Wilshire Books

The world's best bookstore is Wilshire Books, on Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica, California.

It is small and perfect in every way in which a bookstore ought to be perfect. Prices are fair, never more than accurate reflections of the market; frequently bargains. Although it is a used bookstore, it is supplied with reviewer's copies, so that books will appear at Wilshire Books a few days before reviews of them appear. Its shelves are fastidiously maintained in strict alphabetical order (something ordinarily unheard-of among used bookstores, most of which are dusty if not actually dirty, and whose stocks are rarely in any order at all).

It's a small room. If you go there in search of a particular title, you may be disappointed; but if you go looking for interesting books, you'll find plenty. The proprietor, Mr Lee Peffer exercises his taste and discernment in purchasing stock: it's varied and lively. I get the feeling that I'm in a private library, except that everything's for sale!

The only caveat is, when you see something you want, buy it promptly. Although the place is rarely very crowded, it does enjoy a steady traffic of savvy readers. Many's the time I've agonized over a purchase, only to discover upon returning, that the prize had been bagged already.