I was referred to this place by a friend. I came it's a small parking lot but we did find parking. It's a small bookstore but it has a lot. There were some hard to find books. The owner is super knowledgeable he answers a lot of hard questions. Some books are a little pricey but others are low so it averages out. We left with 5 books. One was signed by an author. Another was a book that goes for $100 online and we paid $25 so we will be adding to our collection. Definitely worth coming! read more

Berkshire Books - Bookstores Near Me - Concord, California

This is the genuine article, old-school used book store. Visit on a rainy day and block out an hour or more on your schedule for maximum effect. I saw one review describing their place as "overwhelming." Agreed! It's delightfully overwhelming in the way that the abundance of information was discoverable prior to the linear arrangement of search engines. The collection of vintage vinyl is impressive as well, with easily the best old jazz and vocalist collection in the hinterlands of the East Bay. There are treasures to be found. Every hour spent browsing the stacks adds an hour to the end of your life. read more

I spotted this spot on my drive the other day and couldn't pass up another opportunity for books! When I dream of a bookstore this is exactly how I want it to look! Book shelves ceiling high stuffed with books! Then piles of books scattered around the floor! Books everywhere you look! I was able to find 3 books to bring home. They look almost brand new! Most of the books in this shop are old releases and heavily worn. So not where you go to grab a BookTok trend. Side note- they write the cost of the book inside the book. Itis in pencil but I don't fully love the mark. read more

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This bookstore is a bit overwhelming. There are books on the shelves but also books stacked on the floor. The prices for used books seemed a bit high - over $10 for hardback. The owner seems really nice and knowledgeable about the books. He chatted with a couple of customers about the books that they were purchasing. read more

If you ate selling your books don' t bother better to donate them because you will not get a good deal

So fun to wander the aisles and make discoveries. Super helpful staff has inventory memorized and ready to find whatever you're looking for

Wonderful local bookstore. Highly recommend visiting and enjoying all the books and the owner is so great. It is so important to support local businesses and this is a great one. read more

This store reeks of the profundity, history, romance and reverence for the world of books. If you are fortunate enough to still love that shrinking world made up of the fading rich conveyance of everything we know of the past, you owe it to yourself to stop in. You will feel like you're in a museum. read more

We love this bookstore. There's a tremendous variety of books and the owner is incredibly helpful. I went in at Christmas time last year looking for a few books for my son. We found all but one of them - an obscure science fiction novel. When my son and I went into Berkshire a couple of months later, the owner remembered me, and said, "Oh! And now I have a copy of that book you were looking for." He proceeded to produce a signed copy that he'd found and put aside for us. My son was/is thrilled. I will always patronize this store first before going to a chain or Amazon. read more

I have been driving by Berkshire Books for years and never stopped in until today. I was under the wrong impression that they specialized in history books. Nothing wrong with that, but not my main interest. Yes, that is one of the interests of the owner, but the stock covers a wide range -- exactly what you would expect in a used bookstore. I recognized the owner from his past association years ago with two other bookstores -- and knew right away that the store was in capable hands! I also appreciated the fact that the store was properly cooled on a rather hot day. That certainly keeps customers around! It took me a few minutes to get oriented to the store, but once I did I was very happy to find two books on my very long search list. Weekend reading is set! I am always looking for a used bookstore that will take books on trade. (Was very unhappy with how things worked -- and how I was treated -- at Half Price Books that used to be in downtown Concord.) Will have to see if that works out here for me. The shelves were full and there were many, many boxes of books on the floor. That was the one "turnoff" for me. In a few cases it was a bit hard to see what was on the shelves due to boxes in front of the lower shelves. And with what appeared to be an overflow of books, I am doubtful that Berkshire will need books I would like to trade or sell. Parking in front of the store may seemed limited, but there is parking behind the building. Will definitely be back! read more

A great used bookstore, particularly strong in genre fiction of all types as well as history, especially military history and biography. I buy a lot of mystery and sci-Fi novels here. read more

Not a big book rat, but if you are looking for a variety of books this is where I would come. Came for the records here, good selectrion and prices for a bookstore, would highly recommended if you are looking for a large, varied selection of books. read more

I'm so glad I found this little gem on Yelp! They have loads and loads of new and used books to choose from. If you don't find what you are looking for then I'm sure if you ask they can find it for you. I bought a new book and the owner said after I finish the book I can resell him the book I bought for store credit to another book which is awesome! I can literally get lost in this book store with all the variety they have. read more

My family has been going here for years. I love searching for science fiction and biographies. They have so many children's books that my kids love going through. They are very helpful when trying to find books. I go here at least once a month. read more

An odd little bookstore. It quite the eclectic assortment tucked amongst its shelves. read more

Berkshire Books - Bookstores Near Me - Concord, California

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Love this hidden gem! Lots of books to choose from and the owners are very nice. Go support this local book store.

