Brattlecast: A Firsthand Look at Secondhand Books

At one of America's oldest bookshops, there are just as many stories to be told outside the pages as in them. Join bookseller Kenneth Gloss and co-host Jordan Rich as they share entertaining conversations and histories surrounding Boston's favorite spot for bibliophiles.

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Today we’re talking about trying something new at the Brattle: brand-new books. We’ve recently purchased a large collection from a relocating publishing house that didn’t want to move its stock. It’s an unusual turn for the shop, which is known for its rare and secondhand volumes, but this group—nicely bound reissues of overlooked classics, collected quotes, and American historical documents—was a good fit for us, so we figured, why not? Placed up front by the registers, they’ve been a big hit with our growing contingent of tourist visitors, teaching us that sometimes change (but not too much change) can be a good thing.