...") to push the text along. It makes the text seem choppy and random.
I also don't think, frankly, that many of these owners are the best people to ask about the bookstores. Some do a great job of clearly defining what makes their business stand out, its history, and its specialties. Some seem incapable. I'm going to make up a composite intereview based on the tropes you hear throughout this book:
What makes us unique? Well, we have lots of community events. We see ourselves as essential to the community and we're a place where conversations happen. We bring people together. In fact [Famous Local Person] even comes in from time to time! People travel from all over and when they come in, they cry because our books are so beautiful. The rents keep going up, but I think the young people are realizing how important physical media can be, so we love being part of that.
Okay dude, but do you sell used books? Like, give me something about the logistics and clientele. Not just that you appreciate community input, but why do you exist? I wish, frankly, that the essays had been written by regular customers instead. The owners may like to frame themselves as agents of change and vectors of community energy, but is that authentic to the experience of people who spend time in that space? And does it mean anything?
I wish the author had inserted himself more into the text. Why these bookstores? What makes them unique? You didn't pick them by accident, but a lot seem to blend together. I think it might have worked better if they were grouped by function and type instead of location. When it comes down to it, the location didn't make a hugely apparent different for most of these, aside from the language of the books in the pictures.
I also wish there were some occasional photo captions; there are times where it really isn't clear what I'm supposed to focus on in a given picture. Also, while the first photo is often of the store's proprietor, there are other photos that have people posing in the bookstore. Who are these people? Customers? Staff? Models? It doesn't really matter, I guess, but some of them are pretty strange with no context because, like, why are you holding Proust and looking at me so intently with one foot up on a bookshelf, sir?
The book succeeds in its beauty, but waffles in its structure and textual coherence. But flipping through it is a joy, so I'd recommend that without hesitation.
I think what left a muted reaction for me was the text and organization of the book. The selections are organized by city and country. It has no intention of being a fully global book, and that's alright. If you had to show everything to be allowed to show anything, we'd have nothing. After a brief introduction, you dive right in.
Each bookstore is introduced in a short interview disguised as an essay by its proprietor. In trying to avoid an interview format, it results in some awkward phrasing. The text has each owner asking themselves rhetorical questions ("Am I concerned about the rise of internet shopping? No, because...") to push the text along. It makes the text seem choppy and random.
I also don't think, frankly, that many of these owners are the best people to ask about the bookstores. Some do a great job of clearly defining what makes their business stand out, its history, and its specialties. Some seem incapable. I'm going to make up a composite intereview based on the tropes you hear throughout this book:
What makes us unique? Well, we have lots of community events. We see ourselves as essential to the community and we're a place where conversations happen. We bring people together. In fact [Famous Local Person] even comes in from time to time! People travel from all over and when they come in, they cry because our books are so beautiful. The rents keep going up, but I think the young people are realizing how important physical media can be, so we love being part of that.
Okay dude, but do you sell used books? Like, give me something about the logistics and clientele. Not just that you appreciate community input, but why do you exist? I wish, frankly, that the essays had been written by regular customers instead. The owners may like to frame themselves as agents of change and vectors of community energy, but is that authentic to the experience of people who spend time in that space? And does it mean anything?
I wish the author had inserted himself more into the text. Why these bookstores? What makes them unique? You didn't pick them by accident, but a lot seem to blend together. I think it might have worked better if they were grouped by function and type instead of location. When it comes down to it, the location didn't make a hugely apparent different for most of these, aside from the language of the books in the pictures.
I also wish there were some occasional photo captions; there are times where it really isn't clear what I'm supposed to focus on in a given picture. Also, while the first photo is often of the store's proprietor, there are other photos that have people posing in the bookstore. Who are these people? Customers? Staff? Models? It doesn't really matter, I guess, but some of them are pretty strange with no context because, like, why are you holding Proust and looking at me so intently with one foot up on a bookshelf, sir?
The book succeeds in its beauty, but waffles in its structure and textual coherence. But flipping through it is a joy, so I'd recommend that without hesitation.
May 10, 2021
Beautiful book to read once, but I'm happy I didn't buy it. It was too heavily focused on the US and European bookstores, sadly highlighting none from other areas of the world. Also, I didn't find many of the bookstore writeups to be that interesting.