I love used bookstores, it's a shame there are so few left! I've driven by this store regularly for years, never having checked them out for I don't know what reason - it looked small and I guess I kind of thought it would not have much selection, for some reason I had the sense that it was more of a non-fiction / textbook type store (I have no idea why I'd thought that). I took my kids in the other week and I was simply BLOWN AWAY at how many books they manage to have on hand! All genres, it was simply too much to take in on one trip - I was really impressed! We will be going back and I recommend it to any local book lovers who haven't checked it out yet! Great store! read more

I came to Berkshire books on a afternoon walk. Wanting to check out another bookstore besides Half Priced Books and this place was the closest. Located right off of Clayton, less then two miles from my apartment, Berkshire is definitely a hole in the wall type of book store. If you're not careful, it could be very easy to miss. But that's one small part of why I like it. The whole time I was in the store, there weren't more then four people at one time. Including myself and the clerk. It's nice to have peace and quiet, while browsing through the books. The have a great selection of books. Not only the newer ones, but I found some pretty old copies of Stephen King, probably dating more then twenty years ago. That's another part I love about this place. It really reminds me of a bookstore my grandmother used to take me to. The smell of the older books this place has really makes that memory stronger. I couldn't keep the smile off my face as I browsed. I also must point out that the books are not priced high at all. Paperbacks ranged from $2.50 to $4.00 and even some of the newer hard cover books were priced at $15.00. Not bad at all in my opinion. The only books that have a significantly higher pricing are the first editions, and the really rare books. The clerk was nice. Didn't ask if I needed help, but smiled right when I came in. Plus I heard him on the phone with a customer, was just by listening could tell he was being very helpful. Classical music playing through the store. I just had the most wonderful time here. I'd come back just to relive a piece of my childhood, and maybe buy a book or two. read more

Berkshire books is one of those rare Jems that is hidden in Pleasant Hill. It's not downtown where you would expect to see it, and when I do go there, it's normally just to go there, as there is little in that area that I want to see. However, I find that Berkshire is worth the trip. Every time I go there, the stock has moved a bit and there are always new treasures to find. I've updated my collection of Bradbury and honestly if I had a bigger paycheck they would see some serious money from me for some of thier Rare books. The Owner is engaging and if you are looking for something special he may be able to get it for you or he may already have it. Worth a look if you are a true book collector. I find the prices comparably are very fair and accurate for the books worth. Also a goldmine for Graphic Novel fans and rare horror fans as well as a lot of nice older hardbound books. read more

Kind of felt like I was disturbing his reading and jazz listening session when I asked about where some books might be. If there was some consistency, organization, and more signage I wouldn't have to disturb the proprietor during his reading time. There was a sad little box that contained a few tattered graphic novels. As others mentioned, the world history section seems good though. I bought a couple of overpriced books anyway because I was feeling charitable even though they could have been had for much less online. Probably won't be going back... read more

I had a list of books i was looking for, pretty common ones too however this book store had none of them according to the owner or clerk. Even if they did there would have been no way of finding any of them considering the store has too many books for its size. Extremely disorganized and overwhelming. This store is more like a storage unit of books where you have to search for hours to find a book, only to pay regular price. I usually like to browse but not here. Too hectic and makes browsing feel like a chore. They also carry overpriced 12" record lps. read more

All this time, I have been driving past this booklover's find and never knew it existed. This is a terrific book haven with mostly used books, but what books! It's so cool to be able to wander amongst the stacks and finger 19th-century publications or find a first edition children's pot of gold. There are so many books, there are also piles on the floor (Ghostbuster-style) from which I found a long-sought trilogy. And don't miss the front showcase for journals, which are not the mass-merchandise type but bound with leather and rough parchment paper. I was ready to grab a quill and ink and write a constitution or something. The gentleman who helped me was the owner, and he was constantly fielding phone calls from questers in search of printed gold. The rain was falling but I was safe in a cocoon of books, books, books. read more

Nice selection of books. A friend recommened I seek out the place. I must admit I was more than a little thrown at the price of many of the used books. I ended up only purchasing one book because for the price, I could get brand new books, several as a matter of fact. The rating is low due to the high pricing of used books that were not rare or in the best condition. read more

There are only a few actual bookstores left in the 680 corridor, and this is one of them. The owner knows what he's talking about, too.

