Books. BOOKS. BOOKS!!!!!! Every kind of book. Every topic of book. Used. New. Bizarre. Ordinary. Wonderful. Blah. Everything. Over the past 16ish years, I've spent more time browsing through Moe's than, well, pretty much any other single activity short of breathing. Maybe eating. This covers both when I lived nearby and now that I'm on the other coast. Moe's is a wonderful oasis of bookage. They don't discriminate between those who can't purchase often (students) and those who can. Everyone there is happy to talk unless they're insanely busy, which does happen given everything that goes on and the work they do. Other book stores have disappeared. Moe's just is. Moe's is why book stores are important. Walk in. Wander. Turn around. Discover something completely new. Come back a decade later. See old friends on the shelves along with new visitors. Keep coming back. Hopefully forever. read more

Moe's is a wonderful book store. I'm glad to see it's managed to stay in the same location for so long (RIP Cody's). I have been a customer for many, many years. When I was a student at Cal, I could always find books the other stores didn't carry here. They have so many awesome, obscure books ranging from untranslated French poetry, enthographies, the classics, folklore, antiquities, and so on. Be sure to visit the rare books room for a real treat. The staff is very knowledgeable and helpful, too. Don't be shy in asking for help! You can get lost in the stacks at Moe's for hours! Please go buy books from them so they don't close, too! read more

Moe's Books is on the verge of extinction.They do NOT buy books FACT IS they will NOT even look at what you bring in.I imagine they are nearly broke. I'll go in,sometimes,see a book I like,write down and buy it on eBay for a fraction of the cost,so i guess they some SOME kind of purpose. Will NOT be missed when they close. read more

Wish I could give Moe's a 6 or better. I know bookstores. I shop bookstores. I love Moe's. Even if Moe's has some wear around the edges, I can always find a chair and a good book to read. No one ever hassles me about where I sit or how long I stay. The guy at the desk is a wiz of info and super nice, too. I always make sure I buy at Moe's because I want Moe's to be in business when I come back!!! Yes I know about buying online or going to the library. I do that, too. Just want to keep a few good things around for simple enjoyment! SO I SPEND A FEW $ AT MOE's. Thankfully. Enjoy. read more

I never thought I would feel so cozy in such an over-stuffed space, but the books are so enchanting and the selection ENDLESS that it's worth the trip to the East Bay for this legendary shop. With the rise of online book sales, this is one of the few places that I can confidently say will stand the test of time! -Special Editions -Great Bargains -Amazing Art Books -Helpful Staff Picks Buckle up. You'll be happily perusing for a while here... (only reason 4 instead of 5 is that it's pretty dirty and cramped, but I know that's supposed to add to its "charm") read more

Yay to the book store survivalists I was surprised how much they paid me for just a handful of used books I had. I got more from those books than i did for a pile of others at (so called) half-price books. The big problem with Moe's is location. Telegraph is a dump and should be quarantined, de-flea'd or just mowed down. Going there is a decrepit experience, bereft of historical value. You would have to get VERY lucky with parking. When the old guard finally, eventually dies off and Berkeley becomes a giant supermall in the utopian future, Moe's should find a way to live on. read more

Great bookstore, but note that they don't carry magazines!

Moe's is a tremendous liability to my budget, just like many other bookstores. I go in here and when I come out, I realize that I have aged and am poor, and have a giant sack of books. Lots of great books! read more

Moe's Books on Telegraph is the place growing up in California that made reading enjoyable. There are rows upon rows of books. The staff has always been helpful.Aware there is always Amazon or Barnes and Noble, Moe's is local and hires locals. Addtionally Moe's is more personable than an average Barenes and Noble. What the store does not have carry the store can order to your home. My favorite part is being able to look out upon Telegraph as I search for books. read more

Moe's has taken the scale and selection of a big used book store and rendered it with surprising spaciousness and order. Although it's much smaller, it's the closest thing we have to (Portland's legendary) Powell's. So it's easy to find what you're looking for (or at least the spot where it would be if they had it today), but it's more fun to wander. The staff is knowledgeable without being snooty. In fact, they're downright personable. I've never had to wait long to sell my books, even on weekends. It bothers me a little that I can't use my credit (from books sold) toward their new books, but the independents need to be a little frugal sometimes. read more