December 18, 2021
This book makes me long to travel. I've only visited six of these bookstores, so I've got a pilgrimage ahead of me. I wonder if there are pocket-sized travel guides particularly for book tourists.
The photos were worth the price of the book, but I found the booksellers' manifestos and reminiscences fascinating. I was also amused by the number of shopkeepers who mentioned Instagram as something that saved their shops.
If there's a drawback to the book, it's that it focused too much on art book shops -- a niche that doesn't particularly interest me. The photos of their architecture and design were intriguing, which fits the scope of this book, but I'm not sure I want to shop there. Which probably says more about me than the shops themselves.
The photos were worth the price of the book, but I found the booksellers' manifestos and reminiscences fascinating. I was also amused by the number of shopkeepers who mentioned Instagram as something that saved their shops.
If there's a drawback to the book, it's that it focused too much on art book shops -- a niche that doesn't particularly interest me. The photos of their architecture and design were intriguing, which fits the scope of this book, but I'm not sure I want to shop there. Which probably says more about me than the shops themselves.
January 22, 2023
“For us, the smell is one of the best things about real bookshops. It is that blend of the scents of paper, wood and an unfashionable secret ingredient that creates this special feeling of well-being.”
From a book barge to a converted chapel to an old dairy barn, this book showcases incredible independent bookstores around the world.
Each owner shares their unique story and thoughts on books and their bookstore.
I am excited to add these bookstores to my upcoming travels list.
From a book barge to a converted chapel to an old dairy barn, this book showcases incredible independent bookstores around the world.
Each owner shares their unique story and thoughts on books and their bookstore.
I am excited to add these bookstores to my upcoming travels list.
August 3, 2024
Wonderful subject matter ofc. Also, the tactile/visual choices made in printing and binding this book were absolutely top-notch. This is something you want to flip thru every time you pass by it. A volume of the highest quality.
July 17, 2021
I love how warm and inviting all of these book stores are. It makes you feel like you would want to sit and stay a while. I work for a library that is currently trying to give us a more institutional feel, it makes me sad because I know how warm book spaces can feel.
August 7, 2021
Just takes your breath away. No words.
Glad there is a little essay on each bookstore. A little history. A little store philosophy and mission statement.
Glad there is a little essay on each bookstore. A little history. A little store philosophy and mission statement.
April 2, 2022
I read about this in BookPage which I pick up at my library.
+for it being about bookstores (especially independent stores)
+for the photography and the numerous photographs included
+for having a short essay about each included bookstore written by someone involved with that store
I requested this through my local library and was surprised at the size of the book when it came. I'm not sure what criteria were used to select the stores that appear in this book. (If they indicated it, it wasn't in a location I found.) I was a bit disappointed that only about a third of the book features United States bookstores and those were limited to New York City and San Francisco with one lone entry from Pennsylvania.
Hello--the United States is more than just the east and west coasts! I know for a fact their are independent bookstores in areas outside of New York and San Francisco. Ones that might be easier for those who live in the central areas of the United States to reach. I had been wondering if I would find a store to plan to visit--but all the ones here are too far away for me to easily make a plan to go see.
The remaining 2/3 of the book is international bookstores. I do see some of the influence from the decor of one of them in the film versions of Harry Potter.
+for it being about bookstores (especially independent stores)
+for the photography and the numerous photographs included
+for having a short essay about each included bookstore written by someone involved with that store
I requested this through my local library and was surprised at the size of the book when it came. I'm not sure what criteria were used to select the stores that appear in this book. (If they indicated it, it wasn't in a location I found.) I was a bit disappointed that only about a third of the book features United States bookstores and those were limited to New York City and San Francisco with one lone entry from Pennsylvania.
Hello--the United States is more than just the east and west coasts! I know for a fact their are independent bookstores in areas outside of New York and San Francisco. Ones that might be easier for those who live in the central areas of the United States to reach. I had been wondering if I would find a store to plan to visit--but all the ones here are too far away for me to easily make a plan to go see.
