Brattlecast #109 - Where's Ken's Book? (audio fixed)

Edit: Sorry about the technical difficulties! The episode should work now.

Ken tells great stories, and he’s around books all day, so people sometimes ask him, “Why don’t you write a book of your own?” It’s a nice idea, but, unfortunately, being good at selling books doesn’t necessarily translate to being good at writing them. Jordan, on the other hand, has just published a memoir: ON-AIR: My 50-Year Love Affair with Radio, which he wrote with the help of an editor friend (learn more about Jordan’s book here: https://www.jordanrich.com/book.shtml). 

Today we’ll talk about the mysteries and difficulties of the writing process, how hard it is to stay focused when writing feels like a chore, and why the funniest story in the world can come out so flat when you put it down on the page. Think of this episode as Ken’s séance for ghostwriters: Are you out there? Can you hear us trying to summon you?

Brattlecast #108 - Viability of Owning a Bookstore

Is it still viable to own a bookstore in 2021? Essentially yes, as long as you don’t have dust allergies, back or knee injuries, or a burning ambition to become fantastically wealthy by owning a bookstore. People getting into the book trade these days tend to open smaller, more specialized shops; some sell exclusively online, and some even have a full time job and sell books as a hobby. Today we’ll talk about the ways that the industry is changing, and Ken will divulge some of his secrets to bookselling success. Fortunately there’s still an audience for physical media, people still enjoy the experience of browsing, and online shopping is no substitute for the rich, idiosyncratic atmosphere that a good bookshop can provide.

As things open up again, we’d like to encourage our listeners to visit our shop at 9 West Street in Downtown Boston to see this and thousands of other fascinating items!

Brattlecast #107 - Favorite Books

In this episode, Ken talks about some of his favorite book encounters, from a long career filled with them. There’s Isaac Newton’s own copy of Principia Mathematica, an unsuccessful prospector’s gold rush diary, and a book woven entirely out of silk. It’s nearly impossible to pick a single favorite, but overall, the books that came with a great story have made more of an impression on him than the ones that were simply monetarily valuable.

As things open up again, we’d like to encourage our listeners to visit our shop at 9 West Street in Downtown Boston to see this and thousands of other fascinating items!

Brattlecast #106 - Tales of Ken's Father

People often ask Ken how to start a bookshop, but the truth is, he’s never done it. The Brattle has existed since 1825, and was in pretty tough shape when it was purchased by Ken’s parents, George and Dorrit Gloss, in 1949. Ken essentially grew up in the shop; legend even has it that his first word was “book”. All of us, to a certain extent, struggle to get along with our parents; imagine how difficult that relationship can become when your parents are also your coworkers. That difficulty is compounded even further if the parent in question is George Gloss: a larger than life local character with a passion for books and bookselling, a briefcase full of unpaid utility bills, and a penchant for firing Ken on a nearly daily basis. It was a real personality clash, and Ken eventually left to study chemistry, vowing to put his career at the Brattle behind him forever. Learn what drew him back in and what lessons he ultimately learned from his father on this week’s episode.

As things open up again, we’d like to encourage our listeners to visit our shop at 9 West Street in Downtown Boston to see this and thousands of other fascinating items!

Brattlecast #105 - Book of Friends

Today we’re talking about two autograph albums from the shop, and about autograph collecting in general. Autograph albums used to be a popular way to collect signatures, not only from celebrities and public figures, but from friends and family members as well. Sometimes these snippets were accompanied by brief messages or bits of poetry. The value and desirability of specific autographs can fluctuate over time; recently Alexander Hamilton’s has skyrocketed, while Robert E. Lee’s has plummeted. We’ll also talk about the best way to care for and preserve these albums.

Speaking of messages from friends—we want to hear from you! Feel free to submit questions, topic ideas, or photographs of items you’d like appraised to info@brattlebookshop.com.