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Books For America
Category: Shopping Books, Mags, Music and Video Bookstores Bookstores [Edit]
1417 22nd St NW(between N O St & N P St)
Washington, DC 20037
(202) 835-2665
- Nearest Transit:
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Dupont Circle Metro Station (Red)
- Hours:
Mon, Fri-Sat 10 am - 6 pm
Tue-Thu 10 am - 9 pm
Sun 11 am - 5 pm
- Price Range:
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$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
61 reviews for Books For America
Review Highlights
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"And the donations fund a non-profit education group." In 8 reviews -
"...America proceeds support a great cause, promoting literacy..." In 5 reviews -
"...lit' to science fiction, fantasy, classics, literature." In 11 reviews
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61 reviews in English
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Review from Zosia Z.
Washington, DC
5/3/2012
Books for America is a joy. It has great finds galore, across a multitude of genres. The books are well priced and in good condition, and the high turnover means there's always something new. I never walk out without buying something.
I also love that it's clean, organized, and well lit. The layout is easy to navigate, and though smallish the space isn't claustrophobic. Also, for a used bookstore, there's not a whiff of pretension. The staff are always cheerful and ready to help, yet not intrusive.
As others have noted, the purchases benefit literacy programs. It's the perfect place to take your no-longer-wanted books; not only do they help a worthy cause, but your donation is tax-deductible too. -
Review from Maria S.
2/9/2012
Now that the entire Borders chain has collapsed, and the Barnes in Noble location in Georgetown has seemingly disappeared overnight, there aren't many places left in the District to purchase an actual book...
Enter Dupont Circle, which is home to the still existing (for now, knock on wood), Kramerbooks, Second Story Books, Books-A-Million, and Books for America. Not only does B for A carry a well-organized selection of used books covering a broad range of topics, prices are excellent (a few dollars per book), and the operation benefits charities! You can get bestsellers from the last few years here, and there is a nice selection of cookbooks. Pretty much everything is in like-new or very good condition. It's a great spot to hit up when you're just looking for something to read on the train or airplane. The store isn't huge, but there is decent turnover in the selection--there is a "New Arrivals" table where they seem to be constantly putting out new books.
Even if you've joined the Kindle/Nook/e-book revolution, make some time to check out Books for America! -
Review from Ileana s.
Washington, DC
12/20/2011
This is one of my favorite bookstores... So much so that I have to make sure I do NOT have enough cash on me every time I go. Books range from $1 to $4 and they are great.
Forget about the dusty ol'used book store from yore! Books for America is neat, clean, well lit and perfectly organized. True, it ain't Barnes and Noble... it's better! -
Review from Melanie G.
Washington, DC
9/15/2011
Books For America holds a special place in my heart, and this is coming from the girl who was (practically) raised at Powell's Books in Portland.
Prices: You really cannot beat $1 to $4 for a book. I've gotten 8 books here for around $20... and it really spoils you for other places. Especially when you know that your money is going to a good cause (fun fact: at the end of the year when kids in my dorm throw away books they don't want, I salvage them and take them here where I know they'll find a better home).
Selection: Half the fun is not knowing what you'll find. I've found everything from titles I was actively searching for to things I never knew I needed. Just pick a section and go.
Staff: I've really only interacted with two people, but they were both charming and helpful.
Overall: This should be painfully obvious. I'm so in love with this charity that it hurts. -
Review from George S.
Washington, DC
8/10/2011
Books for America survives on donations so you will find a wide (and random) range of selection. Once I bought a how-to manual on Taekwondo written in both Korean AND English for roughly $2.
What would I do with such a manual? What else? Beat the hell out of muggers during those late night Adams Morgan ventures...
X_0 -
Review from Anna D.
4/10/2011
I heart this store!
When I saw it the other day while walking to foggy bottom I couldn't believe it. I had NO IDEA it even existed! I was blown away, with as much as I love books, and really love used books it seemed impossible that I didn't even know about this store.
Since discovering it I have been back numerous times and even donated a large pile of books. Their prices are great! Usually from $2 to $4...
Their staff is friendly and pleasantly nerdy, I really have enjoyed my visits here quite a bit.
