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.

It’s a common enough predicament that entire self-help books have been written about it: being emotionally terrorized by a piece of household clutter. The hardest items to part with aren’t usually the ones that we love the most, but those that elicit a sticky cocktail of guilt, sentimentality, and superstition: the photographs that feel painful to look at, the once-favorite garment that no longer fits your body or your lifestyle (but what if…!). In this episode, we’ll talk about the kinds of books that feel straight-up evil to sell, like gifts (especially from the author, with an incriminating personal inscription), things that were cherished by a departed friend or family member, and religious texts. We don’t have too many solutions for this. Even Ken, who gets rid of books for a living, has resorted to the classic strategy of “placing them in the basement and waiting for them to become someone else’s problem” when it comes to certain volumes. Join us for a look at persistent possessions and inadvertent collections on this week’s #brattlecast.

Want to feel old? People are collecting vintage books about computers. These futuristic-feeling technologies have become such an ubiquitous part of our daily lives that it can feel counterintuitive to step back and take a look at their history, but there’s a growing interest in computer science classics that date back to the 1940s and ‘50s. In this episode, we’ll talk about books like Faster Than Thought: A Symposium on Digital Computing Machines; Giant Brains, or Machines That Think; and The Age of Intelligent Machines, as well as some science fiction novels that turned out to be uncannily prescient about the internet age. Log on and join us in cyberspace for this organically intelligent new #brattlecast.

Today we’re taking a look at the golden age of the American automobile, via a collection of car catalogs from the 1950s, ‘60s, and ‘70s. Full of slick illustrations and arty photographs (it was a great time for advertising, too), these catalogs recall a period of post-war prosperity, space race-inspired modernist design, and lax to nonexistent safety regulations. We’ll discuss which iconic mid-century models we long to drive the most—and delve into the pressing question of why new cars are so big and bland looking these days. Turn up the radio, buckle your seatbelt (if you have one), and join us on a nostalgic joyride through consumer history in this fast and curious #brattlecast.

In this episode we’re talking about some recent finds that have a lot to tell us about the rare book business. We got a call about some early Robert Frost editions, which are nice but overall more people are selling items like this than buying them these days. The volumes are signed by the author, which is good but not especially rare: Frost was a generous, gregarious person, happy to sign copies of his books for friends, students, and fans. Along with the signatures he wrote out entire stanzas of poems that would be published in later collections, which is great: we have a winner! Listen to learn more about the kinds of inscriptions that collectors value most, and, if there’s a podcast topic that you’d find valuable, feel free to reach out to us at info@brattlebookshop.com.

Today we’re taking a behind-the-scenes look at our recent appearance on CBS Saturday Morning. Host Dana Jabcobson toured the shop, interviewed Ken, and flipped through some of our favorite items—including one book that is truly priceless. We’ll talk about all the planning that goes into filming for a national TV show and answer some important questions (was Ken wearing makeup?) on this camera-ready new #brattlecast. You can watch the full segment here: https://youtu.be/IHyEN1wj0M8?si=Ps1xPey_AzAK-GH5

Can you slim down by eating ice cream every day? According to an optimistic 1946 book, probably! Today we’re talking about Ice Cream Diets, a too-good-to-be-true weight loss plan in which author Marion White argues that more ice cream is the key to health and wellness, possibly ice cream as part of every meal. We’ll discuss our favorite local places to find this superfood, other fad diets that have popped up over the years, and the ways that various industries have sought to put their thumbs on the scale of American consumption habits through PR campaigns and sponsored studies on this tempting new #brattlecast.

This week, we’re talking about a new way of looking at old photos: looking beyond their primary subjects and bringing the background details into focus. Under close observation, almost every vintage postcard or photo album that comes into the shop inadvertently reveals a wealth of information about the texture of daily life at the time that it was taken. From the fashions and hairstyles of passersby to the style of cars and the prices in shop windows, these images act as a fascinating window into the past. We’ll also discuss the worrying lack of these valuable artifacts from the present and the more recent past—as more and more photographs remain online only and as AI introduces an element of doubt into everything we see—on this snappy new #brattlecast.

We try not to get too political on this podcast, but, with proposed PBS funding cuts in the news, we thought it would be a good time to talk about all the positive impacts public television has had on the shop itself and on the wider community. The Brattle has a long history with our local PBS member station, WGBH. Ken’s father was contributing items from the shop to their annual fundraising auction back in the ‘60s—and bending the rules slightly to auction them off himself on-air. Ken and his wife, Joyce, both appraise books and manuscripts for Antiques Roadshow; in addition to being great publicity for the shop, the show has raised interest in rare books and collecting more generally. We’ve benefitted so much from PBS over the years, but so has anyone who’s ever learned how to cook a new dish from Julia Child, let their toddler enjoy an enriching episode of Sesame Street, or gained a deeper appreciation of popular music from The Great American Songbook. You can find ways to support public broadcasting at protectmypublicmedia.org.

In today’s episode we’re talking about some out-of-this-world new arrivals at the shop: about three truckloads of sci-fi. This collection includes classic novels by Ray Bradbury and Phillip K. Dick, pulp magazines, and signed Stephen Kings, but we’re really enjoying the vintage paperbacks, most of which feature very fun and far-out illustrated covers. We’ll also discuss the origins of the genre, its connections with ancient mythology, and the ways in which reality has—or hasn’t—caught up with science fiction on this stellar new #brattlecast.

