on a whim since i was nearby, i decided to visit Moe's again after a 10 year spell. elsewhere, i wasn't getting the quality of books i sought. not all book stores are fully opened. since the libraries are closed, the free libraries seldom have great books. interesting yes. Moe's was limiting the amount of people inside. i was able to get in with no problem. got 4 interesting books. lst wasn't eye opening:Asian American odyssey. it's therapy 2. Stranger from a different shore: a history of Asian Americans" by Ronald Takaki is a blockbuster tell-all 3.The Cornel west reader-sound be intereting' 4:"the New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the age of colorblindness" (Michell Alexander) articulates why the police have to be " defunded". -how "the war on terror" has especially target black and brown communities for minor drug offences. $ incentives for random stop & risk arrests by police. read more

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

I have loved Moe's Books since the time of Moe. I used to go there quite a bit in the 90s and periodically thereafter, having happily returned again recently. With a few floors of books, a great space, and friendly, helpful staff, it's a wonderful place to spend some time and get some more books that you may not have expected to get. read more

My partner loves this store. He calls it his favorite bookstore in the Bay Area and always leaves the store with a stack of used books. We went yesterday to support after they were closed for a while during the early pandemic and left with another stack. They have new books on the bottom floor for cover price, as well as 3 floors of used books. Their collection of used books range in price from as low as $1-3 to much more for rarer books. My partner particularly loves the wall of shelves with books on philosophy/critical theory and psychology, finding a lot of old books on psychoanalysis or varieties of books about subjects that you'd be hard pressed to find in your average bookstore. This is a Berkeley landmark (been around since the 60s) and deserves all the support it can get during these tough times! read more

Moe's Books - Most recent purchase at Moe's. - Bookstores Near Me - Berkeley, California

Popped into Moe's books today for a favor completely unrelated to the store and the staff were incredibly welcoming and kind. The owner then went out of their way to help me with a last-minute Christmas gift mission. Strongly recommend and will definitely be returning! read more

I cannot leave here without spending at least $75. It's a problem. It's a really good problem. Huge selection of used fiction and nonfiction (including some deep cuts in history and religion), all at reasonable prices. New fiction skews literary, and used SFF skews pulpy. Art, science, and music sections have a consistently broad range of good choices. Their stock is regularly updated, so even though I am a frequent visitor, I always find new things. I always pick up a handful of weird postcards, too. read more

One of the best bookstores ever built. I always find something to take home. I always seem to find something unexpected and wonderful every time I visit. read more

The best book store in the Bay Area. I loved frequenting when I used to live in The Bay. Excellent selection of rare books and poetry. They also host great poetry readings. A great place to spend hours browsing. Guaranteed you won't leave empty-handed! read more

Last bookstore standing. With Cody's long gone and Shakespeare & Co. recently departed, this is the last literary dinosaur from my days as a UC Berkeley undergrad, and it's a treasure trove that somehow survives despite the current economic malaise. It opened on Shattuck Avenue in 1959 but soon relocated to its current Telegraph Avenue location by its founder Moe Moskowitz whose portrait hangs above the tote bags and T-shirts for sale (photo: http://bit.ly/2iTLwlq). From what I read, he was quite a character, a New Yorker who liked his cigars and had strong opinions about how a bookstore should be run, including establishing fair trade practices when it came to buying and selling used books. Moe passed away twenty years ago, but what a joy to find out that it's still a family-run business owned by his daughter Doris. There's a great photo from 1969 that shows a protester overwhelmed by smoke bombs right in front of the store (photo: http://bit.ly/2i6Rh28). With its familiar candy-stripe awning, it still looks pretty much the same after all these years. Four floors packed with books though I have to admit I spend most of my time in the basement where the new books, both fiction and non-fiction, show up with little regard as to whether they are best-sellers or not. In that respect, it's the antithesis of the Amazon Bookstores popping up everywhere where public opinion appears to be the only thing that matters. Love that the philosophy and critical theory section is just as big as the children's section (photo: http://bit.ly/2AzQhv8). Love the Berkeley needlepoint kits that celebrate the city's legacy. Crossing my fingers that it will last another sixty years. read more

