Oh, what an overwhelming book store! So many great books makes me wish I was a billionaire of time and money. This is probably one of the best book stores in the world. Great people working there, good prices and many good recomendations by the staff. This store is a must see when in New York.

THE BEST academic bookstore in the United States! So this is it. This is the best academic bookstore in the entire country. The Seminary Co-Op is a close second, but that is in Chicago and they are second in everything (get it?). Third place probably goes to Labyrinth in Princeton. This is the place to go for literary theory, philosophy, poetry, and history. They also have a vast fiction section. Naturally, being so close to Columbia University there are are also a lot of academic press books. Go here. Get a book. Then go to the nearby Hungarian Cafe and read it, or pretend to while people watching.

Plenty of selection here, and is one of few places that actually has a book club which I think is charming. They also have the occasional sidewalk sale, and a local publisher section. I believe they will also buy some used books in good condition. I posted some photos for your viewing pleasure!

The independent book store is so important. It has been quite a while since a trip to the city had brought me in search of the small stores. I know the pandemic has been rough on some if not all, but going through my notes and recollection brought me back to my visit here and the finding of a great indie book, so relaxing and good. I hope to one day get back there for another visit. Please everyone support your independent book stores. Best wishes to you all. My name is Roger Browning, author of The Reckoning of Rance. Available now on amazon.

This is the bookshop of my dreams. The wonderfully detailed staff recommendations around the shop elevate it to a point where I couldn’t even dream up a shop this perfect. Huge selection, so many genres AND a fantastic, massive, reasonable used books section. Capital T Treasure.

Great bookstore with a wide variety of books.

I love this bookstore. The staff are super friendly and they have a great collection of books that I never expected to see. Great shop with good prices def worth coming here and supporting your local bookstore. Also you can order online and get it picked up to avoid shipping fees :)

Gift came in complimentary wrapping paper along with book marks!

Great used section on the second floor

Traditional brick and mortar bookstore. Pleasant helpful staff. New and used books. Worth supporting!

I go there pretty regularly; theyre usually stocked with the books I want, and I really enjoy browsing through the displays they put out as well as the non-book giftable items they sell.But their buy-back staff are 2 out of 3 times awful. The one thats usually there - with dark brown hair and never smiles - is unpleasant to deal with because he lacks any warmth or life-like qualities. The one with glasses and brown hair is actually friendly and helpful. And then theres the blondish one with the earrings - just awful. Instead of saying something like were not interested in buying these books, he says,I dont need thesewhile handing my books back to me without even looking at me and walks away the second I touch the books with my hand.So disappointed when Im a loyal customer. Im only looking for basic customer service.

I found a good selection of spanish childrens books. This is a really cool bookstore in New York, We should buy local and support business like these libraries so they dont disappear.

Love academics? You might faint here.Just be warned.

Great selection of independent publishers and titles I might have never seen if I hadnt gone here

Out hunting for a New York times Sunday edition. What kind of bookstore near Columbia doesnt sell periodicals. Staff was helpful storm is clean and socially distant so that counts for something.

Great small bookstore, really helpful and nice staff. I try to go just to stop by whenever Im in the area and I always end up getting something. Interior is also great. They have a great vintage postcard collection in addition to having a great array of books and topics. Also old posters! Great place.

Book Culture is an amazing small local business, and I love that they have multiple locations. I won’t lie- the Long Island City location is my favorite.Anyway, this bookstore is super close to Columbia, so it’s easily accessible to students/ staff and urban dwellers aka straphangers... but just a bit out of the way for me. There’s a good variety of books, and I usually find what I’m looking for.

Fantastic selection of new books and used, academic books. Really great prices as well.

What a great variety of feminist literature! I couldnt stop browsing. It took me ages to decide on which books I should buy. Great sales too. The staff could be more friendly but hey its New York City.

The best bookstore in New York for academic and political books. I always find amazing work here that you cant easily find elsewhere. They also buy books from Columbia university students and its a great way to see what books are being assigned there. The prices on used academic books are great and I have found so many hard to find titles there. Make sure to go if you like intellectual and academic titles.

Im a proud supporter of Book Culture. I love this book store.