In today’s episode, we’re discussing The Paris Bookseller, Kerri Maher’s captivating historical novel about Sylvia Beach, Shakespeare and Company, and literary life in 1920s Paris. Beach’s English-language bookshop became a gathering place for expat writers like Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Ezra Pound—and published one of the most important (and most banned) books of the 20th century: James Joyce’s Ulysses. We’ll talk about what the novel gets right, where literary fiction meets bookshop reality, and how day-to-day shop life—then and now—is often less glamorously wine-soaked and more physically exhausting than one might wish.

These days, the Brattle is more than a book shop—it’s also a backdrop. In this episode, Ken talks about what happens when someone wants to film here, whether it’s for a hotel promo, a student film, or a Hollywood movie with an actual budget. We’ll cover the questions we ask before saying yes to a project, why it’s usually worth participating, and how the shop has shown up in everything from Instagram stories to Oscar winners. It’s always an honor to be included—and we’re not above appreciating the free advertising.

What makes a good book appraiser? Experience, a willingness to admit what you don’t know, and a way to get in touch with someone who does. Today we’re talking about the wide range of appraisals the Brattle gets involved in—from casual evaluations at the shop to written reports for tax or insurance purposes. It’s usually easy to tell when a book has only literary or sentimental value (and people are often surprisingly happy to hear it), but things get trickier when the books turn out to be valuable and rare. We’ll also talk about appraisals that miss the mark, including one for a signed (by someone) copy of a first (Canadian) edition of a classic American novel.

Books aren’t just smart—they’re also good looking. In today’s episode, we’re talking about books as decor, and about some of our favorite decorating projects from over the years. Whether you’re designing a film set, high-end hotel bar, or model home, a curated collection of literature is an easy way to add personality and character to any setting. We’ll discuss the details of working with decorators—and the insulating properties of a big wall of volumes—on this stylish new #brattlecast.

Would you travel to the Midwest to buy twenty thousand books that you’ve never laid eyes on? It’s a question that doesn’t come up too often—unless you’re the Brattle. In today’s episode we’re talking about the unique logistical challenges presented by long-distance book buys. Collections that we’d happily pop over and assess in New Hampshire or Rhode Island become a tantalizing gamble when a cross-country trip is involved. Even if the books are great, are they worth the cost and effort of getting them back to the shop? We’ll dive into the details of library relocation, from phone calls and photos to rental trucks and storage units, on this moving new #brattlecast.

In today’s episode, we’re talking about the impact that new technologies—like e-readers, audiobooks, and the internet in general—have had on the book business. With free information readily available online, certain categories of books just aren’t as useful as they used to be. Dictionary and encyclopedia sales are way down, how-to books have been supplanted by YouTube videos, and even art books are less popular now that most famous paintings are a quick Google search away. On the other hand, readers in search of screenless time are embracing both paper books and brick-and-mortar browsing. Independent bookshops are seeing a resurgence, offering a sense of place and community in our increasingly digital world.

In this episode, we’re responding to a question from a listener: What exactly is a bookplate? Basically, they’re little labels that indicate ownership, usually pasted onto a front endpaper. A holdover from a time when books were expensive luxury items, today bookplates are most commonly found in library books, although they can be a fun way to personalize a private collection as well. We’ll talk about instances when bookplates can add to the value of a book, and about collectors who focus on the bookplates themselves. Remember, no question is too big—or small—for the #brattlecast; if there’s something you’re wondering about, reach out to us at info@brattlebookshop.com.

In this episode we’re talking about a signed copy of Robert Frost’s New Hampshire. This collection contains some of Frost’s best-known poems, including “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” and won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1924. Our volume is part of a special limited edition run of 350 copies, each of which was signed by the author. We’ll use it as a jumping off point into a discussion of what makes a signed book more—or less—valuable: rarity, condition, and the length and complexity of the inscription, among other factors. Plus, we’ll reveal Ken’s unexpected personal connection with Robert Frost in this lyrical new #brattlecast.

Usually on this podcast we talk about the books in our shop, but on today’s episode we’re talking about our shop… in a book. 150 Bookstores You Need to Visit Before You Die, by author Elizabeth Stamp, is a collection of unique bookstores from all around the world. We’re honored to be included—and a little surprised: Ken found out when a customer brought in a copy for him to sign. Featuring inspiring photographs, the book makes a great guide for bibliophile travelers seeking off-the-beaten-path destinations. Pick up a copy at the shop when you visit (before or after you die—the Brattle does not discriminate against ghosts).

In this episode we’re talking about a recent appraisal at the Massachusetts Historical Society. Founded in 1791, this institution is the oldest historical society in the United States, a treasure trove of documents, artifacts, and rare books that bring the past to life. Ken got to experience a few of these items: letters from Jane Austin and John Winthrop, plus a speech by Thomas Jefferson. We’ll discuss the difficulties of appraising such rare materials—and encourage you to visit the Historical Society and see their extraordinary collections for yourself—on this invaluable new #brattlecast.