BookPeople

Reviews 10

AA

Aaron Arnold

Book People is without a doubt the best bookstore in Austin, possibly in Texas as well. How do I know? - Huge selection. Multiple floors covering all the bases, with both new releases and deep cuts from authors back catalogues. - Knowledgeable staff. Sometimes at chain bookstores youll run into employees who have no idea who youre looking for and dont care. Not here - every employee really cares about literature and will like as not stop what theyre doing to chat with you about what youre reading and offer helpful, often better-than-Amazon suggestions for your next read. Pay attention to the Staff Picks cards, theyre almost invariably correct. - Cool events. Every week they have tons of local, statewide, national, and even international authors come in to talk and sign books. - Great atmosphere. From the moment you step in, something about the spacious but cozy layout makes it much more inviting than your average bookstore. Its quiet, but not funereal like a library, even though they usually have plenty of kids around. - Good cafe. Reasonable coffee prices, decent food, plenty of tables to sit at and chat or just read and hang out. Theres basically no way to beat them, and even the hardest-of-hardcore Half Price fans will find themselves here sooner or later thanks to just how good they are. I kind of wish they had expanded into the old Whole Foods location next door and become 5 times the size, but Im sure the economics of that were ludicrous. Im glad theyve weathered the store-killing juggernaut that is Amazon, because they play a vital role in the Austin book scene. The very definition of a local treasure.

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JO

Jon Ray

A great bookstore with the selection of the big chains, but the attention and creativity of an independent shop. Not to mention, its right downtown! This place always has great authors coming in to speak. Plus, their employee and consumer review cards have led me to many a great read that I, otherwise, would not have bothered with. A great place to purchase books, have a coffee and work (free wi-fi compliments of LessNetworks!), or just get some interruption free reading done (I like to go upstairs, behind the childrens book section, where they have the empty story time stage, and read all day long. Thats not creepy, is it?). Side note: This is the closest place to downtown where you can purchase a Moleskin journal for all of your brilliant ideas and brainstorms (you can also get a shadow book to document your next potion or spell. Oh, my).

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IK

Ike

This used to be my favorite hangout. They have a coffee shop and books. It was when i realised that they had a porn section just a staircase away from a childrens section that I stopped liking bookpeople. Do u want your kids and porn addicts under the same roof? I emailed, and facebooked them about it multiple times and was ignored. I staged a public protest and finnaly got a deffiant response from Steve Bercu who was reluctant to do anything. A corrupt business will only respond to shame so I got as many folks as I could to write to them publicly. I visited the store a year later and their porn section had been reduced to a few mags on a top shelf and the cut outs of womens figures were gone. So they still sell porn along with kids books but there was some change. I cannot give that a passing score tho.

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SH

Shaun Cassells

Locally owned, real selection of books, with fabulous readings, author meets, and kids story times. I cant effuse enough about a staff is who is well and truly broadly read. If you like to read, or need advice on finding what you like to read this is absolutely your place. Come to find something new. Stay to read until the sun sets. Most author readings fill up quick. The super popular ones have online signups for book signings and seating. No biggie if you use their website. Another plus is the coffee shop on the first floor. Grab a drink then go find a comfy chair. Parking can seem intimidating until you realize there is a multistory car park with covered walking to book people. Really nice... even if the spaces are tight.

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LA

Lauren Lever

BookPeople is everything that you want an independent bookstore to have.Plenty of local authors and plenty of book signings. One time I saw this goth band playing in there on a Friday evening, no joke. The recommended books is a great way (yes I know Amazon has this, but this is more personal) to discover something a classic you may have never read. Very good selection (two stories of goodness) that rivals the "big box" chains and I think even a bigger selection of magazines. The only slight annoyance is that if you are to purchase coffee and books, you have to do it separately, oh by the way BREAKFAST TACOS, too!! It is a fantastic way to spend a Saturday downtown.

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A

A Private User

This is a pathetic excuse for a bookstore. Contrary to the other review they have very little in the way of books; its very pretty; plenty in the way of square footage, which is mostly taken up by frilly displays of stuff animals, nick nacks, childrens toys, etc. As you walk in your ears are greeted with annoying hippie music. Maybe chicks would like this place, or moms would want to take small children here (if they want them to grow up to be wussies). It resembles more of a gift shop. If you want a bookstore, go to Barnes & Noble. (BTW I am not against private bookstores. Powells in Portland OR is one that actually knows how to be a bookstore.)

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KR

Kris Umlauf

I love shopping here; its a great place to find something perfect for almost anyone. And while Im wandering through the aisles I can enjoy a nice latte from their café. If youre looking for books its a great place to go as they have "staff picks" in almost every section; you can always find an interesting selection based on these reviews. Aside from books Ive purchased several cool gifts here including playful kitchen gadgets, scented soy candles, a Buddha figurine, a Spock bobble head, a magic kit, Texas themed items, and some unique jewelry.

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A

A Private User

What an awesome, local bookstore! Its a large wonderland full of works by Proust, Bulgakov, Murakami, Vonnegut, Klosterman. They offer books on how to bake macarons, how to Feng Shui your apartment, how to dress for your fruit-shaped body. They sell greeting cards, t-shirts, candles, soaps, incense, wishing paper, Texas souvenirs. They even occasionally have masseuses and fortune tellers. And they often have book readings and signings. And they have a coffee shop, so theres never a good reason to leave this oasis (unless theyre closing).

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TA

Tasha Greenwood

Its a cool place, although at times a bit cringey. Over-commercialized, full of useless and overpriced crap that I find tiring (unicorn horns for your cat? $20 pink camo picnic blankets? a whole Frida Kahlo section that likely has her rolling in her grave?). I also personally cant afford new books. So it would be cool if they had a used book section. Its slightly less soulless than other big bookstore chains, but its not that great. I guess it would be good if youre looking to buy a book as a gift though, there is a lot of variety.

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RE

Rebecca Fitch

I love perusing their selection of local books. There is always something interesting to pick up. The staff is super friendly and helpful. They also have really great events for being a local bookstore. I think it is great they go above and beyond to recruit for events that their customers would really enjoy. For example, I read Young House Love (a DIY blog) and they mentioned the only reason they are stopping in Austin is because Book People invited them after getting so many pre-orders for their books. I think its awesome!

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