I come here for good prices on Chinese history books on academic presses -- they have a large number of titles and I usually end up paying less than what I would be shelling out through Amazon resellers (with shipping). When my friend who is doing her PhD in modern Chinese history comes to town, she always insists on making time for Moe's as well. The Asian literature section and Asian-language section haven't yielded quite as many gems, but the keepers I've scored in their Film Studies section makes up for that minor deficiency (which probably isn't even their fault anyway, assuming their inventory is largely based on what others bring in if not overstock). read more

I don't really like reading so it's a wonder I'd even write a review for a bookstore, but this place is pretty unique. Other than having a humongous collection that spans multiple floors with a tiny storefront presence in berkeley, they have an interesting mix of books. New books, used books, old books, antiques. The books are all different sizes and I don't think they're sorted very much within its own sections, but that won't be much of a problem for people looking for something new to read. I found some interesting graphic design books, typography, and photography books that I almost bought if those kinda books weren't so expensive - but that's a retail price, can't really do much about that. I find it funny that their idea of a sale is $2 off a $30 book - that won't sway many into buying them. If I actually read, I'd probably like this place more. read more

Best bookstore in Berkeley and probably even in East Bay. Four floors of books. Generous buy/trade policy. Minus one star for lack of good organization. I usually find it really hard to find a specific book. It would help if they had a computer kiosk where patrons can search Moe's database to see where a book is if they have it. read more

I am a nerdishly hardcore book fetishist, and used bookstores always have that siren call of Maybe There's Something You've Never Heard Of That's AWESOME...so obviously any place with FOUR FLOORS OF BOOKS is going to be big in my (if you'll pardon the expression) book. In these troubled times of closing bookstores, I go out of my way to patronize places like Moe's...I dread the thought of hearing one day they just couldn't compete with Amazon any more. read more

Hands down the best bookstore in town. Can't beat it. A landmark that I hope never goes away!

Wonderful selection of new and used books (all genres). It's the place to be if you are interested in rare art books. I bought an out of print Hans Bellmer book. This was extremely difficult to look for!! In addition, the staff is extremely organized and meticulous about their stock (at least, in my experience). Although some of the associates might be sarcastic, it somehow fits the atmosphere of the store. It wouldn't be Moe's without the off key personality here and there. For the most part, the staff is genuinely sweet and very helpful. I have to join the band wagon and say that this is one of the best bookstores in the Bay Area. What makes it even better -- their website! If you live in SF, it's worth the trip to check out the selection but if you know what you want, visit their site and reserve a copy! It's the perfect place to shop for yourself or a beloved bibliophile! read more

When my uncle passed and we were in the middle of trying to clean out his massive house of all of his possessions to put it on the market in a hurry, we befriended a wonderful man at Moe's. He came to the house to help us sort through the masses of books we had to go through so we could identify which ones were worth hauling down to the store to sell and which ones we should just donate. He turned out to know about much more than books and he subsequently spent hours at my uncles helping us sort through massive amounts of crap, helping us identify items of value and interest. We also like Moe's for their used travel books. Due to the above, I think we have close to a lifetime of credit at Moe's and can pretty much pick up any used title we want. Thanks Harvey! read more

What can I not say about Moe's? It's such a great bookstore and one of the last remaining used book stores on Telegraph. Check their downstairs used sci-fi section for some great prices! read more

The first thing you see when you walk through the door is the service counter, with four or five bespectacled workers either helping customers, on the computer, or going through the huge heaps of books that are stacked literally five feet tall. I am loathe to buy brand-new books, especially volumes of poetry. For instance, Czeslaw Milosz's "Second Space" is $23.95 hardcover. I got it for $8.00 at Moe's. Billy Collins's "Sailing Alone Around the Room" (which is a great book, whatever you might think about Mr. Collins's prowess as a poet!) is $13.95 paperback--I got it at Moe's for $6.00 or $7.00. I love to browse through the overstock section, where you can buy books like, say, Michael Chabon's "The Final Solution" for $5.00 flat. Or Jonathan Lethem's "Men and Cartoons." The staff is extremely helpful and not condescending, as one might feel befits a bookstore. I remember that I was looking for a particular book for my sister, and two employees assisted me for about ten minutes. The verdict: the paperback version was not yet available, but they had a hardcover in the new books section. (I passed on that!) Another bonus: the free posters they occasionally give out. I always take one or two to keep Moe's Books in my consciousness, wherever I may go. read more

