Forest Books
Category: Bookstores [Edit]
Neighborhood: Mission3080 16th Street
(between Caledonia St & Rondel Pl)
San Francisco, CA 94103 (415) 863-2755
- Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
14 reviews
Neighborhood: Castro
"We needed a dog bowl shelf and the kind folks at Books & Bookshelves recommended a special foot stool with a lip around the edge which was…" read more »
16 Reviews for Forest Books
Just went in here for the first time a couple weeks ago. I liked the lay out. I love my crowded and labyrinthine used book shops, this was not one of them, but there was something very comfortable about shopping there. The selection was limited but very good. Better than many of the small used shops that I've tried.
A good, small, neighborhood bookstore for buying/selling both new and used books, including vintage and out-of-print options. Modest selection, but well laid out with enough space not to feel cramped. I've been in other independent bookstores that felt like something out of a bad movie; this was the opposite. Airy, light, and playing classical music at a good background volume. The owner was unobtrusive but friendly and gave me a handout on Buddhist options in the area when I bought a book by the Dalai Lama. Bonus point for being still open at 10pm!
Trivia: The current Dalai Lama has authored over 30 books, holds 3 honorary doctorates, honorary citizenship in Canada and Ukraine, and most notably, the Nobel Peace Prize (1989).
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I was on a mission in the Mission the other day (I apologize for the early bad pun). A friend turned me onto Haruki Murakami and now I'm voraciously searching out all he's written. But funds are tight these days, and I'm doing whatever I can to get my hand on secondhand items rather than brand new ones, particularly in the area of books.
I wandered all over on that beautiful March day. The Mission was a bit of a mess, but I was determined to make my way through all the construction and hit the various secondhand bookstores in the area. And there are quite a few.
The last on my list was Forest Books at 16th and Valencia. I walked in and was surprised by how clean and well laid out it was. I'm used to book stores that are strewn about haphazardly with old dusty books. This place seemed well-loved, which I appreciate. The gentleman behind the counter made his way over to me as I browsed and unobtrusively told me to let him know if he could be of service, which I found super pleasant.
I looked for the fiction section, but found only literature, and looked for my Murakami fix, but unfortunately, Murakami didn't seem self-healing or eastern philosophical enough for this place. But that doesn't mean that there isn't good stuff in there, no not at all. Forest Books just didn't hook me up with my Murakami on that lovely day. There's nothing wrong with this lovely little bookstore that's a refreshing beautiful little change in the midst of chaos and dirt at 16th and Valencia.
Just don't go there expecting to find Kafka on the Shore or Sputnik Sweetheart and you'll walk away satisfied.
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Their selection is kind of limited outside the more "esoteric" areas ... and I don't mean math and chess.
Nevertheless, it's very clean, well-lit, and well-organized. There's a nice children's area. The owner takes good care of the books -- the good ones are nicely displayed in mylar covers.
Prices are only OK. But you should go anyway because it's the most relaxed bookstore in the Mission.
I love used bookstores. I can get lost in them for hours. You just never know what hidden treasures you will find. What new curiosities will tickle your brain. I gotta say that that's one of the things lacking in my neighborhood. Sure, I got City Lights two blocks away, support your independent bookstore, blah blah blah.
But about a year ago, I walked into City Lights and I asked if they carried Steve Martin's new book, "The Pleasure of My Company." They guy looked at me like I was crazy, he didn't even check, he just said no. They weren't going to carrying THAT book. Which I thought was kind of odd.
Whatever, this is not a review of City Lights, we are here to discuss Forest Books. The staff was super friendly, the atmosphere was warm, just like a bookstore should be. I was looking for a specific title, but I couldn't remember the author, so I asked the guy working if he could look it up. But apparently they aren't very technologically hooked up, because we never were able to get online. But, while he was trying to get online, I perused through their selection at their front table. And guess what I found! "The Pleasure of My Company," like new, hard cover, $10!!! I was sold. Screw the other book. I'm about 10 pages away from the end and it's sooo funny and so endearing. I love it. Take that Mr "we don't carry THAT book."
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Aweful experience my first time in this place. The middle aged guy working there, Jason, kinda talked down to me and TOLD me what to do instead of asked. Maybe that's just his way and tone of voice, but it's wrong. Observed others dealing with him. Better, but similar. When you can't tell if it's personal, it's a bad sign that they don't have the best customer service know how.
However, if condescending bookish types makes you feel you are talking to somebody "knowledgeable" then this is the place for you!
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If I go into a book store, rest assured, I am spending money. I can't guarantee how much I will give the proprietor but something is coming outta my wallet and into theirs. That's just the kind of relationship I have with book stores. It's probably the best relationship I've ever had. Now that I sound like a crazy librarian and you ask me how my 16 cats are doing, I want to let you know that Forest Books owns. It's small but has a great variety. It's not overwhelming like some book stores. It's got some great sections for history and anthropology. There's a nice little bargain cart too which I also adore. I could spend a lot of time and money in this shop and I'm working on it, I am.
Bonus points for the awesome guy behind the counter who let me leave with a free $1 book because he didn't want to break my $20. Bonus points to me for coming back a few days later when he was working to buy another book and pay off my tab. That was the first time I'd been in there ladies and gents. This is now one of my favorite book stores.
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Forest Books is distinguished by its high quality book selection as well as by its friendly and helpful staff. The store owner and his staff know how to make customers feel welcome.
I wish I knew what reviewer "Angie O" was talking about. Her vague comments make me suspicious. There's no one "condescending" at Forest Books. Angie, get a life.
Light-filled place in many ways. Wonderful selection of rare, signed finds, like Eartha Kitt's autobiography and original Zap Comix.
I learned here about book voodoo. Ever wonder why some random book calls to you from off the shelf? The shop proprietor has noticed that often, a customer ahead of you yet out of your sight just handled the same out-of-the-way title you just picked up. Plus, he cleans each book by hand.
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A nice little book store, but a very limited selection.. small history and fiction sections. Nothing against it, but there are just better used book stores in the city.
wonderful oasis of great books and peaceful vibes in the heart of the hectic mission. great selection of books on many topics, esp. if you want the Buddhist words of wisdom, but lots of fiction and art and politics too. the store in engaged in helping the neighborhood be a neighborhood, too.
and: they, the very nice people working here, let me in. and i'm just a dog, but maybe they are aware that i might have been somebody they loved in a previous....
Unlike most used bookstores, Forest Books is immaculate, an oasis of calm collection in a neighborhood of hubbub. I have many prized books that came from Forest.
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Forest Books is an eastern philosophy book nerd's wet dream.
I've easily spent hundreds of dollars in one visit here. Lots of first editions and hard to finds, they also carry a great collection of books on Native North Americans, indigenous tribes around the world, art and traveling.
Not the largest space yet beautifully tranquil. Find a book, take a seat and enjoy the wind chimes outside.
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A good used bookstore in the Mission, one block from the 16th St BART station. Strong on art books, philosophy (unfortunately, mostly Eastern) and recent fiction, with a children's literature section at the back.
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Having been to a few bookstores now in the Mission, it seems like there are two camps of bookstores in that area:
1) Very politically charged bookstores
2) Very junky used bookstores.
But, although Forest has some of the touchy-feeliness of both camps, what really impressed me is that they have a wide variety of topics from a wide variety of slants, and the store is practically immaculate compared to some that I've been in. (I don't know why that is with me, but it just seems like to be a good used bookstore, you should merchandise things the best you can.)
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The nicest people work here and a great variety of books! Definitely going back.
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