The remaining 2/3 of the book is international bookstores. I do see some of the influence from the decor of one of them in the film versions of Harry Potter.
September 2, 2020
Horst Friedrichs ist ein international tätiger Fotograf. Damit es nicht so langweilig ist, nur Bilder durchzublättern, hat er zusammen mit Stuart Husband über 40 europäische und amerikanische Buchhandlungen besucht und Geschichten aus ihnen erzählt.
Über besondere Kleinode, die schon ewig gegen den finanziellen Ruin kämpfen. Geschichten über Hochzeiten und Geburten zwischen Hardcovern. Mythen von verschollenen Schätzen in Kellern. Und der ein oder andere Pornodreh war auch scheinbar dabei.
Besonders gut gefallen hat mir, dass die Buchhandlungen geografisch sortiert sind. Ich lese gerade abends "Die Bibliothek - eine Architekturgeschichte" und es gibt so unfassbar schöne Bibliotheken, aber nirgendwo einen Index. Also sitze ich da jede Nacht mit vollgekritzelten Zettelchen, wo die Reise unbedingt mal hingehen muss. Hier ist das sehr praktisch und auch wenn nur sehr wenige Buchhandlungen zu Wort kommen, sind es doch besondere Schönheiten wie Shakespeare & Co in Paris oder die Livreria Lello in Portugal. Sogar eine aus Düsseldorf ist dabei, die muss ich unbedingt als nächstes in meiner Mission: Buchhandlung besuchen!
Ein toller Halbleineneinband lädt direkt zum Schmökern ein und jede Buchhandlung bekommt einen Vorstellungstext sowie mehrere Bildseiten. Wenig Text, viele schöne Bilder - dementsprechend war das Hübsche auch in einem Tag durchgelesen. Aber das Träumen, das geht weiter...
"Natürlich können die Leute jedes gedruckte Buch online kaufen - wenn ihnen ihre Seele oder der Rest der Welt egal ist." ~ Emma Straub, Books are Magic
Über besondere Kleinode, die schon ewig gegen den finanziellen Ruin kämpfen. Geschichten über Hochzeiten und Geburten zwischen Hardcovern. Mythen von verschollenen Schätzen in Kellern. Und der ein oder andere Pornodreh war auch scheinbar dabei.
Besonders gut gefallen hat mir, dass die Buchhandlungen geografisch sortiert sind. Ich lese gerade abends "Die Bibliothek - eine Architekturgeschichte" und es gibt so unfassbar schöne Bibliotheken, aber nirgendwo einen Index. Also sitze ich da jede Nacht mit vollgekritzelten Zettelchen, wo die Reise unbedingt mal hingehen muss. Hier ist das sehr praktisch und auch wenn nur sehr wenige Buchhandlungen zu Wort kommen, sind es doch besondere Schönheiten wie Shakespeare & Co in Paris oder die Livreria Lello in Portugal. Sogar eine aus Düsseldorf ist dabei, die muss ich unbedingt als nächstes in meiner Mission: Buchhandlung besuchen!
Ein toller Halbleineneinband lädt direkt zum Schmökern ein und jede Buchhandlung bekommt einen Vorstellungstext sowie mehrere Bildseiten. Wenig Text, viele schöne Bilder - dementsprechend war das Hübsche auch in einem Tag durchgelesen. Aber das Träumen, das geht weiter...
"Natürlich können die Leute jedes gedruckte Buch online kaufen - wenn ihnen ihre Seele oder der Rest der Welt egal ist." ~ Emma Straub, Books are Magic
December 25, 2022
This is first and foremost a photography book. It's all about the visual image, and it succeeds very well in that. Gorgeous pictures! Absolutely a winner in terms of making the reader dream about visiting those bookstores, browsing the shelves, exploring the idiosyncratic organizational principles, perhaps even chatting with the owners/booksellers.
Every picture is accompanied by a short interview with an owner or bookseller, and those were not particularly enlightening. As a matter of fact, they sounded almost interchangeable, as another reviewer has pointed out. "Yes, it's tough to be an independent bookseller, but things are looking up because either they occupy a special niche (antique books, architecture books, photography books) or young people are getting tired of buying books. The most special thing about their bookstore is the interaction with their customers and the events they organize. It's all about being part of the community."
