SKU: 3204539272

The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore

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The Bookshop: A History of the American BookstoreBy Evan Friss Hardcover AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "A spirited defense of this important, odd and odds defying American retail category." The New York Times "It is a delight to wander through the bookstores of American history in this warm, generous book." Emma Straub, New York Times bestselling author and owner of Books Are Magic An affectionate and engaging history of the American bookstore and its central place in American cultural life,

By Evan Friss

Hardcover 

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

"A spirited defense of this important, odd and odds-defying American retail category." —The New York Times

"It is a delight to wander through the bookstores of American history in this warm, generous book."
—Emma Straub, New York Times bestselling author and owner of Books Are Magic

An affectionate and engaging history of the American bookstore and its central place in American cultural life, from department stores to indies, from highbrow dealers trading in first editions to sidewalk vendors, and from chains to special-interest community destinations


Bookstores have always been unlike any other kind of store, shaping readers and writers, and influencing our tastes, thoughts, and politics. They nurture local communities while creating new ones of their own. Bookshops are powerful spaces, but they are also endangered ones. In The Bookshop, we see the stakes: what has been, and what might be lost.

Evan Friss’s history of the bookshop draws on oral histories, archival collections, municipal records, diaries, letters, and interviews with leading booksellers to offer a fascinating look at this institution beloved by so many. The story begins with Benjamin Franklin’s first bookstore in Philadelphia and takes us to a range of booksellers including the Strand, Chicago’s Marshall Field & Company, the Gotham Book Mart, specialty stores like Oscar Wilde and Drum and Spear, sidewalk sellers of used books, Barnes & Noble, Amazon Books, and Parnassus. The Bookshop is also a history of the leading figures in American bookselling, often impassioned eccentrics, and a history of how books have been marketed and sold over the course of more than two centuries—including, for example, a 3,000-pound elephant who signed books at Marshall Field’s in 1944.

The Bookshop is a love letter to bookstores, a charming chronicle for anyone who cherishes these sanctuaries of literature, and essential reading to understand how these vital institutions have shaped American life—and why we still need them.

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SKU: 3204539272

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Awesome EDC Organization
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Awesome! Great addition to the nightstand to keep stuff organized
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Spencer & Angela
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It holds all my gear and looks fantastic!!
Color: Rustic Montana, Size: 11.5" x 8" x 2", Color: Rustic Montana, Size: 11.5" x 8" x 2"
I wanted something to hold EVERYTHING. In the pic - 2 wallets, tactical flashlight, 2 personal bluetooth speakers, 2 pairs of Beats, chap stick, pocketknife. Missing are my reading glasses but they typically will fit in there too even in their protective sleeve. This would make a great gift and the leather is excellent feel and look. This is the Extra Large size and i am happy i went with the bigger one as i almost didnt. Wife thought it was a great purchased but mad that she didnt get the chance to gift it to me for Father's Day or birthday!! LOL
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Nice attention to detail!
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Premium Wireless Charge pad and tray
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The phone charge pad and tray look and feel very premium for the price. The product has a nice weight to it. This is a Christmas gift and I am thrilled to be able to watch someone open this item on Christmas. Would recommend to anyone looking for a stylish way to charge your phone and organize your belongings.
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