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Idle Time Books
Category: Shopping Books, Mags, Music and Video Bookstores Bookstores [Edit]
2467 18th St NW(between N Adams Mill Rd & N Belmont Rd)
Washington, DC 20009
Neighborhood: Adams Morgan
(202) 232-4774
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 10 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
49 reviews for Idle Time Books
Review Highlights
"Lots of miscellaneous titles to peruse."
(in 8 reviews)
"...just want to find something interesting to read, this would..."
(in 3 reviews)
"...and comfy nooks to get lost in forever pouring over a great..."
(in 3 reviews)
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49 reviews in English
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Review from Leo C.
Washington, DC
12/16/2011
Good used books store. The place is bigger than it seems! You have to go inside, go upstairs, downstairs.. Lots of nice old things- not too old, now!
Hipsters working there. -
Review from MacRae O.
11/20/2011
For a used bookstore, Idle Time is unusually organized. Sections are well-labeled, books are upright, and spines are showing.
We're off to a good start.
Also for a used bookstore, Idle Time is unusually large. There are two (and a half, including the little landing halfway up the stairs) floors. There are nooks and crannies everywhere so one can peruse quietly and on one's own.
Out front is the delightfully-priced 50 cent and one dollar book cart (which has the added delight of taking me way, way back to my first job ever as a Reference Page at the Alexandria Public Library). Sure, most of the stuff is forgettable -- "Environmental Information Symposium Synopsis 1990", "And Baby Makes Two" -- but there are some gems if you dig. For a buck, I picked up a copy of "Reviving Ophelia". Everyone needs a copy of *that* bad boy on their shelf. Amirite?Listed in: You Shouldn't Have
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Review from Jamie M.
Waldorf, MD
12/26/2011
The worker behind the counter was RUDE and not helpful AT ALL. the books are VERY pricey. They dont take trades and give you an attitude when you ask. Never wasting my time here again.
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Review from Jennifer N.
Washington, DC
8/17/2010
I want to love Idletime -- the music, as other reviewers mentioned, is awesome (a few nights ago, it was Lucinda Williams; the first time I was there, it was jazz), the people who work there are generally sweet and chatty, and the store always seems like it's going to be quirky and fun (after all, it's that fun green color).
But despite all this, Idletime is what I call a first generation used bookstore, the kind of used bookstore that has lots and lots of old, dusty books (this is especially true of the 2nd floor, where sections like sociology, self help, and law have books that are very, very old). This is not the new generation of used bookstore (for Bostonians, think Raven) that has carefully, intelligently selected quality books that will move quickly (second generation used bookstores have lots of good condition Murakami, Pynchon, Franzen, Munro, Mistry, etc.)
While the 2nd floor here is in need of some serious clean up, even the fiction section could use a good pruning. The truth is there are some books that people will always buy (how many times have I seen Jonathan Franzen's Corrections at used bookstores?) And there are others that will just collect dust on a shelf. Idletime has a lot of the latter. -
Review from Tom G.
Anytime you can find an indie bookstore in a vast sea of drunken dipshits then you know everything is going to be okay. Well, not everything. Someone is still gonna get their ass kicked on Adams Mill Rd, and someone will puke outside the Jumbo Slice shop, but the bookstore will be closed by then.
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Review from David M.
Gaithersburg, MD
7/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Not bad, not bad. It's sort of small, but the staff are very friendly and I appreciated the ability to hang out, flip through a few books and relax. Even when idiots are running amok in Adams Morgan.
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Review from Chris C.
Fairfax, VA
8/16/2011
Less chaos than Capitol Books. Good selection of art and photography books. Staff capable of offering recommendations. Not yet selling e-books.
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Review from Abih A.
Arlington, VA
6/28/2011
Love!!!! I love it because it has antique books and it is open until 11pm (although it says 10pm here on yelp..hm). And their birthday cards are hilariously inspiring.
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Review from Kevin L.