A really good shop. No dross on the shelves. I've bought quite a few books here and enjoy the total experience. The owner is quite fair with trades. A treasure in Concord. I hope to God it stays open or I will be adrift. read more

Excellent bookstore, It's not huge, but the owner, Lynn, has an extensive collection of books and a huge amount for the size of his store. I have found a plethora of great books on his shelves for good prices. In particular his science fiction and history sections are varied and good. I've found several good books in these sections that I wouldn't and couldn't find anywhere else. I'd say this store is a must go if you want to find good books and better prices then a new retail store. read more

What a gem! If you're a lover of literature, Berkshire Books is one of those places that just gets you excited the moment you step through the doors. It's a little shop with a library feel packed with all kinds of goodies, new and classic with some first editions right on the shelves. All the books are previously owned and are sold at such great prices. I purchased two books for $9 total. If you don't mind a little wear on your pages, this is a great stop for good reads on a budget. It's also a great place for collectors to find some rare material- a little more expensive, but so worth it. Keep in mind, this is a local mom and pop type bookstore that sells used books. That being said, there aren't always multiple copies of the same book and titles aren't necessarily replenished once they've sold out. It all depends on what the owner is able to acquire. There is a wide variety of genres sectioned and clearly labeled, with a small selection of vinyl records, DVDs and VHS tapes also available for purchase. I will definitely drop in whenever I'm in the Concord/Pleasant Hill area and in need of new reads. So excited to see what I'll find the next time I can visit. read more

Berkshire Books - Books on books! - Bookstores Near Me - Concord, California

Excellent, independent used bookstore. The owner is quite knowledgeable and friendly. I travel over 30 miles to get to this place but it is worth the time and effort. Also, the toilet's pretty hygienic which can be an issue in some used bookstores. read more

An ideal browser's bookshop. Good selection of titles--you might find a treasure or a surprise, something you didn't know you wanted until you see it. Knowledgeable service from the staff. There's even a monthly book discussion group. Maybe in some cases you could buy a book for a few pennies less online, but you'd lose the fun of browsing and discovering, and the company of other book lovers. Local independent bookshops like this are worth keeping alive! read more

I called a few times and was hung up on because of the name on my caller ID, I then called back from another phone and was again hung up on, after the third time I called from yet another phone, I finally got an answer but wasn't greeted, I had to speak first. they didn't even have the book I needed. read more

Great place with a nice selection of used reads. A bit cluttered, but what good second time book place isn't? More of a comfortable neighborhood feel than half price books but about half the size. read more

Located in the historic El Monte area of Concord, Berkshire Books offers an excellent variety of unique books. There is a large selection of hard to find VHS and DVDs including, foreign films and classics; and of course old LP's. The owner, Lynne is very knowledgeable and can search the Internet for a rare book or suggest a title. This is a great one! We must support our local booksellers! Check out their website-www.berkshire-books.com read more

The quality of books is very good. Lots of selection for both hardback and paperback but not much organization to the store layout. Very friendly staff... read more

We are so lucky to have Berkshire Books in town. It is not only one of the few bookstores around, but the owner is super knowledgeable and really supportive of our community. As an example of his knowledge, I happened across a vintage edition of a book by Jo Mora, one of the leading writers of an old-fashioned (but charming) genre of California-themed books. In talking with the owner about it, he turned me on to equally charming works by other authors -- enough so that I can now recommend those to my siblings, who devour that kind of work. As an example of his community ties, he is one of the very, very few outlets for "Mount Diablo: The Extraordinary Life and Landscapes of a California Treasure". The creation of this unique and gorgeous book was funded locally to help people learn about Mt. D, and all retail profits from it go right back to projects on Mt. D. That's what I call serving the community. read more