At the shop we encounter a wide range of book collectors—people with specialized and sometimes eccentric fields of interest, from esoteric wellness trends to pre-revolutionary Cuba. But how do these passions develop in the first place? In this episode, Ken draws on his own developing interest in Kenyan history to describe a self-reinforcing cycle: curiosity is sparked, reading follows, knowledge deepens, material accumulates, a collection takes shape—and, before you know it, you’re an East Africa guy. Join us for a look at how collectors are made, on this inquisitive and acquisitive new #brattlecast.
Brattlecast #228 - Real Photo Postcards
This week we’re talking about real photo postcards. In 1903, Kodak released a camera that allowed people to print postcards from photographs they took themselves. Portable, easy to use, and relatively inexpensive, the postcard camera democratized—and deformalized—visual communication in many of the same ways that social media would 100 years later. Unlike mass-produced postcards, which tend to show standardized views of major landmarks, these small-batch souvenirs offer a personal, idiosyncratic look at what ordinary people cared about: vernacular architecture, college sports teams, candid family portraits, and much more. Join us for a look at some fun and fascinating messages from the past on this picture-perfect new #brattlecast.
Brattlecast #226 - Storage Units
In this episode, we continue our day-in-the-life series with the story of another relatively normal but less-than-perfect book buy. It’s a stumbling block that we run into fairly often: folks trying to sell books that they’re not emotionally prepared to part with. In this case we looked at the collection, made an offer, and waited about five years until its owner was ready to let go. In a classic case of indecision being worse than wrong decision, the books waited in a storage unit for all those years, absorbing rent money and developing unfortunate condition issues. Listen to learn more about the pitfalls of sentimental storage—and tune in next time for a look at an average work week at the shop.
Brattlecast #223 - So You Want to Own a Book Store
To many people, owning a small book shop seems like a dream job—it’s right up there with the cute neighborhood restaurant and the cozy Vermont inn. Unfortunately, like these other idealized occupations, the reality is usually a lot of hard work and uncertain remuneration. We’re often asked for advice about opening a book store, which is somewhat ironic since Ken’s father started the Brattle with little business experience and no money, but, if you’re really interested, this is the episode for you. We’ll talk about the pros and cons of selling new versus used books, rare book schools where you can network and learn the tricks of the trade, and even some alternative career options for people who love books but who might not love working with the public. Get set for a new life of literary ambiance, eccentric customers, and twelve-hour days on this career-minded new #brattlecast.
Brattlecast #222 - The Gift of Books
With the holidays on the horizon, we thought it would be a good time to talk about gift giving. A rare or secondhand book can make a great gift—if it’s chosen thoughtfully (otherwise you run the risk of seeming like you’ve wrapped a random volume from your own shelves). Before you start shopping, it helps to get clear on what you’d like to give: think about your budget, the recipient’s interests, and what they might already have in their collection. It’s also good to start early; a little extra time can make all the difference when it comes to tracking down that perfect item—possibly with a little help from your neighborhood bookseller. Of course, every book is a gift, it’s just that some are gifts for a person you love, while others are better suited to give to an acquaintance (or an enemy). Learn how to brighten their spirits and shelves on this generous new #brattlecast.