A small space with crowded shelves and piles of books everywhere, it is a bibliophile's heaven!
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!! -
Review from Ryan M.
3/21/2011
Nice used bookstore and glad it supports a good cause, with great selection of books.
But, prices are pretty high. If you're used to shopping library book sales or estate sales and paying $1-2 per book, you'll be a little turned off by the $4-5 and up pricetag. Granted if you're used to only buying books new this will seem like a steal, but with prices like that you'll probably only end up purchasing a couple books rather than bagfuls. -
Review from Joe F.
Washington, DC
1/2/2012
This is a nice little used bookstore. The prices are cheap, it's reasonably well-organized and there's a surprisingly good selection. While you might not find exactly what you're looking for, you're bound to find something that you like.
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Review from Emily S.
12/31/2010
This has become my go-to used book store in DC. I am always able to find great books here and they usually cost only $3 each. The staff is super friendly and will help you find books if you have something you are looking for.
The best thing about this store is that it is a non-profit that supports literacy. Books for America distributes donated books to people in need. Every time you purchase a book (or donate books) you are supporting a great cause. -
Review from Stephanie J.
Washington, DC
1/7/2011
While moving, I came here to donate books. I successfully did this, but ended up walking out with 3 cookbooks and 4 CDs. Oops?
Great selection of books (especially the unsorted "just in" table) that are all reasonably priced. And it's a non-profit that supports literacy, so I feel a lot less guilty about impulse buys here than at other stores. -
Review from Daisy L.
Washington, DC
12/13/2010
I've only been here once, but I've been meaning to return. I left the first time with a stack of probably five or six books...all for a measly $20!!! It was very exciting.
They have a decent collection of books - fiction, nonfiction, etc., and it's nice to just go in there and browse. -
Review from Melissa H.
Irvine, CA
10/1/2011
This is my favorite used bookstore in D.C. They have a great selection and are non-profit, which is totally rad. I picked up some great music history books, cook books, and some vintage classics in hard cover. Really a gem of bookstore and worth the bit of hike it takes to get here.
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Review from Meg G.
9/29/2010
I don't have an e-reader/Kindle because I still love the feel of a good book. You know... those late, stormy evenings when you just cuddle up with your latest story and delve into a world of fiction, mystery or prose.
Books for America has a pretty nice selection of used books. They are in decent shape and cost just a few bucks. I selected 3 paperbacks for around $9, and thought it was a really smart purchase. You can easily find that novel that you've always wanted to read, or peruse the shelves for an unknown author with a catchy title.
I didn't really view their music collection, although their boxes of vinyls begged to be touched. Every item is neatly arranged, and the service is excellent. I'll be back to look around as soon as I can.
*Books for America is also on Amazon.*Listed in: Out & About the Metropolis
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Review from Dave C.
Washington, DC
9/19/2010
I've found a bookstore to call home, and it's Books for America.
The selection is fabulous, the prices are great ($3-4 for paperbacks, $4-7 for most hardbacks), and the money benefits a great cause. The staff is always eager to help, or just to strike up a conversation about books, current events, or just about anything... and, to a one, they LOVE books.
To be fair, my interests match up closely with the Books for America selection--history, politics, religion consume the front area of the store, while fiction/lit consumes much of the rest. If you're looking for cookbooks or graphic novels, this might not be the best place. But if you're a nonfiction reader, Books for America should be your go-to spot in DC.
A few suggestions for first-time visitors. First, be sure to look immediately to your right as you enter. Books for America has a great selection of pre-release review copies there, so you can read things before they even hit shelves! (I don't know where they get them, but God bless them!)
Second, almost all the best things in the store are not on the shelves, but in the uncategorized bins and tables in the center of the store. That's what they've recently gotten in, and Books for America regulars head straight for those bins to snatch up the good stuff before it hits the shelf.
Third, if you just want to know what you should read... just ask. The staff doesn't just work at a bookstore, they appear to have read almost everything in the stacks. -
Review from Juliana C.
Jamaica Plain, MA
6/17/2009
Now that I know he's reading these -- hi Josh! Thanks again for letting two slightly damp girls in when you were supposed to be closing.