9/25/2009 1 photo
I often forget what it's like to read for pleasure. It so easily slips my memory how I used to get lost in a novel; taken elsewhere and immersed in worlds other than ours. If for no other reason, I'm thankful to Idle Time for the reminder that after all this time, it's still possible.
Like many secondhand bookstores, this one's offerings run from eclectic to obscure. More common titles that one might find in a typical retail outlet are few and far between here, whereas the classics and lesser known works are more bountiful.
Plus, it fascinates me that many (if not all) of the books here have been read by someone else before. From bizarre titles to dry technical journals, someone spent the money to obtain these, then the time to read them... it's a startling reminder of how varied the interests of society are, and how vast the breadth of literature there is to explore.
I might have only walked out with a paperback at half the cost of its label, but also with a healthy dose of bibliophilia.Listed in: What is Adams Morgan anyway?
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Review from Amanda C.
3/20/2009
I'm torn about how to rate Idle Time Books, but I'm generally a fan. As a person who doesn't care what edition/ how rare a book is, I'm satiated by the dirt cheap prices. 1/2 off list price on paperbacks, unless it is under $3 I think. Since I don't care about the specialness of a normal book, I also don't care if it isn't new, which makes Idle Time a good alternative for books that cost more on http://Amazon.com.
The things that make me like this store less is that they don't have a catalogue, so you are stuck rifling through it for hours. If you don't know what you want and don't have a lot of time, I'd recommend sticking to a book store with displays and user-friendly systems.
Also, there's little chance of finding anything newish here, which makes me sad that I can't support a local business when I want to buy a newer book. They only buy books a few times a year in these huge book sales too, so it's not like they can get what you want easily if they don't have it.
Other than that, the staff is nice. It kind of feels like rummaging through a friend's attic that really likes to read... the books are random, the organization iffy, but the finds can be worth the effort.Listed in: ADAMS MORGAN: the good, the…
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Review from Kathy S.
Washington, DC
7/15/2011
NO CELL PHONES please. IF your cell phone has grown human cells and developed into a vital body part, don't cross Idle Time's threshold. So baby, LOSE that cell phone.
I happen to love AdMo, upchuck, agro and all. It's the chaos and cacophony of this distinctly different DC district that has an appeal unlike any other in DC and Idle Time is a definite "fit." Understand please, I am old(er) with a squeaky clean house, sterile bathrooom and bright white teeth... raised by a Jewish-Norwegian mother who insisted on proper dress and manners. AdMo IS STILL my cup of tea and Idle Time the centerpiece.
Upstairs is reminscent of many a Professor's office. A bit wild, wooly and dusty, it is a seductress for academics, scholars and anyone else enticed by ideas, thoughts and scholarly pursuits. It doesn't really matter how well organized it is or isn't. This is a floor where you get lost (one should always "get lost" in any truly worthwhile bookstore). You may start in sociology, but are then quickly grabbed, nabbed and diverted, enticed by other strange titles and authors. Prepared to be sidetracked by the myriad and plethora of titles and subjects and be prepared to separate grain from chaff. Bring a hanky...if dust bothers you.
Downstairs is the generic wonderful mish-mash where can be found the occasional treasured cook-book or treatise on Picasso vs Matisse. Antiques yes and how many books there are no longer in print?
A cross section of cards, quirky and un-quirky, are there in case an occasion has past and you've forgotten someone. Most of the cards suit what one might guess to be "AdMo humor."
AND TOM G., I have little doubt THIS bookstore will outlive me (perhaps even you), the Jumbo Slice pizza dive, Madame's Organ, Tryst and the Diner. And lastly, about the puke...it will likely outlive us all.
NY Times of course and other newspapers. -
Review from Mariko F.
10/15/2007
I love bookstores. I especially love used bookstores. What use is a book when you are only going to read it once and then have it collect dust on the shelf? You might as well get a pre-loved one and pay a bit less for it.
Idle Time Books has a nice array of quirky books that you would usually have to hunt for in a normal bookshop. If you are on the lookout for something very specific, you probably aren't going to find it here. But if you just want to find something interesting to read, this would be a good bet. The cart that is out on the sidewalk holds books for $1. That is always great.