The book is also a little lop-sided : lots of bookstores in San Francisco, New York, London and then in Germany and Austria, with a couple of locations like Pennsylvania or Maastricht or Portugal.
So, all in all : a beautiful book to browse through and feast your eyes on, but not much more than that.
Every picture is accompanied by a short interview with an owner or bookseller, and those were not particularly enlightening. As a matter of fact, they sounded almost interchangeable, as another reviewer has pointed out. "Yes, it's tough to be an independent bookseller, but things are looking up because either they occupy a special niche (antique books, architecture books, photography books) or young people are getting tired of buying books. The most special thing about their bookstore is the interaction with their customers and the events they organize. It's all about being part of the community."
The book is also a little lop-sided : lots of bookstores in San Francisco, New York, London and then in Germany and Austria, with a couple of locations like Pennsylvania or Maastricht or Portugal.
So, all in all : a beautiful book to browse through and feast your eyes on, but not much more than that.
December 29, 2021
Received as a holiday gift and read every word and studied each picture in a day. Only a limited number of cities in US and Europe chosen to showcase their bookstores, many greats left out but book would be far too cumbersome and maybe there is hope for future editions , more daring adventuring to middle East, Asia, Africa , the America’s?? I for one would never have left out Edinburgh, but photographers choice. The book made me realize the industrial, stark look is not what I want in a bookstore , I’m more of a fan of the welcoming, comfy chair filled, lose yourself in the labyrinthine passageways type of store, none of that art gallery minimalist black and white for me. Each store has a page of history past and present, why they do what they do, from current owners. One pervading sentiment was that the print book is back, in our screen addicted and addled society people , of all ages, still want a book and a place to lose themselves in their midst! Comforting
December 30, 2022
"Bücher sind der Beweis, dass Menschen Magisches bewirken können.« Wirft man einen Blick in die Buchhandlungen, die der renommierte Fotograf Horst A. Friedrichs porträtiert hat, versteht man das Zitat des Autors und Astrophysikers Carl Sagan sofort: Vom schwimmenden Buchladen auf einem Kanalboot bis zu endlosen Bücherreihen in einer ehemaligen Kathedrale zeigt Friedrichs eine erlesene Auswahl von 47 unabhängigen Buchhandlungen. Seine Bilder öffnen die Türen in die einzigartige Welt der Bücher und ihrer enthusiastischen Händler, die mit viel Feingefühl und großer Leidenschaft außergewöhnliche Orte erschaffen. Schatzkammern voller kostbarer Ideen, Räume der Fantasie und der Rebellion"
Bücher sind der beste Weg, sich wahrhaft mit der Welt der Ideen auseinanderzusetzen. Ein atmosphärischer Streifzug durch besondere Buchläden.
Bücher sind der beste Weg, sich wahrhaft mit der Welt der Ideen auseinanderzusetzen. Ein atmosphärischer Streifzug durch besondere Buchläden.
January 25, 2022
This book is without a doubt the most beautiful book I own. As a gift from my kids it’s prob my most cherished as well. A 1/2 to 3/4 page written on each bookstore told by the owner or other important person in the store and plenty of beautiful pictures of the bookstores, books, displays, staff, etc. The bookstores are from several cities all over the world. Incredible! If you are one of those people who walks into a bookstore or library and is immediately enveloped in a feeling of peace, tranquility and satisfaction…this book is for you!
June 5, 2022
Nothing makes me happier than reading about bookstores. They are the best, plain and simple! Bookstores is thus an excellent coffee-table book, filled with info and pictures of numerous bookstores, big and small. I did find the lack of non-American and non-European bookstores a little sad. There are so many unique bookstores in Asia that deserve mention. I do not know about bookstores in Africa and South America and would have loved to read about some. Still, the photos are beautiful, and the writeups are concise.
May 27, 2024
Whether they're minimalist or overstuffed (my personal favorite), there's nothing like an independent bookstore. This oversized book features short essays by booksellers as well as a few pages of excellent photos of each location-- half from the U.S. and the U.K. and the rest from other European locations. It's a great collection to learn more about some of your favorites, if you're lucky enough to have visited them, as well as to find ideas for future visits. Ironically, the price tag for this book is high so I had to rely on my library to spend time with it.