Since Jackie and I arrived at the last minute, I didn't have a chance to look around too much, but in the four boxes I rooted through I found SIX books I wanted to buy. I'm pretty picky with books, so that's huge. What's more, they were all about $3. Less than $20 and I'm set for the summer!
In addition, I found an old, leather-bound book called "Thirty Years in Washington" (which I just found out was published in 1901) that is a perfect father's day gift for my history-buff dad. BFA just saved me a lot of present-buying stress for $12. I love that shopping here is a win-win -- you get a great deal, and get to share your love of reading with someone else when you purchase a book (or use your Safeway club card or shop on Amazon through the link on BFA's website).
I frequently patronize Mustard Seed in Bethesda because I love getting rid of clothes I don't wear and finding new ones to fill my closet. This place is going to be a Mustard Seed for my bookshelf :).Listed in: Best of the Best
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Review from Jaclyn S.
6/1/2009
How did I miss this place before? I first came to Books for America today to donate some books (and get a tax receipt!) and got such an appreciative reception.
Anyway, I loved the place immediately. It is beautifully organized into sections that include everything from mystery/thriller to 'chick lit' to science fiction, fantasy, classics, literature. There are mass market paperbacks. There is also Dickens, Hemingway, Ishiguro. This is not a pretentious bookstore and what a relief, because I've always held the opinion that people who really do love books are rarely snobs about it.
I got into a great conversation with Josh, who works there, while I was donating my books. It ranged from the politics of bookselling, to the agony of quitting coffee, to the sartorial crimes committed by DC residents. It is overwhelmingly obvious that here is a man who doesn't just love books but is also a big fan of humanity. It was wonderful just to observe how friendly he was to everyone who entered the store, newbies and regulars alike, and the ongoing and cheerful banter between the people who worked there. What a shocker! - an establishment where the employees actually seem to like each other and their customers.
I suddenly realized that although I've been coming to Second Story books for years, they never offer to help me find anything ("we don't keep a catalogue") or act particularly friendly, and although I won't stop going there for certain books, I'll stop at Books for America first.
Oh and the prices! Lots of the books sell for just a few dollars. I walked away with one of my favorites, The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell, for $3. This is so much better than the 50% of retail I pay at most other used bookstores! I'm kicking myself for not coming here before...Well, better late than never, right? -
Review from High F.
Alexandria, VA
3/7/2009
Very nice cozy little book store. I love browsing through old book stores, often times i can find great deals on old reference books. there are some gems in this place, and the prices are amazing. I didn't find anything that spark my interest, but i'm sure i could have found something if i did more searching. they had differnt types of books, CD's, VHS tapes, and i saw some comics as well. the only thing i didn't see were magazines (but you can go to any run of the mill large chain bookstore to get these). If you browse through enough, you're sure to find some very hard to find, out of print books for amazing prices.
like Stef said, this place does a lot for the community, their website boast nearly 2 million in book donations. i think its time to dust off some old books in my storage boxes.... -
Review from Dian C.
Arlington, VA
7/18/2008
Support this great local non-profit by coming by this store with old books to donate and walking out a great finds.
Books for America promotes reading by donating and building libraries and by supporting reading programs in DC.
Their store is a place where you can drop of donations and browse shelves after shelves of books donated by others at a great price. I came out of here with two great books I've always been meaning to read as well as a cookbook (they never go out of style, do they?). It's great to be paying less for something I usually would buy anyways in order to support a great cause!
It is about a block away from Brickseller and across the street from the gas station. Please go by! -
Review from Dorothy W.
Cambridge, MA
7/9/2010
Do you like books?
Do you like used books?
Do you like cheap books?
Yes?
Get over here next time you are in DC and snag some snappy titles to impress your intellectual neighbors.
Where do I go when my family is downing cocktails in the hotel lobby bar and singing old Judy Garland songs with the piano player? I am here stocking up on great titles, including some valuable signed first editions at $3 each. Perfect condition and perfectly lovely.
Who needs overpriced drinks, leering GOP staffers and aging piano players with comb-overs when you can have quality time in here with a few nice books? -
Review from Tina L.
Vienna, VA
2/24/2010
Why not? Book stores in the city are most welcome. Especially used book stores. Even more so book stores that sell books for roughly $3 each and keep some of the most current and popular books available. And the donations fund a non-profit education group! All around a great idea.