I also really liked the rack of cards that they had on display. These weren't normal cards that you would find at Hallmark, but rather fun ones that had funny/ un-PC quotes in them. They were good for a laugh. -
Review from Armenoush A.
Bronx, NY
6/11/2008
Check out the used CDs near the checkout-- there are lots of interesting classical albums for great prices. I got some Sibelius tone poems, the Smetana cycle, and Petrushka for a steal, something like $20 total. The CDs are not organized in any specific manner, so be prepared to spend some time browsing.
It's a cute store with a hippie vibe and friendly staff. Check out the racks on the street for really cheap books.Listed in: Me fail English? That's…
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Review from Mel B.
Washington, DC
8/12/2007
I am all about supporting the local businesses in Adams Morgan and this is one place I'll go back to when I need some good coffee table books. Anyone can just go to Borders and get a travel book, and art book, and a Washington, DC history book to throw on their coffee table. But this place had things like a book about lost grocery lists and the compiler's commentary on the side which is hilarious- how people misspell things, the odd combination of things people need to buy, how organized/unorganized people are......
They also have an awesome selection of unique greeting cards. I spent $12 on 4 greeting cards and a paper Dick Cheney stand-up with stickers of his crazy phrases. Normally spending $12 on greeting cards is a lot, but, again, I'm all about supporting the local business and for a greeting card that says "I don't care what we do for your birthday as long as it doesn't involve hugging or emotion" which is perfect for a friend, it's all worth it.
The owner has old books - Steinbeck novels, DC history, books on Jackie Kennedy's outfits, fiction, children's books, everything. Spend a lazy Sunday morning and pick up a book that you'd never find yourself reading... like about people's grocery lists.... -
Review from Karen L.
Washington, DC
5/25/2010
The selection is mediocre, the prices a little on the high side, and I totally get what others say about the odd help -- they're not exactly warm and fuzzy. I usually can't pass up a used bookstore, except for this one.
Maybe there's a reason they're uncrowded. -
Review from Paul M.
11/7/2009
Came in here to look around and see if I could find anything interesting. I did, and my one regret now is that I did not buy in Dorothea Lang's American Country women.
Add to that the guy behing the counter enlightening a customer on J.M. Coetze's "Waiting for the Barbarians" and you have a second hand booksstore right out of central casting. I absolutely loved it. -
Review from John B.
Washington, DC
11/30/2006
They have a pretty good Children's section here, which made me think they might have a copy of "Tin-tin and The Shooting Star." They did not, but the good news is, there is still a wide variety of used books, and a couple of chairs to sit down in and read. No Bukowski, no Raymond Carver, and no Chekhov, but they did have an old copy of "The Things They Carried," by Tim O'Brien.
If you're walking down 18th street and you don't feel like reveling, then step into Idle Time, and while away an hour or two. There aren't many used bookshops in DC, and to find one along one of the busiest corridors in town was a miracle to me...it's just too bad they don't have a better selection. -
Review from Sarah G.
Manhattan, NY
5/13/2011
Idle Time is a very cute and quaint bookstore in a very trendy neighborhood centered around nightlife. In other words, with the selection of books it offers, it's a bit out of place. This is not to say Idle Time is a bad used book store (after all, they do have the $1 book carts, which merits at least 2 stars). I have stopped in here a few times to browse, and although I've found one or two gems (an almost brand-new copy of "Mortified," an awesome collection of kids' diary entries from the 1970s-90s), the selection is nothing to rave about. Many of the books they have are ones that have been and will be sitting on the shelves for a while. However, the books are not overpriced, the store is bright and open, and it still has that quirky Adams Morgan charm (I could have sworn I saw a picture of the Lady Chablis from "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" on the wall...).
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Review from r. r.
Washington, DC
8/15/2010
The music here fucking rocks- lots of African stuff like Franco et le TPOK Jazz.
The selection is great, I always end up buying random books here. Nice selection on military/foreign policy/politics (DC chillin.).