There are a lot of awesome books here, when you can find them. The have just about everything you could want, at a reasonably cheaper price than any of the mainstream book stores, here. Great selection, and great staff. My biggest problem is it seems to be, more often than not, hard to find what I'm looking for. Even with the assistance of the staff, it takes a bit to shuffle through all of the books. That, and the place smells really, really old. Like, a dusty old folks home and mothballs. read more

Warning: Moe's books has been known to subvert the spacetime continuum. You can walk in at 10am and two hours walk out and it is almost 9pm. Its truly a magnificent place. Its like a library where for a small fee you can keep the books forever (great for those of us who have been known to rack up massive late fees.) read more

Do you love the smell of a used-book store, the thrill of browsing through out-of-print and interesting oddities? Moe's offers several floors of these pleasures, including the top-floor rare book room (worth a visit just to gawk.) It is a grand store, GREAT service, with a little bit of everything. Go. read more

They are very unethical in how they run their business. I dropped off some boxes of books the other day that I was interested in selling. I was told that their buyer wasn't in at the time, but would be there the next day and would look at the books and send me an offer for the ones they wanted to buy. The next morning I received their offer, and I came in today to get my money and take back the books they didn't want. I asked to see which books they wanted to buy, to get a sense of how fair the offer was. The woman at the counter told me that I couldn't see them, because they were already being sorted in order to be sold. What? I replied that they shouldn't be sorted yet, because I haven't sold them yet. I got their offer, but I haven't accepted it yet. How can I evaluate whether they're giving me a good price if I don't know which books they want to buy? Apparently their practice is to take ownership of any books that are brought in and assume that the seller will accept whatever offer they make, without giving the seller an opportunity to decide whether the offer is fair or not. I said that nobody had told me that bringing in the books to be evaluated was tantamount to accepting whatever offer they made, and was condescendingly told that "other people understand when they come in that this is how it works," as though I'm uniquely stupid for not intuitively grasping their duplicitous buying practices. I reluctantly accepted their money, and as I left was again condescendingly told that "next time you'll understand how it works when you come in," to which I responded that, on the contrary, they should change the dishonest way they do business! The money isn't really important to me, but it just felt so dirty and slimy to be treated like that at a bookstore I had really liked. Don't sell them your books! read more

Wow! five stories of bliss! This is by far the best book store in the area. They have a great antique book section on the top floor, and a mix of used/remaindered books for sale. read more

If you like books and are in the area then GO! The used section is great and you can always find something new by making a weekly trip to Moe's. The staff are also quite chatty and friendly. I have no complaints! read more

Moe, you make me feel intensely guilty whenever I buy a book from one of your much larger competitors (you know, like Borders or the Internet). I just want to remind you that I love you. I could hang out in your basement among the half-priced paperbacks for HOURS. Sadly, I do not exaggerate. I come to that hated stretch of Telegraph just for you. Why give Moe's another glowing review? To reinforce the love. read more

My dad started taking me here about once or twice a week in the late '70's, so my opinions on a proper bookstore are based entirely on Moe's. A lot of who I am--the parts of my persona produced from a life of prolific reading--were constructed with the materials the store provided me. When I wanted Phillip K. Dick and Baudelaire in high school, Tintin or Asterix as a kid, Balzac in college, or Foucault in grad school--it was all available used, and very reasonably priced. Better, the people behind the counter have often been as interested in what I was buying as me, and I've had some of the most interesting 2 minute literary conversations while paying. I've been to the Strand in New York, Powell's in Portland, Green Apple in SF, Shakespeare and Co. all over, and so on. But none of these come even close to being what is for me a total institution for the book experience. I love Moe's, and when I come home for visits, it's one of the first places I go. Where else can I find multiple copies/editions of what for any other store is an obscure and expensive title? The only thing missing is the faint odor of cigars. read more

This is an interesting place to find books that are useful and relevant. While it is four floors, each floor is easy to peruse and comfortable to explore. We just wandered and found the categories nicely arranged. I paid half price or less for books that seemed new to me so it is a bargain to shop here. read more

You will find me in the "bargain basement" or on the 4th Floor, art and antiquarian books. If you're doing visit Berkeley for books within a limited radius, this is the tops. Honoring Moe on April 1, 1997 by closing the block on Telegraph Avenue--well, that's saying a lot. read more

