Located in the heart of Downtown Crossing, this family-owned store has been there since 1825. The charm of the stacks upon stacks of books you’ll find here is that the stock runs more toward classics and out-of-print titles than what is on the New York Times bestseller list. People who love the old book smell and the feel of old bindings should feel at home: Brattle’s deals entirely in second-hand books, so there’s a strong chance many of the literary gems you’ll find are older than you are!
Naturally, the upstairs section of the shop is devoted entirely to rare editions, for those who aren’t prone to sticker shock. But lovers of old books don’t have to be rolling in cash to find something valuable here.
The biggest draw for Brattle’s has to be its outdoor lot. Directly adjacent to the 
store, and adorned with murals of famous authors, this is the place to go (weather permitting) to hunt for a really good buy. The carts are wheeled out, bearing labels of $5, $3, or $1, and have no other organization whatsoever.
But as any regular will testify, the fun is in searching through the offerings. And often something more contemporary does pop up (I've seen Stephen King, for instance), so don’t discount Brattle’s if you like newer books!
You will have to browse diligently, and return often—stock is always being transferred to the carts from the indoor shelves. But the reward is in opening your mind and finding just the book you didn’t know you were looking for.
It may be yellowed, annotated by a previous reader, or worn around the edges. But at such a price (a dollar! come on!), who can resist adding some character and dignity to their bookshelf?
Follow Brattle’s Book Shop on Twitter to see what’s new in the store, and whether the carts are out when the skies look cloudy. They're open Monday-Saturday, 9:00-5:30 (and word to the wise: the carts are pulled back inside around 5).
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