A good look shop in an organized and comfortable way. Smart people work there, smart people order for them as well, good small press samplings, quality poetry section, all the usuals with lots of highly unusual.They have a membership thing, 5% back for every 100 bucks, not bad at all.

Great selection of available new and used books for purchasestaff are hit or miss and can ruin your experience and you dont feel so bad about amazon beating out independent book storesparticularly, the buy-back staff can be helpful or totally rudei visit and buy books from this location regularlyusually i can sell my books for only a couple of dollars each and then i immediately spend that on more books at the storeonly once have i had my books not buyable and the medium-length blonde guy that was working the buy-back desk was an a** about it, shoving the books back to me

I went there to sell about 20 or so books. When I entered I noticed the group of books on display on the front desk dedicated to Black History Month. I glanced other interesting books as I made my way to the 2nd floor to make my sale. My only disappointment during my first visit there was that I only made $6 cash (or $9 store credit if I chose) for 3 books & I wouldve had to lug all the rest of the books back with me if I didnt ask to leave them for recycling. Last but not least, as much as I absolutely loathe using public bathrooms, from time to time I must go so I appreciated that they had a clean bathroom.

WE LOVE TO COME TO BOOK CULTURE! They always have the book we need at at least one of their locations. The staff is helpful in locating books in the shop. Its nice to have local neighborhood book stores.

A fantastic independent bookstore. The downstairs is new releases. Be sure to go upstairs for a sometimes more complete selection of older/used books and for discount books.

A dying breed of its own. We dont want to make it history. A diamond in the rough. The prices are fantastic. You can find a good read and explore other authors.

They have a good collection of books, toys, accessories (such as backpacks) and small items. Its all sophisticated brands, You wont find Disney here or Mattel here. Which also means that its not cheap - most things are a little pricier then Amazon. But than again, its a local store thats a neighborhood feature, not a faceless conglomerate with unchecked power. There offer story time during weekends in various languages, mostly held by people from the neighborhood that wish to share their culture and find a community for their children. Theres a kids play room thats fantastic and is very popular especially over the winter, and its absolutely OK to spend the afternoon reading books without making a purchase. The staff is knowledgeable and patient and most of the time seems unbothered. It is not, sadly, wheelchair accessible. There was also conflict with the employer about two years ago when employees organized into a Union. The neighborhood got on their hind legs and it seems to have resolved, but keep an eye for labor justice.

Very friendly stuff and cute local book store. They have treats for dogs too! You can sell your used books there.

Unusual bookshop near Columbia campusMany good used buys. A rare find

Fantastic selection of new books and used, academic books. Really great prices as well.

Its a great bookstore with a wider diversity of international authors than other bookstores. They also carry textbooks. Very knowledgeable, pleasant and helpful staff.

My favorite independent bookstore in New York.

I love this book store! Awesome vibes, great book selection, and overall lovely environment! Would totally recommend!

Incredible place. Very friendly and accommodating staff. Books from literally every moment in time on every subject you can imagine.

Racial profiling ?/social profiling?24 years living in US, first time treated like this. I was asked to leave my bag upon entrance, but was the only person asked to do so, the young lady that stepped in behind me was not profiled, I assume, neither the rest of the people already inside of the store with bigger bags than mine. Might as well keep their books and see if that helps expand their minds. Ps: recommend to start with “Blink”.

This is by far the best bookstore in the city. It has an excellent selection of books and magazines, and the the staff are very helpful. Theres a huge selection of used books upstairs too, and all the books located in the stairwell are deeply discounted.

Attentative personnel,I love going to a specialty place and see the employees that know their trade .

Bought four books because I have no self control. First bookstore visited in NY and I loved it!!

Prices are higher than I think is reasonable, even in the clearance sections. However, the employees were extremely knowledgeable and polite. I asked if the store carried the book Grit, something I didnt consider well-known, and without consulting a computer or card catalog, they said yes, listed the author, and in what section it would likely be found. I purchased a book because I was feeling deprived of literature, but it was so hard to decide amidst all the fresh choices.

