As a secondhand book shop, the thing that really drives our business isn’t selling books—it’s buying them. That’s why we venture out almost every day—to houses, libraries, and storage units throughout New England—searching for good books and the occasional treasure. In today’s episode, we’re taking a behind-the-scenes look at our book buying process, from receiving phone calls and making appointments through appraisals, offers, and, if things go well, packing up the truck. These trips keep fresh books flowing into the shop, but they’re also a little adventure: we get to see new places, meet new people, and hopefully bring back a story or two for the podcast. Join us (and our 87 specifically-sized cardboard boxes) for a journey into book buying on this fully-stocked new #brattlecast.
Brattlecast #229 - Special Interests
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 #15 - Fair is Fair
What better place to spend a weekend than at your local book fair? Books, antiques, photographs, authors, you never know what you'll find! Ken talks about how to make the most of a a book fair, and what their future might hold.
Brattlecast #3 - On Collecting
Kenneth Gloss talks about "the hunt", expanding on how collections of all kinds get started, from stamps to maps to, of course, books. Learn about the most important considerations of collecting. Hitting the pavement, building relationships with a community of collectors, and about the secret collection in the Gloss bathroom.