Also, this is a good way of clearing out some books from my apartment. Done reading, donate here where they will be both read a second time and will benefit a great organization. -
Review from Rachel M.
1/31/2010
A friend kept mentioning that she was getting all these used books for $2 to me, and I had to know where, so she directed me here. This place is great - I could spend a few hours trolling the shelves because every time I would go back to a shelf, I would spot something new.
The selection here is really good, there's lots of newer books, especially fiction, and it's very well organized, in contrast to most other used bookstores I've been to. Another great thing about this place is that the books are all only a few bucks. $2, $3, or $4?? You can't beat that! And it's all for charity!
I've been meaning to clean out my bookshelves for a while, and I think I'll give back to Books for America when I do it this time. -
Review from Mariam M.
San Francisco Bay Area
7/10/2010
Um, hello. I would like to inform you that the best used bookstore in the DC Metro area has now arrived.
Did I just buy 5 books, 2 of which are hard cover, for $15 dollars? Why yes, YES I DID. Am I thrilled? Why yes, yes I am.
A little Ambrosia iced tea from Soho Coffee while I browsed through their collection didn't hurt though :D -
Review from Maxx C.
Washington, DC
9/19/2010
I'm glad these cool people are doing a public service by acquiring massive numbers of books and using the proceeds to fund literacy programming in schools, prisons, etc.
I'm sad about what this says for the future of real bookstores in America, when everyone is dumping their books here.
If you're looking for a novel, this is probably your place. Everything is pretty cheap, although not quite Goodwill cheap. -
Review from Amanda M.
7/6/2009
This place may not look like much, but it's one of my favorite places to shop. The selection is not particularly extensive, and in my experience if I go in with a particular title in mind, I rarely find it here (unless it is a mainstream recent publication, especially fiction). But I almost always come out with something else fun and new, and I've found a couple great foreign language books as well as some VERY good deals on new fiction that would cost me 3-4 times as much at a bigger store. The prices are really hard to beat, even on a used bookstore scale.
Staff here is open, helpful and friendly; I've had a couple of fun conversations about questions I had or discussing a particular book. They seem like genuinely interested in the books they're selling, but not snobby about it. Very down to earth - how refreshing!
Best of all, Books for America proceeds support a great cause, promoting literacy in the DC area. You can feel good about spending your money or donating old books here. Come here first when you're looking for a new read!Listed in: Got Rain?
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Review from John B.
Washington, DC
12/3/2006
I was walking out of SoHo the other day when, for the first time, I noticed the Books for America storefront. It looks insipid from the outside, just like every other store in that strip mall on the corner of P and 22nd, and the fact that it said "Nonprofit" in the window and had a ".org" website made me think that I'd find nothing but vegan and environmentalist type books inside...
In fact, there are a lot of these type books (mostly up front): "Soul on Ice" by Eldridge Cleaver, "Fight for the Forest" by Cesar Chavez, and a book called "One Tough Mother."...but if you go to the back, you'll find a nice selection of used fiction titles. Right now there's a fine copy of "The Ginger Man" for only $3. I'll definitely be coming back periodically to see if any Mark Twain titles crop up. -
Review from Adam T.
Oakland, CA
8/8/2010
LOVE! Super cute place, though a bit tiny. Great selection, great prices, and a really nice check-out guy. Will definitely be back.
:-) -
Review from Elizabeth F.
Washington, DC
6/9/2011
Cheap books! Great books! New books, and old books. It's tucked away, and I thought it was some kind of educational non-profit based on the name. Surely the cheapest used book store in Dupont area anyway, and things that you actually want to read.
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Review from Sean P.
Fredericksburg, VA
6/15/2011
It's always stuffed with new books. Not always things you want to read, hardly ever are they in like new condition; but, it's probably the best non-profit bookstore front in the nation.
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Review from Daniel R.
Washington, DC
8/16/2010
Found exactly the law book that I was looking for! I was going to buy it on amazon for 3 times as much. Altogether, I walked out with 5 recently published paperbacks for $17.
As other reviewers have noted, the history section is excellent! I found the philosophy and fiction sections a little lacking, but they still had a number of quality buys.