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Love to close early!! So frustrating. Drive down and was there by 6:45 pm and they said they were closed early because they had to avoid overtime. I think that's what happens when someone doesn't show up for a shift and someone else stays so they can be open when a loyal customer gets there while still open. Yikes! read more

Moe's Books - Closed store front when hours say open - Bookstores Near Me - Berkeley, California

There was a book that came out back in 1974 called Telegraph 3AM. It had pictures of some of us on the street. I considered buying a copy of it, but $20 was more than I could afford back then. Has some great pics in it. read more

I was recommended this place to find interesting and unique books and it did not disappoint! With four floors to explore this was the perfect activity for a nice day in downtown Berkeley. And I got a $7 book about gardening that I can't even find online! Magical! read more

I have loved Moe's since moving to the Bay Area in 1978. I was turning in books that I have had in the areas of literature, philosophy, psychology, art, etc. I brought them about 6 full boxes. They told me that they would send them to someone who would evaluate them and pay me for what could be used, but I would have to accept not getting any of them back. The rest would be given to some charity. They did not buy one book, and reconfirmed that they could not return any of them. It was shocking and very depressing. I later looked up items and found that many of them were actually significant value on Ebay, etc. DO NOT GIVE THEM YOUR BOOKS. Really shameful behavior on their part. Maybe even a scam. DO NOT TRUST THEM. DESPICABLE BUSINESS PRACTICE. read more

Still a great bookstore after all these years -- new and used books. Very good collection of social science titles on upper floor. Lots of books about the movies on lower floor. read more

This is actually a great new and used bookstore. It has four floors worth of books. There is quite an interesting variety of books that one will not find in other bookstores. I especially like to walk through the second floor, where the art books are located. One can appreciate the fact that the books are organized in a way that one can find what one is searching for. And, of course, I also like looking through their food books. They carry some fun ones. They are sure to display the ones that make a person hungry. It is also mic that no one bothers you in the shop, so you can quietly spend time by yourself, looking through all the books. There is plenty of street parking. It just depends upon how far you are willing to walk, if it is free parking you are looking for. read more

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We were in the Bay Area visiting friends, and I decided to look for some vintage mushroom books requested by my relative as holiday gifts. Our first stop was City Lights Bookstore located on Columbus Ave. in San Francisco. While they had a vast collection of used books and two stories of wonderful literary goodies, we did not find the vintage mushroom books we had in mind. Without giving up, the very same day my fiance drove us up to Berkeley to Moe's Books, a used bookstore that he had frequented some times ago. I am so glad he introduced me to this gem located on Telegraph Avenue. Just by stepping in, I could instantly feel the intellectual aura and world famous destination that makes Moe's a landmark institution. The bookstore is spacious, with multiple levels. The staff are also very friendly and knowledgeable. Upon asking the staff at the counter of mushroom books, one of the guys responded with the location, bookshelf number and level without blinking the eye! One female staff next to him even chimed in to look in the mycology section. I didn't even know the word "mycology"! The staff here definitely have a breadth of knowledge of books and they do a fantastic job connecting with customers and help them find what they are looking for. For a used bookstore, the books are sorted and organized quite nicely. I also noticed several books that are more focused on NorCal, such as birds of San Francisco, trees of the Bay Area, technology of Silicon Valley, etc. That was quite interesting. The books here are rare, affordable and collectible, the mushroom books we found were all under $10 and makes for great gifts. A superb collection of literature, the sciences, illustrated children's books, art, politics, and many subjects. We look forward to visiting again, finding books and bringing them to read at Cafe Strada. read more

This store is a national treasure. It ranks with Powell's and the Strand. There is a good selection of new books and a great selection of used ones. read more

Love this place! Four floors. Every type of book. Knowledgeable staff. It's an experience