Moe's Books - Moe's Books - Bookstores Near Me - Berkeley, California

I love Moe's. Pretty good for used classics but mainly great for your "trash reading" like sci-fi. I buy a lot of cheap paperbacks here, especially when I need to refer to something and want to be able to fold the pages or make notes in the margins or whatever. Books are so cheap that I usually give them away after. They have extensive folklore and film history sections, of which I make a lot of use. Hint: if you are selling books here, make sure they don't have marks in them (which is why I rarely resell used books there), and ALWAYS GET STORE CREDIT, which gets you more value than cash. You'll definitely find something you want here. read more

Go. Brouse. Wait for a book to jump off the shelf and into your hands. Then buy it. Then buy some impulse item at the counter. Hurry. It's too late for Cody's. It's too late for a Clean Well Lighted Place for Books. It's too late for Stacy's. If you have a brain (and you must; you're reading this), then it is your duty. A tithe. Go now and don't come back without a book. Preferably several. read more

An institution. Fourth floor is only open Wednesday through Saturday with limited hours, just a heads up! Between in store visits, check out Moe's on Instagram, it's updated by 3 employees with finds from the store. I came in to drop 5 racks on Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are 1966 hand-drawn artwork. But it wasn't meant to be, it was sold out by my arrival. Boo! One can spend HOURS in store, looking through old and new, and the collection from food to Asian art to politics is finely curated. I picked up a sale book, it was less than Amazon! Surrounded by eateries such as Gordo's and Cream, and there are peace sign bike parking racks on Telegraph, but the shady characters do prevent me from wanting to park there by choice. If you do park your bike on Telegraph, please use care and use proper U-Lock on frame and at minimum cables to secure wheels. read more

Best bookstore in town. Say hi to Stanley if you're there. He's my favorite (and the best dressed employee anywhere ever) :)) read more

Cody's Books is gone. Go to Moe's, browse, read, enjoy, purchase. I found books on Polynesian mythology and folklore from the 1930's. Big box bookstores don't care too much about Polynesian mythology or folklore, cuz they don't sell so they don't carry such material. read more

Four FLOORS of books. Huge variety, all reasonably priced. I want to purchase everything here but I can't afford it. That's is something for everyone and you could spend hours here. read more

Interesting book selection--usually I spend at least an hour in the second floor "browse" section, just skimming the oddities therein--before hitting any of the other floors. And I don't think anyone mentioned this, but Moe's BATHROOM is always open to everyone, customers and non-customers alike. VERY rare and very appreciated. read more

If have any weakness, it is my inability to go to Moe's and not buy at least 5 books. The good news is that I always do this and spend between $10-15. Moe's is amazing. I'm a big fiction reader, and they have the best selection of trade paperbacks I've ever seen for the most amazing prices. Some authors I've purchased in this section are: Philip Roth, Franz Kafka, Graham Greene, William Burroughs, Richard Wright, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and on and on and on, and each one of these books has been $3 or less. This place is a bibliophile's Heaven. I have to keep myself away from here and I only go once every month or two, because if I go more often I'll have no money in my bank account and an apartment filled floor to ceiling with used books. The coolest book I've ever found here is a critical essays book devoted to JD Salinger. I pick it up from time to time and read an essay and it's always an interesting read. I feel so blessed to live in an area with a store like Moe's. There's nothing like it. read more

Moe's is my favorite book store in the Bay Area. I probably go in there twice a month looking through their used paperbacks and always finding something around $1-$4. They generally have everything I'm looking for, and for really good prices, and some of best finds have been spotted there. The staff is super friendly, and they always help me out whenever I give them any questions. When book friends come to visit me it's one of the stops I have to take them to. They have a good selection of used children books for good prices, and upstairs on the 4th floor they have an art book section. read more

While I walked up the stairs, it felt like the heavens opened its gate to me. I love how it feels to be in here! Will be back Moe's! Great people helping out! It's a bummer they can't check what they have through ISBN. read more

This is by far the best bookstore I know of in the Bay Area next to Feldman's in Menlo Park and one of the best bookstores I've ever visited anywhere outside of Powell's in Portland. A friend and I started on the top floor, where they house their antiquarian books. Since I am a broke student and don't have the spare money to decorate my bookshelf with impressive clothbound tomes to impress guests, I had to limit myself to browsing, but it proved a fun experience nonetheless. Two places I will definitely keep in mind are their classics, theology, and history sections on the third floor, which are chock full of academic works that may end up being bought by me later on for studies. Also of note are the used paperback fictions on the bottom floor, where I bought a handful of Ian Fleming and Evelyn Waugh novels for one to two bucks a piece. A must-go for all locals and visitors. Doubly so for students. You will love the place. read more