April 28, 2021
This is such a gorgeous book. Some are ridiculously beautiful - the one in the deconsecrated cathedral especially so -but all of the photos of all the bookstores are so well done, as are the photos of representative browsers. I was most charmed by the alterna-fashion patron at San Francisco’s City Lights Bookstore. And I’m still positively gleeful to realize that I’ve been to so many.
Now I’ve just got to get to all the rest …
And send the author a list of more, for inclusion in the sequel!
Now I’ve just got to get to all the rest …
And send the author a list of more, for inclusion in the sequel!
June 14, 2021
While my opinion is biased, I do believe the U.S. has the better idea of bookstores. And old ones overseas that are in old churches, or over 100 years old, etc. But these new, artistic, linear, sparse bookstores are not attractive to me. They feel cold, unwelcome, and lacking. Give me a book barge, a store in a barn, or stacks of books about to topple.
Overall, beautiful coffee table book with beautiful photos.
Overall, beautiful coffee table book with beautiful photos.
September 11, 2021
Scores of beautiful photos of dozens of independent bookstores from around the world, with an especially extensive section of German shops (the author was born in Frankfurt).
The pics of Livraria Lello in Porto, Portugal are jaw dropping. J. K. Rowling lived in Porto for a time in the 90s, and was said to visit Lello on a near-daily basis as she worked on the first Harry Potter book. The interior of this bookstore is said to be the inspiration for Hogwarts!
The pics of Livraria Lello in Porto, Portugal are jaw dropping. J. K. Rowling lived in Porto for a time in the 90s, and was said to visit Lello on a near-daily basis as she worked on the first Harry Potter book. The interior of this bookstore is said to be the inspiration for Hogwarts!
June 3, 2024
Interesting photographic collection of indie book stores with brief descriptions from owners/employees. Pretty limited set of locations with a lot of focus on a few cities in the US and Europe. Still, good inspiration for places to visit. Before visiting though, you might want to check people's reviews on Google Maps or other places. Some appear to be not as welcoming and some don't want you taking pictures–which is ironic.
August 9, 2022
I borrowed from the library where someone left post-it notes of various quotes... it was quite touching.
it focused only on a few locations, big tourist heavy cities... which is a bit of a let down because there are wonderful, interesting, quirky and, yes, Instagram worthy shops in so many tiny to mid-size locations. would have been more inspiring... but I never turn down a turn in a bookshop.
it focused only on a few locations, big tourist heavy cities... which is a bit of a let down because there are wonderful, interesting, quirky and, yes, Instagram worthy shops in so many tiny to mid-size locations. would have been more inspiring... but I never turn down a turn in a bookshop.
December 28, 2022
The reverence with which the bookstore owners talk about books, community, and the importance of independent bookstores brought tears to my eyes multiple times. The photography is gorgeous, and every word is worth reading. I found this book in my favorite independent bookstore and practically slept with it under my pillow after receiving it for Christmas.
May 5, 2021
I just finished the book. And now I want to travel the world and visit some of these fascinating places. In a world where so many books are purchased online from the big name companies, it's nice to read a book that celebrates Independent bookstores.
August 23, 2021
There is no place more soothing to book lovers than a library, bookstore or bookstore/cafe. With its beautiful photographs and commentary on reading and books, this book lives up to its title. It is a treat for the eyes and spirit, a relaxing companion for downtime, a love song to bibliophiles.
October 30, 2021
Pleasurable, and a gorgeous object of a book. So very white and Euro-centric, or I’d give it another star. Also more than a bit pretentious. But still a thrill when bibliophilic travels are on COVID hold.
January 9, 2025
Such a beautiful book that has created a dream journey in my mind. Having the shop owners write the introduction to their bookstores was a brilliant idea. Now, I just need a million dollars to travel to each of them.
December 20, 2020
Now I want to got to Porto 😱
August 27, 2021
So many bookstores, so little time. Thanks to this book, visiting bookstores around the world is now on my bucket list.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews