Dec 26

Dec 26 The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore

About the book

Author: Evan Friss
Publisher: Viking

More info:
The StoryGraph | Goodreads
Note: Content and trigger warnings are provided for those who need them at the bottom of this page. If you don’t need them and don’t want to risk spoilers, don’t scroll past the review.

Buy and support indie bookstores (+ I earn a small commission):
Bookshop.org (print) | Libro.fm (audio)

My Review

I borrowed this book from the library on a whim because I was itching for nonfiction, it was December and there’s a Christmas tree on the cover (so it felt cozy and seasonal), and I had access to the audiobook thanks to PRH Audio. Holy guacamole, am I glad that I did! This book was an utter delight, indeed very cozy and interesting and a must-read for bookstore lovers everywhere.

Friss is a history professor at James Madison, the husband of a bookseller at Three Lives & Co in NYC, and a bookstore lover in general. He takes this topic that is so near and dear to all of our hearts (bookstores) and gives us a warm, fascinating, very readable account of its history. I didn’t want it to end! And I also learned so much. As a former resident of NYC who frequented MANY of its bookstores, I especially loved the chapters on key NYC shops that are no longer around but were formative to the city and the culture of bookselling in general (Oscar Wilde, Gotham Book Mart, etc.).

The audio was very well narrated and would be a great choice if you prefer your nonfiction that way. But if you can get a print copy, I recommend it, because there are photos interspersed throughout. I’ll be buying myself one soon!