Finally, the staff was super friendly! I cannot wait to go back! -
Review from Christina S.
Washington, DC
8/10/2010
Oh how I love this store.
From the employees, to the books, to the prices, this book store is hands down my favorite in DC. While the selection is small, there is quite a bit of turnover so that you're likely to find a book you've been searching for within a few weeks (or days). I also just love the people who work here - they are always so helpful in finding books and making recommendations. Highly highly recommend this shop. -
Review from Daniel G.
Washington, DC
9/12/2010
I'll go ahead and tell you up front that there isn't going to be anything in this review that hasn't been said before.
But...I felt obligated to say just how fantastic this place is. During a few weeks of boredom after moving to D.C. and before starting work, Books for America provided the best (cheap!) entertainment I could ask for.
Do yourself a favor and walk in and poke around. If you're like me, you'll leave with a heavy bag full of books and not even a dent in your bank account. -
Review from Samantha D.
Washington, DC
12/14/2010 1 Check-in Here
Best bookstore ever. When you go, bring the list of books that you've been looking for because there is a good chance you will find it there in good condition. Or don't bring a list and browse their packed shelves and bins... Trust me, you'll run into something you didn't know you wanted to read. No, you won't necessarily find the current bestsellers (though it has happened) but this place is a God-send for bibliophiles with a limited budget. You'll also have to dig a bit to find a hidden treasure but did I mention their money goes towards literacy programs? Who can say no to that? The people who work there can be a bit much... Nice people but definitely has that "I'm smarter than you" vibe when they talk. Just block them out. (And please brings your extra plastic or paper bags... They can always use it.)
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Review from Becky P.
Washington, DC
5/31/2010
This is my go-to bookstore. Staff is super friendly and helpful. Great selections in a variety of topics and they also seem to have the "new" release I as looking for!
And right around the corner from a great coffee shop too! -
Review from Peter A.
Washington, DC
6/29/2010
Extremely inexpensive, new(er) titles with a respectable selection that changes often enough that you should come by every couple of weeks or so.
oh, and it helps out impoverished children or something like that. -
Review from Angela F.
Washington, DC
11/6/2009
I am in awe of this fine-fine establishment, with an above average selection and excellent prices for a used bookstore, without having to dig through piles of worthless reads. Please continue to support this store with your money and your donations. As endearing as it is to find outrageous scrawled messages to customers and little mustaches drawn on Ann Coulter's face, sometimes the other used book store owners can be a little disorganized and not very discerning about which books to display and sell.
Books For America wins! -
Review from rose c.
Fairfax, CA
6/19/2011
Books for America is brilliant. It's literally the only place I shop for books in DC. Why would you shop anywhere else? All the books are in good, if not great, condition and are cheap cheap cheap! I have bought fiction, non-fiction, cookbooks, DVD's, even videocassets (yep, because I had a videocasset player up until about a year ago). There is always new stuff and all of the employees I have encountered are friendly and knowledgeable.
Plus, they don't sell children's books because they donate them to schools. Amazing - I wish I could give this place ten stars! -
Review from T Z.
Redondo Beach, CA
3/21/2011
The store is pretty well organized and the prices are very reasonable. I found some great cookbooks.
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Review from Red B.
Washington, DC
6/9/2011
Great selection of books both fiction and non-fiction and cheap. Staff are friendly and the place has a good vibe. You can also find the odd CD/cassette tape/VHS tape here. Inventory changes a lot and they get a lot of stuff in so worth checking back regularly.
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Review from Hasan S.
Washington, DC
5/31/2011
Are you looking for calm place to find your favorite book? This is a place you need to know.
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Review from Michael W.
Alameda, CA
3/14/2010
In between my business trip to DC, I was on a quest for the best book store in the city (with help from my IndieBound iPhone app).
Books for America won hands-down! Not just the prices, but the friendly, chatty staff (Josh, who recommended to me what was my favorite restaurant of the stay, Malaysia Kopitiam), selection and ease of browsing. I'd expect this sort of bargain, high-turnover book store to be a study in anarchy. It looks a bit chaotic, with bins for shelving all over the floor, but someone has put some care into organizing the shelves.
