The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians

True Stories of the Magic of Reading

By: James Patterson, Matt Eversmann

Narrated by: Tom Force, Nancy Peterson, Jenn Lee, Jennifer Pickens, Amy Jensen, Deanna Anthony, Jane Oppenheimer, Susan Hanfield, Marni Penning, Daniel Henning, Rob Reider

This “celebration of the world of books” (Kirkus) from New York Times bestselling author James Patterson is a collection of riveting stories celebrating the heroic efforts of the people who are on the front lines getting our books into the world.​

To be a bookseller or librarian…

You have to play detective.

Be a treasure hunter. A matchmaker. An advocate. A visionary.

A person who creates “book joy” by pulling a book from a shelf, handing it to someone and saying, “You’ve got to read this. You’re going to love it.”

“When the pandemic started, Patterson launched a movement, #SaveIndieBookstores [and] pledged half a million dollars, and, with the support of the American Booksellers Association and the Book Industry Charitable Foundation, the campaign ended up raising $1,239,595 from more than eighteen hundred donors...Somehow, the bookstore outlived the pandemic. Why? The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians, compiled by James Patterson and Matt Eversmann, suggests a few reasons." – New Yorker

Critic reviews

“The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians is very touching and beautifully crafted. It is like having the James Patterson Storytelling Fairy Dust sprinkled down upon you and your life. No wait, it IS having the James Patterson Storytelling Fairy Dust sprinkled down upon you and your life!”—Nina Barrett, Owner, Bookends & Beginnings

“I’m thrilled to be included in James Patterson’s The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians. James Patterson was kind enough to come to one of the early Mystery Writers Conferences at the bookstore. I was so in awe of him that I could barely get the courage to speak. In this book, he makes me look smarter than I am. I love it!”—Elaine Petrocelli, President and Co-owner, Book Passage

“A celebration of the world of books. ... and the deep satisfaction of creating a vibrant community for readers. A compendium of warm recollections."—Kirkus

"A lighthearted compendium of first-person reflections from librarians and booksellers about their work and passion for literature... comfort food for bookworms."—Publishers Weekly

A perfect lovely distraction of a book 📚📚📚

Lovely, light, heartwarming fare. This book is an excellent antidote to stress and upset. So many great stories about books and the people who love them.

Into the Minds of Book Lovers

Fantastic look into the world and different points of view of book store owners, managers, librarians and lovers of the written word. Thoroughly enjoyed this listen!!

Loved hearing all of different experiences

Loved the passion in each story. Each bookseller or librarian was so inspiring. I learned a lot about those professions

Hits home as a librarian

I absolutely loved this book. As a high school librarian I appreciated the stories and how they gave credit to the hard work that librarians do. I love that it mentions more than once that librarians need a masters degree - something I don’t think a lot of people understand. It also gave me a deeper appreciation for booksellers as they go into their craft for the same reasons that librarians do. I did find that it was a bit long - maybe ten stories too long. Towards the end I found myself zoning out - not because the stories were boring, but because it felt like I was hearing the same story over and over again. I ended up skipping several stories at the end - which, as a librarian, I think it is ok! I still appreciate the book as a while and hope it gets the attention it deserves.

Very refreshing and passionate about reading

Loved listening to this book. It is very refreshing and incredible to hear about librarians and book sellers talk about their experiences in their fields. Made me want to go visit their stores and libraries and learn more about different genres and authors. I love reading and it very refreshing to hear stories about people who love reading as well. Overall a great one to listen to.

the touching insight

I truly loved listening to this story telling! It felt personable and relatable! The insight will forever change the way I shop books!

perfect for every book lover

Very personal perspective of the importance of books & those that make sure they are accessible to Everyone,

Inspiring

I love books like many of the stories told here. My soul is full by these accounts of booksellers and librarians