I will freely acknowledge that the new and used book selection here is excellent.The problem is that during the first few weeks of a new school semester, the store forces some (but not all) of its customers to check their bags at the entrance. When you are a younger customer, and you notice that all of the older customers get to keep their bags while you do not, you dont feel particularly welcome or wanted here.This bookstore is the closest to my apartment, so I continue to shop at it, but it would get so much more of my business if I didnt feel like a second class shopper on some of my visits.

Two thumbs up for independent book stores, those that survive. This store has a diverse selection of new books in subjects like politics, poetry, photography, urbanism and music. It also has used books and class books, apparently for Columbia students, which I have to assume is important in their survival. Besides helpful employees, they host and throw activities, from book groups to bagel brunches with live music, on a regular basis. If they have what you wane, help them survive by buying it here.

Amazing and calm and all that good stuff, the staff are so friendly and helped me find what i was looking for. thanks again (:

Two-floor bookstore with a great variety of books, particularly serving academics and students but also the general public. In rare instances when you cannot find what you want, the staff will help you place an order. A heaven for bibliophiles.

Independent book store with very friendly and helpful staff. They do not hesitate to help you locate books, or even to pinpoint down a book which matches a very vague idea of what you think youd like, such as in my case. Located in a beautiful and calming area, this store is a favorite.

My new favorite bookstore in town. An old school feel with all the modern looks of a barnes and noble

Formerly Labyrinth, this location of Book Culture has a nicely curated array of thought provoking books. Doesnt hurt that Columbia Universitys close by- definitely ups their game vis-a-vis their selection of offerings!

A big bookstore filled with almost anything you could possibly want, and a knowledgeable staff to help you find it.

Great, cozy, well stocked bookstore. With informative interesrting. author talks events

Im going to put this as five stars for the moment. I didnt find the textbook I was looking for, however, everyone was more than helpful and the selection seemed wonderful.

This is a lovely, cosy, make yourself feel at home type book store. I visited for an event (yes they have enough space for one upstairs!) But I had a good look around and they have so many books, some well known ones on sale and even reduced. The staff were very friendly and answered my many questions I had as a newbie and a bit of a tourist to the area.

Great book store real friendly and knowledgeable staff. They have a wide selection of books and multiple locations.

One of the last great bookstores in NYC. I walked in with a vague idea of what I topics I was interested and walked out with an armload of amazing books that I would never have otherwise found. The real deal. No fluff.

Really amazing selection of books, plus surprisingly low prices on even new selections. I’ll definitely make a point of buying my books here.

This is a nice little book store in New York City. Just happened to drop in there while in the city. I Highly recommend Book Culture.

Friendly, great selection

The store itself is nice, I would give it four or five stars, but Im only giving it three because of the owners/upper management. Some other reviews have noted that the staff seem inattentive/rude/miserable, and I feel the need to explain that the reason for this is that they make next to nothing at these shops (I think like $8 or $9 to start, which is practically nothing in NYC - you can make more at McDonalds for goodness sake). They tried to unionize, and were instantly fired.Nice store, but not so nice business ethics.

A nice bookstore with many new and old books at good price.

Amazing store, lots of great choices. Close to Columbia, Barnard, and a lot of other great locations!

Love this place!! Love the selection of books they have. Great books for kids as well. No bias

Nice selection of books! They had such a wide selection of items, including Ru Paul Madlibs, posters of animal skeletons for under $5, and a wide variety of postcards.

The people there are so kind and patient. Also the events are fun!

Friendly, old-fashioned bookstore, with great selection and good organization. A fun place to shop.

I prefer the Columbus location as this one is more geared towards the Columbia crowd. Still a great store though.

Honestly I’ve given this bookstore 3 chances and each time they’ve been a letdown. Customer service is actually horrible and each time, I’ve dealt with an agitated store associate. Being that I am a college student with plenty of books, I called to inquire about their “sell your books” option on their website. Before I could finish what I was saying the associate rudely cut me off. Then when I asked if based off two books would me dragging my books over their be a waste of time, he said he has no he isn’t going to waste his time, plus people coming in all day to sell their books and what would it benefit him to make another person bring their books.

The gem! A favorite back to the Labyrinth days. Like a little Strand. Clearly academic and intellectual.