It's at a great spot on 18th st, good place to chill for a bit on a rainy day while passing by. -
Review from Gretchen H.
Savannah, GA
7/10/2008
You can score some really amazing finds in this place.
I suggest you make sometime to spare and head in for a least a few hours of browsing time. And don't be afraid to get to the tall shelves and pull out books that you have no idea what they are.
We found an amazing Bosch book here with plates and all that was only around $70. It's a really stunning book to have found.
Plus, there used to be a cute kitty in here that wants your love. -
Review from christi s.
Raleigh, NC
5/17/2010
Fabulous finds here; however, the older man I paid questioned the book I chose and was less than friendly. It would have been nice to at least receive a "thank you" for buying a used book for $15, but nope. Next time I will not go there no matter how many great things they have! If I had the opportunity to have a dream book shop like that, I believe I would be forming more positive relationships with everyone that stepped through the door...
I do like that there are no cell phones allowed though! -
Review from Brian G.
Costa Mesa, CA
10/20/2009
A very nice casual book shop. Lots of miscellaneous titles to peruse.
Headed to the garden section and picked up a Taylor's Guide. Then found a great hard-bound copy of Mark Twain. All for around $17. Prices are just OK, in my opinion, especially in this day and age where you can find such amazing deals online for used books. Granted it is nice to have a place to "try before you buy."
OK selection of rare books, at expected prices. I probably would have benefited from more time to look around. Lots of great sections to scan.
I think I'm overly spoiled by BOOKOFF! -
Review from Ralph G.
San Francisco, CA
8/4/2008
I, for one, actually like the music they play here (other reviews seem to dislike it). The store was playing "junior brown" an old-style country singer with a mean steel guitar. The dichotomy of country music and used books might not sit well for some, but it was quite tasty to me.
As for the books, an average selection a bit lacking of the pop literature I so crave. Seemingly "Lolita" is quite popular because it has been impossible to find. Damn Oprah and her book list. Also, the math section was quite poor... I can't really penalize the store for that however. That's my personal fetish. The soft sciences (physiology, sociology, biology, etc) seemed plentiful enough.
The worker was quite pleasant and helpful, and they had some comfortable reading chairs scattered about the floors. If you're in the area it's worth a look. -
Review from John G.
Washington, DC
7/9/2008
A cozy little used bookstore that's fun to browse in.
I like how there are lots of interesting books displayed prominently near the front, so if you wander in aimlessly you're sure to find something amusing. Also, I've been going here periodically over the past year and the books on display seem to rotate pretty frequently.
On the downside, when I go here with a specific book I'm looking for, I tend to be disappointed. The selection isn't super-huge and some of the sections are a bit disorganized. (Though the selection here is *pretty good* -- my standard for a "super-huge" bookstore is pretty high since I used to live in Berkeley.)
And the atmosphere is cozy, the staff is friendly, and it's open reasonably late (till 10pm every night). -
Review from Meg G.
4/11/2010
"I've got a dollar, I've got a dollar, I've got a dollar - hey, hey, hey, hey!"
Aside from my overzealous introduction, my review of Idle Time Books is really simple. I love that they've acquired these 'random' books that they are so desperate to be rid of for a single buck. I can really understand the appeal of the 'rare & out-of-print' copies inside the store that are also sold for modest prices. I'm not as familiar with the used bookstore scene in DC as I am with the stores in Houston, so I am uncertain if this is the best that the city has to offer. If you're in the neighborhood, just stop in and browse around. The name of the bookstore says it all - what a great way to pass it, by perusing their literary collection! -
Review from Dave E.
Washington, DC
5/2/2010
If you walk into Idle Time with a willingness to try something new and pick up something you didn't expect to buy, you'll have a good time.
Flipping through pages at Idle Time often feels like a trip into the past, and it's always a pleasant one. I've never been rushed out, never felt crowded, and never walked out empty-handed. -
Review from Candice T.
Washington, DC
6/18/2010
I just moved here, and was excited to find a used book story one block from me.
