Trafficking in old books--by Anthony Marshall

This is not a guideline that help you to run a secondhand bookshop. But this is a very interesting book that can excite those booklovers, like you,like me.

I can't explain why I prefer secondhand bookshop to bookshops which sell new books, I can't explain the feelings. Maybe because I can directly deal with the owner and may have interesting conversations; maybe I feel more comfortable when I stay with the old books and elder people (most 2nd-hand booksellers are 50 or 60 something);or maybe because I can find lots of good books in much cheaper price.

Someone says, books will die out in the future and internet resource will replace the paperbooks. I don't believe that and I even dream of opeaning my own 2nd-hand bookshop(may turn to be true in 10 years or 50 years?). It is different from the bookshop in the internet, it is more real, more interacting,more interesting.I used to operate an e-bookshop and earned some money, but I would prefer face-to-face dealings. Talking on the internet is dull and most customers can compare your price immediately with other online booksellers(force you to set a low price).

I want to know more about 2nd-hand bookshops, look into the booksellers' feeling and experience, so I searched the library and then I found this book. The author, Anthony Marshall, is running a 2nd-hand bookshop, calls Alice Book, in Melbourne. This book gave me great pleasure while I was reading it. Have you ever found a fried egg or bacon(already dried, of course) in the old books?Do you know how the 2nd-hand bookseller set their price? And can you imagine the life where you live above your shop?

This book is for the readers who love books or interested in 2nd-hand bookshops.It won't disappoint you!!

evil text books

I always regard text book as a commercial good which is different from other books.

For one thing, who can say 'reading text books is a great joy or enjoyment'? Or, 'I have a hobby of reading text books'? Ok, admit it, we all hate text books!

In Australian,text books are changed every year. The content may haven't been changed a lot, but the cover, footnotes, questions and presenting order may be changed. Students have to spend more than $300 to buy text books every semester which is a great burden to family. But we can't find 2nd-hand text books--will booksellers keep those text books which can't be used in the next year?

Moreover, text books are heavy, over weight, fat and large, in need to keep fit. I really don't want to carry a text book for reading! I have to say I only use my text book when I prepare the exams.

Text books have no value to keep, generally speaking. Few text books are kept for they will increase value in 5,10 or 100 years.

I always seperate text book from my real worth-reading books. I hate to mix them together. But when I mention that I love reading, lots of my Chinese friends would said 'wo!!' and normally think that what I love to read are text books and I must be a boring guy. Maybe Chinese people are poisoned by too many text books and tent to regard all the books are in the purpose of studying.

So evil the text books!