Bookstores of the World

A NYT 2025 Holiday Gift Guide selection A magnificently illustrated global tour of contemporary bookstores, from Paris to Seoul Even in these days of online commerce, the physical bookstore retains its fascination as a place to gather and discover new art and ideas, often serendipitously; in fact, the bookstore is a refuge from the often unreflective world outside. This splendid tribute to the bookstores of the world begins in France—which has the most bookstores per capita of any country—and continues throughout Europe, the Americas, the Near East, Asia, and Africa. Along the way we encounter legendary emporia such as City Lights in San Francisco and Foyle’s in London, as well as new innovators such as the architecturally breathtaking Zhongshuge in Hangzhou. The insightful text explores the factors that have shaped bookselling in each region, from the price-fixing laws of France and Germany to the cultural and geographic diversity of the United States. Illustrated with superb photographs of storefronts and interiors, packed shelves and carefully curated displays, Bookstores of the World will inspire every bibliophile to chart new itineraries.