That excitement was short-lived. The disorganization alone is a little off-putting, and the selection is not that exciting either. And no prices on anything! I do not like that. How hard is it to put the price on it as you shelve the things? Methinks not very.
Came twice, left empty handed twice. Will not be back. -
Review from Jack S.
Washington, DC
5/1/2010
Cards. That's right, I come here for cards... birthday cards, greeting cards, random cards, blank cards, sympathy cards, baby cards.....
I bought a book here once too, but I like their cards.
Running to a birthday? Running late? Don't worry, Idle Times is open and you can practically see the 42 and 90 bus stops while you borrow their pen and sign your cards.
The register folks are painfully slow, but it's a cool place and cool vibe. Definitely a nice change of pace from all the crap places on 18th. -
Review from Timothy M.
Chicago, IL
11/29/2006
Great place!
Similar to Myopic Books in Chicago, but newer and a little smaller. Lots of fiction and non-fiction titles, cool calendars, etc. Owned by a nice British lady who would love to help you.
Nice place to get books, support your local independent book store. -
Review from Chris M.
Washington, DC
4/20/2010
I've been in DC for a few years now and have been meaning to pop into Idle Time. Last night I finally got the chance, and as soon as I walked in interesting titles started catching my eye.
After browsing for a few minutes, I got a call about some dinner reservations -- I answered the phone and began solidifying plans. The man behind the counter -- who had, for several minutes, been making small talk with the only other person in the store -- did not appreciate this. In an over-dramatic and condescending way, he started saying, "Excuse me! Excuse me! Excuse me!" and making bizarre gestures with his hands. I thought something terrible was happening and realized that this was, in fact, just his way of letting me know that he didn't want people talking on cell phones in the store. Rather than politely asking, he pitched a little fit -- a fit that cost him my business. There are too many other good bookshops in DC where people know how to act like adults. -
Review from Pam S.
12/2/2010
This place is adorable. And yes, I've only been there because of their lovely location next to places I frequently food and beverage at. Honestly, not an awesome selection, but I absolutely love book browsing - annoys my better half since he loves book stores, but usually knows what he wants ... still, I love places like this for the sheer browsability, and when you *do* get something, it's usually unexpected and great. (also, they have good hours!)
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Review from Jeferka C.
Brooklyn, NY
8/7/2011
Selection is somewhat random with hard-to-find gems in the mix. I didn't appreciate how all of the notable feminist or female sociologists', philosophers' and psychologists' works were thrown into a haphazard "Women's Studies" section. When I asked how much the little 1960s paperback I was buying cost, the guy behind the counter rolled his eyes at me and said, "All the prices are written on the front." When I told him I was just surprised that it was correctly priced at $23 and wondered what it was about the book that warranted the high price tag, I got a lecture about how "academic textbooks are expensive." When I said that I was aware of that but still surprised that an old copy of a popular classic (non-textbook) work on psychoanalysis by a faculty member in my Ph.D. program could fetch such a price, he suddenly stopped talking down to me and was almost friendly, which felt even worse than being presumed stupid.
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Review from Maxx C.
Washington, DC
9/19/2010
Wandered in, enjoyed the NPR, looked through the general selection (a little pricey), looked through collectibles (not uninteresting), bought a few things, had a weird conversation with the clerk. Pretty typical experience.
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Review from Sunny D.
Washington, DC
6/2/2010
2.5 stars for idle time books.
funny, i actually wound up in this bookstore because i had some time to kill. i'd arrived a little too early for an interview and did not want to sit for 45 mins in one of the many cafes or bars on 18th, so decided to finally check out idle time books. i accomplished my mission of killing time and even bought a couple of books, but the experience was somewhere b/w meh & odd.
for the unaware or unobservant, there is a sign in the front of the store that reads: NO CELL PHONES, and they mean it. i can understand that - i mean, it is a book store. but the sign could be a little higher or bigger since they are so adamant about the rule. next, if you don't notice the sign you will most definitely notice the uh, 'background' music - caribbean/cuban/afo-latin/etc style music. doesn't exactly fit the the store or its clientele (not even me, and i AM most of the aforementioned ethnicities, but that's not what i want to listen to when i'm poking around a book store). and it's a little loud. not ear-splitting, uber-annoying, loud. but louder than store music usually is, and definitely loud enough to distract you when you're trying to read a book jacket to see if it's interesting enough to purchase.
