Idle Time Books

Category:	Used Book Store
Address:	2467 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA
Phone:	+1 202-232-4774
Site:	idletimebooks.com
Rating:	3.4
Working:	11AM–10PM 11AM–10PM 11AM–10PM 11AM–10PM 11AM–10PM 11AM–10PM 11AM–10PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 24

Michelle Fones

I thought it looked awesome, so I went inside, and found some old maps. Im a traveler who lives abroad. I enjoy things like old maps. One cool map of Leningrad didnt have a date on it, so I went to pay and asked the guy at the cash register if he knew the date. He started looking too, then this cranky old lady behind him said to him, "youve got other stuff to do. if she wants to know the date, she will find it herself." I told her that was quite rude, then she said, "well Im stressed." I said, "everyone gets stressed, but I am your customer." She told me to "use my eyes" to find the date on this map. She also told me that I "should do things for myself rather than get other people to do them for me." When I left, she cursed at me. While they had some interesting stuff for me in there, I would never go back because I cannot justify giving money to such a horribly managed store.

William McClure

This place is an institution in Adams-Morgan. I cant imagine the neighborhood without it. Its a bookstore for browsing and finding interesting and esoteric books. This is not Barnes & Noble with industry paid placements on shelves. Its a book lovers bookstore where you come in perhaps searching for one thing but end up finding many, other fascinating things. The owner and the staff have always been incredibly helpful with me and I have found their suggestions excellent; they never disappoint. There is a no cell phone policy, thank God, and that is because there are many rude people who cant grasp the concept that we find treasures like Idle Time as a place of sanctuary, and nobody wants to hear the conversation anyway. For people looking for authenticity this is the place. Idle Time was here before B&N and will be after.

John Washington

Hate hate hate. Worst, most condescending book or any other kind of store Ive ever interacted with. I called and asked if they had a particular, hardly arcane book. Him: Maybe, you can check in the store yourself. Me: oh hey Im really sorry, but I dont live anywhere near the store, is there any way to look and let me know? Him: We dont have an inventory, youd have to look on the philosophy shelf. Me: Oh I understand, but is there anyway to . . . Him: Thank you very much for your time. [Click] Me: [calls back] Look Im really sprru, I just live five miles away, and wanted to check if it would at all be possible for someone to look at the shelf, since Im far away and youre standing next to the shelf. Him: Sorry no inventory, thank you so much. Me: I ... [Click].

Kayti Didriksen

Im not much of a reader, but I love Idle time books! It inspires me every time I walk by. The quaint exterior, offers a few titles to peruse and a cozy spot to chat with friends on the street. Inside the smell of old volumes invites you to discover information the old fashioned way, and the knowledgeable staff guides you to the right stacks to take your mind on an instantaneous journey. I stop in every time Im on 18th St. and often make a new friend.

Roni Garrett

Great place to look through and stumble upon an interesting book. Not the best if you are looking for something very specific. Its a cool wander through. Has a section for everything. Has sections on politics, shelves and shelves of books organized by region they are about. Doesnt necessarily have a great selection for anything. Decent amount of vintage editions if you are into that. For a small used book store it is nice and enjoyable.

Brian Merrell

I want to like this place, especially as they have some titles that are otherwise difficult to obtain. The staff is pretty standoff-ish, sometimes bordering on rude; its like a neighborhood business rule to be too cool to serve customers. Sadly, the selection is often incomplete; there will be half the volumes in a set, or random parts of a series. Less useful than I want it to be, and usually not worth the trouble.

joe woe

Looked like a cool spot but inside its just a bunch of older books that nobody wants to read. The staff member I interacted with was rude. I asked where Wayne Dyer works would be and the guy said "I dont know who that is." Probably shouldnt work in a book store, hes a very popular author with over 30 best sellers. Would not return.

Eric Coles

The owner is not welcoming to bibliophiles and will not let read books be returned. The prices for paperbacks are half off the list price but the collection is well rounded. Very difficult to find items if specific books are demanded. I wish there was another used book store in Adams Morgan.

Dan Brame

As a rule, if youre going to mark up a book above the original cover price, it should be a) rare; b) signed by the author or c) both. Do that to a Dover thrift edition book as I found at Idle Time, and I wont shop at your store.

Josh Peters

Quaint little bookstore with a surprising variety of books. I enjoy coming here when I am in the area, and have always found books that peak my interest. The prices are priced fairly and are in good/great condition.

A Private User

The selection of books is good, but my experience at idle time was that the clerk was fairly rude and not helpful. It may have just been the guy working there that day, but it wasnt that great of an experience.

A Private User

no gogl or mccarthy, and just one faulkner title I wasnt interested in. good used book stores fill in the blanks with new titles. ok if youre not searching for anything in particular...

Johnnie Hartley

Confusing and cramped, but fun to browse. Good place to go if you are looking for a hard-to-find older book. They sell maps too. OK for a browse but EXPENSIVE!

Emma Gunn

Great selection, well organized, interesting finds! Good place to browse and get lost in literary and cultural history.

Katie Willard

Wonderful space to browse and get lost. Ive always found books here that I could never find anywhere else.

jason patel

Excellent selection. I cant find anything like this in Baltimore. And the prices are reasonable.

Sean Wallace

this store is awesome.....really neat collection and funny experiences. Go check it out!

Matthew Sutherland

Simple, fun to peruse, but does have its share of overpriced items.

Vin patel

Nice place for books.... But they dont buy books from public.....