8 Books You’ll Find At Every Used Bookstore
While there’s nothing like being the first to crack open a brand new book, used bookstores can be a treasure trove for the avid reader. Even when they’re loosely organized by author and genre, the titles still tend to get jumbled together—which can be frustrating for the shopper on a mission, but fun for the casual browser.
You never know quite what you’re going to happen upon in any bookshop…but here are a few titles and genres that tend to pop up over and over again on the shelves of used bookstores:
Hilarious/intriguing/strange fad diet books
While you might be grateful (or disappointed) that you missed buying a copy of The Cabbage Soup Diet in the halcyon days when it first came out, fresh and dewy and full of the promise of cabbage-inspired weight loss, the good news is that it’s very likely available at a discounted rate at your local used bookshop. Never mind the sticky pages.
An abundance of horror novels
Although there are some horror novels and short stories I read over and over again (Stephen King’s brilliantly creepy story 1408, anyone?), there are others I have to give away as soon as I’m finished reading them, because I can’t stand seeing them lurking on my bookshelves anymore, being all scary. I’m not saying that’s completely normal, but the number of horror novels I come across in used bookstores has me thinking I’m not alone in this.
Outdated travel guidebooks
Excited to visit the Soviet Union on your next vacation? Yeahhh, not so fast.
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. Covey
When a self-help book is widely available in used bookstores, it’s hard to know whether it’s because it helped readers so completely that they no longer needed it, or because it didn’t help them at all. I personally enjoyed Covey’s smart and practical tips, and his book helped me join the ranks of the highly effective, so there.
Questionable self-help books
Now why in the world did Shut Up, Stop Whining, and Get a Life: A Kick-Butt Approach to a Better Life end up here in this used bookstore?
Written-in books
I love buying used books that come with faded, cryptic inscriptions inside their front covers from mysterious strangers (i.e. “To Missy, XOXO Boomer”). That said, I don’t enjoy it when book owners highlight, underline, and write notes in their books. If you’re going to do that, keep your book forever! Otherwise, someone else down the line is going to have to deal with your inscrutable or inane margin scribbling. Which is just, like, your opinion, man.
The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho
I believe there was a time in recent history when nearly every living person was reading The Alchemist, and then lending it to whatever friends of theirs had not yet read The Alchemist, and on down the line until eventually it ended up populating every used bookstore I’ve ever come across. I’m not saying The Alchemist is good or bad, as I remain the last person on earth who hasn’t yet read it, but I have certainly had ample opportunity.
Microwave cookbooks
I don’t care what anyone says, there’s nothing at all sad about a book called Microwave Cooking For One. Now, leave me in peace while I enjoy this delicious single-serving microwave mug cake.
What books do you always run across at used bookstores?