Shakespeare and Co. Booksellers

With its convenient location, this medium-sized book shop is great to browse through and look for those obscure titles you've been trying to locate forever. Specializing in pop-culture and indie books, you won't be disappointed by the selection. However, don't expect a great deal since the books are not discounted. The downstairs section also offers some music to buy, which usually is a small, but great collection. You'll have to check your bags in when you enter, so if you've been shopping all day, it's a great opportunity to get rid of them for a while.

Generally when I have a specific book I am looking for I look on Half.com, but when I feel like being around books and browsing for something new and different it is fun to come here. Bookstores like this one are much more manageable than the big chain stores like B and N, so it is possible to go in and just look around for something that catches your eye. I prefer the uptown location, not all the NYU students.

In the midst of all the chains that you could go to, it's nice to patronize a small chain that seems to have a staff that knows their stuff! Think, "You've Got Mail's" intimate staff that seemed to know everything about the children's books that they sold. It is truly a delight to find books that are on the bestsellers list and those that are hard to find. I think that this chain is a treasure and one thats she be visited if you have a love for books.

PROS: Informative staff, nice layout of books, intimate vibe
CONS: Only 3 in the city - hard to find

the Shakespeare & Co chain of 3 stores has been providing New Yorker's with quality service for years. My guess is at least half the employees have English Lit degrees and they are good at guiding you to what yypou need.

This bookstore carries a lot of good titles for your classes, and some hard to find books. They also specialize in customer service. If you need some advice on a good read, these guys will be readily available without making you feel dumb. The store is also conveniently located for NYU students, right on campus. I recommend it.

Here's a good independent bookstore with locations around Manhattan and Brooklyn. I believe the downtown Broadway location is the oldest, and thus has the best selection. This bookstore caters very much to the more laid back student crowd, and runs more hippie than hipster (unlike St. Mark's bookshop for example). The have a strong textbook business as well, and offer services for professors looking to adopt material for classes. Laid back atmosphere and friendly workers.