From the movie Premium Rush (sight to the end of the street you can see the Church)

Still my favorite book stores in the city. I can find all the new fiction I could need and find out about awesome indie writers at the same time. I highly suggest checking out their card collection!

Very friendly staff. Dedicated kids section. Clean and organized

All sorts of books even just for looking around, its great

Wonderful experience, just like a library but you get to keep the book for ever. Buying used books have never felt so good.

A most wonderful bookstore! Beautiful gift items, cards, books, everything. Like old New York

Best bookstore in New York City. A must visit regularly.

Found books we couldnt find either at the Strand or at Barnes & Noble. Very good service, nice atmosphere and a great collection of books. Our best stumble-upon in New York.

Great book store. Not much in the way of fiction.

One of NYCs indispensable book stores. New books, a curated selection of used books, and remainders. The best selection of Western academic philosophy books in NYC.

Good collection of books. Well organized. Billing to be faster

Love this place. Great selection of new titles downstairs, then a treasure trove of older stuff upstairs.

Excellent selection of 20th century philosophy and cultural theory. The staff are generally very helpful. I travel all the way from Brighton Beach just to raid this place once a month. They definitely have someone making sure that the Deleuze section stays freshly stocked.The one problem is that Ive never seen the same faces working there. The only bookstore in NYC I can think of with a similar issue is Blue Stockings, which is entirely volunteer-driven. Id like to know at least one employee after having been a customer for three years.

Lovely selection of books, a dedicated childrens area (although I still felt like my kids may have been a little too high energy - theyre 2 1/2 and 5 1/2 so theres no way to avoid their intrinsic oscillation - theirs were happy squeals, at least), the idea of being able to sit and write a handwritten card (they have a desk and note paper available in case youd like to jot someone a note - AWESOME!) is really great, and they carry our favorite brand of stuffed animal (Jellycat), and they have an elevator, which makes them stroller-friendly. Great experience!

2 floor bookshop with a great selection. Staff was very helpful in finding items and recommending reads.

The best bookseller in these parts, not that there are many alternatives. Columbia bookstore is stale and staff, though well-intentioned, are unhelpful. Barnes and Nobles on 84th is much larger but doesnt have that personal, independent feel. Bank St should be your go-to for childrens books. Book Culture has a great display on the first floor, amazing buyback policy, and is just small enough without lacking the necessary books. If youre a Columbia student, coming here is a no-brainer!

Lots of books, nice selection. Super cool.

I do love a good bookstore, this is one.

Good books. Food for thought...

A good bookstore with various philosophical books

Great selection and great staff. The perfect independent book store.

This shop has a surprising selection of books, despite being a smaller independent seller. They also have a loyalty program ($10 in credit for every $100 spent I believe) but they dont correlate your purchases between this location and their broadway location. Apparently, they use different computer systems to theyre unable to hold your information on both. Ive gotten excellent service from their employees and I always feel welcome when I stop in. This is a great landmark in Morningside Heights.

A nice place with a wide range of books and eclectic additional items, a cheaper option for textbooks provided you are not majoring in a mathematical or scientific field

A nice little independent bookstore on the UWS. The staff picks of the month are usually worth taking a look at. They also have a nice kids section if youre looking for educational gifts.

Homey, earthy, and friendly. Prices are usually good and if you do pay more, its worth it for the cultural experience.

Great book and culture venue! It is worth enough to be there

Lovely bookstore. Great selection, excellent for browsing, and the large selection upstairs is a great place to hunt for deals on used books.

Really nice and well-stocked book store. Good Jewish interests selections.

Great bookstore in Morningside Heights with an impressive selection (be sure to go upstairs), really good prices, and a helpful and friendly staff. I dont go here as often as I would like, but Im always sure to stop by when Im in the neighborhood!

Just love this place, great vibe, usually some good discounts and lots of eastern religion options

Wonderful neighborhood (and Columbia U) bookstore.

Nearly everything sold at this Book Culture location here can be found online for upwards of 30-40 percent off. If you can wait to buy something (whether its a book for class or a new book bag), save your money and buy online.

Just an ok bookstore, nothing incredibly special. While supporting local books is neat, there wasnt anything particularly local about the book selection.

Great selection of books and good prices.