Textbook store in Boston?

February 25, 2005 2:48 PM

I'm looking for a large-ish general (or political) textbook store in, or accessible from, Boston, preferably one open on Saturdays and/or Sundays. Basically, I need to acquire the book "Comparative Politics: Notes and Readings" by Bernard Brown (9th Ed.) ASAP.

I'd expected Google (or Google local, or Google answers, or the archives here) to easily answer the query; no such luck. Is there even such a thing as a textbook store? Some college-affiliated ones turned up but I'm not sure whether they'd have this and whether people unaffiliated with the college can randomly walk in. (Mine doesn't have it right now)

• I'd like to be holding this thing in my hands by Monday evening, however I manage to procure it.
• I'm trying to avoid ordering from Amazon because I've been 'sent' stuff at my current address that I didn't receive (not from Amazon though).
• The Boston Public library seems to have a rather outdated edition, but I'll go check tomorrow anyway.

posted by Firas to Education (7 answers total)

Harvard Coop in Harvard Square serves the entire university. Give them a call and they can tell you if they have a copy in stock.

Same with all the other major universities. It's not restricted to students-only; in most cases these days, they're run by Barnes & Noble anyway...
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 3:10 PM on February 25, 2005

Harvard Bookstore in Cambridge has it, although you might want to call and verify that it's the right edition.
posted by amandaudoff at 3:22 PM on February 25, 2005

Response by poster: OMG, Y'all like, saved my life. Thanks!
posted by Firas at 4:03 PM on February 25, 2005

Have you tried Avenue Victor Hugo used bookstore on Newbury Street (near Mass Ave) in Boston? As I recall they have a lot of political books.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 7:56 PM on February 25, 2005

The Barnes and Noble in Kenmore Square is actually a BU bookstore -- the top two or three floors are just textbooks.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 5:45 AM on February 26, 2005

ZenMasterThis: There is no Avenue Victor Hugo these days. It's a remnant fo the past, like Waterstone's and College bookstores not owned by Barnes and Noble.
posted by rodz at 9:59 PM on February 26, 2005

Response by poster: For those who're fond of hearing the ending, well, I tried Harvard Bookstore and Harvard Coop and, like my college bookstore, both could order it specially, in a week (and they let me know that a new edition is due soon), and B&N at Kenmore told me over the phone that they didn't have it.

But it was ok; I didn't need the text as desperately as I'd imagined.

At least I know where to look now—the Coop is cool.
posted by Firas at 12:04 AM on March 10, 2005