on to the actual books, b/c that's the whole point of the store, right? even though the store is smaller than i'd expected, it is jam packed with books. books vertically and horizontally on all the shelves. books on the floor. books on chairs and window sills and counters and basically every surface available. if the door to the back storage room is open you will see they probably have enough books to fill the store twice over. however, the quality and diversity of the books leaves a lot to be desired. i did see a few good titles, but for the most part it felt like a garage or library book sale - and not the good/rare gem kind (for that, see my review of the friends of the seattle public library book sale). many of the old books were just that - old. not some out of print edition you'd be delighted to find, but more of the outdated material kind.
still, there are some redeeming qualities about idle time. it's an independent, used book store that is surviving in the days of barnes & noble, borders, and the like. the staff, while a little odd, is mostly what you want in book store staff - they'll leave you alone to browse and don't mind if you cop a squat and thumb through some books, but are [for the most part] readily available, attentive and full of information when you seek assistance. the prices are okay. a little high for the limited selection, but not at all high in the grand scheme of things. (i got three books for $14 on my last visit.) being the book-lover that i am i'll probably find myself in there again, but it's far from my first choice.Listed in: education & enrichment, deuces
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Review from jenn h.
Washington, DC
10/12/2006
Great used bookstore. You can check out their inventory online, which is extremely useful. Beyond the books, I particularly like their old school-ish cards and retro advertisements, which you can buy and hang for display. Having a legit piece of the past is pretty cool, considering there are so many new reproductions of these prints. Whether you go for the books or the cards/prints or the cd's, if you're willing to invest a little bit of time to dig, you won't be disappointed.
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Review from shawn d.
Takoma Park, MD
7/18/2010
i am an unabashed lover of used book stores. even the smell drags me in and i can't help buying something, no matter how disinterested i thought i was in the subject before i grabbed it off the shelf.
all that being said, i love this place for being close to home and for being conveniently located next to bars in which i am frequently stumbling out of, tired of socializing and wanting an excuse for " me time."
for that, this place couldn't be more perfect in it's two stories of random collections.
though for a saturday morning prerusal of random books, i put them a distant second to second story. the selection doesn't seem as good to me and the ambiance lacks the crowded dustiness that i love second story for. -
Review from Melissa H.
Irvine, CA
3/27/2010
Nice staff, good variety, and lots of different sections to navigate through. I like their used CD section, although it is not as big as Second Story books. I almost always find a book to buy when I am here. I find that their selection offers a wider variety that some other book stores in the DC area. Prices are also very reasonable.
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Review from Tu-van L.
10/16/2006
I am a sucker for used bookstores. Always have to walk in and peruse regardless of my intended destination (whether it's dinner or drinks somehwere down the road near this Adam's Morgan store). The selection is extensive yet I'm used to bookstores where they have $1-3 bins. Also great to peruse the kitchy prints and CD collection.
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Review from Monica L.
Washington, DC
12/12/2008
The surprise factor of used bookstores is the draw for me, and Idle Time does not disappoint. I've always gone in with nothing in mind and left with something interesting and possibly archaic. The store is small enough in that it isn't overwhelming if you're just browsing, but, with its second floor, is extensive in topics and genres. The used CDs and records are more useful for niche listeners (or if you're throwing a theme party), though, and the travel section needs some serious updating (Costa Rica 2001? really?), but oh well. I appreciate that this store doesn't seem like a depository for all the best-sellers people have bought, then realized were crap.
Listed in: Materialism
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Review from Alycia E.
Washington, DC
3/27/2010
Don't get me wrong, I adore that we still have a bookstore in our neighborhood, but I can usually only take about 10 minutes of blaring afro/cuban/world beat music before I'm driven from the store.