My beloved Berkeley has changed A LOT since I last visited but one place that hasn't is this wonderful bookstore. The employees are friendly. I appreciated the temperature checks and hand sanitizer aplenty. My daughter didn't remember her visits from when she was younger but she was impressed by the multiple stories, the prints of paintings she likes, and the vastness of the collection. Though I didn't find the specific book I had hoped to find, we ooh'ed and aah'ed over the Basquiat coffee table books and left with a small Basquiat book that we plan to share(though she called first dibs.) I may have bemoaned the ever-changing face of Telegraph Avenue but I am grateful this gem remains. read more

Long overdue review for this gem of a bookstore! After Cody's closed on Telegraph back in 2006 (RIP Cody's!), Moe's has become Berkeley's shining beacon for books. The staff here is always so friendly, and are so knowledgeable on their inventory. Downstairs, you have lots of fictions, including sci-fi and fantasy, and a section dedicated to children's picture books. On the third floor (or second, if you consider the entry floor the first floor), one of my favorite section is the comics/manga/pop culture part of the store. They also have plenty of obscure titles, and books in foreign languages. There are also a third and fourth floor. Also, unlike other bookstores in Berkeley, Moe's is just so clean, to the point that it nearly just sparkles, especially when you walk in. It's definitely a book lover's to-go spot in Berkeley! read more

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Moe's is a great bookstore! As so many of the once great bookstores in the Bay Area have closed, Moe's has emerged as one of the last remaining BEST places to shop for books. Moe's is a multi-level establishment. When you look in the door from the outside all you see is the main level. But, don't let this fool you. Go up the stairs. It is there that you will find one of the greatest sections of books on all subjects. The fact is, Moe's carries all manner of books on all subjects. You can pretty much find anything/everything at Moe's. From the Rare and Vintage to the Modern, they have books on everything. Personally, though they have a large variety of subjects, I really love their Eastern Philosophy section -- it present a great variety of important and rare titles. Overall, this is a GREAT bookstore in the heart of the Cal/Berkeley shopping district. As it is right on Telegraph Ave. it is easy to get to. In terms of parking, there is the various public lots around the area and street parking. Of course, parking can sometimes be a bit of a problem in this area. But, just keep looking... Getting in to Moe's is worth it. One of the BEST bookstores! Highly Recommend !!! read more

Moe's Books - Guess Who? - Bookstores Near Me - Berkeley, California

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they lied and said my book was damaged on the return to the store via USPS. It was overpriced to begin with, a 1990 publication. What I paid in a reduced refund and mailing would have paid for the book . I had trouble with them before and I have decided after 11 years of buying online to just go back to normal and walking into a store instead to purchase what I need. I have had it. Online vendors are getting more and more greedy and creating new ways to save them money (aka profit) and exploit us read more

Moe's is the most wonderful place on Telegraph for me. There are beautiful nature illustration prints, posters, maps, cards, books, and journals of all kinds. You can find almost anything here that would make a great gift. There are multiple floors of books, and all genres are represented here. I especially loved the selection of education and psychology books. If you're hungry after a long day of looking at books and bringing some home - right next door there's a waffle place, and nearby you can walk to get pizza, curry, noodles, pho, and Thai food. read more

There are many great bookstores in the intellectual and cultural epicenter of Berkeley yet the best of the bunch is Moe's Books. From the postcards of the Beat Generation on the ground floor to the used books including titles such as Rimbaud on the second floor to the smart selection of new titles such as Jean-Michel Basquiat's notebooks Moe's has it all. I especially love the vintage poster of an Allen Ginsberg poem on the second floor. Call me old fashioned yet would much rather buy a book at Moe's Books than on Amazon or Kindle even if it was 75 percent cheaper on either. As gentrification seems to be striking everywhere Moe's Books fights the good fight keeping the soul of the Bay Area intact. read more

I bought a book at Moe's called, 'The Tiger's Wife', a book about a woman so in love with tigers that she became one. Full disclosure, 30% bought it bc I wanted to find out if there was sensual tiger/human sex. And if I ever get around to reading it, I'll update here and let you know. And before you judge me, just know that my regular life has been a real blurg-fest for the past few years so maybe just let me have this book that might contain fictional romanticized beastiality, ok, Judgey McJudgerson. Moe's is a multi-level book shop real close to the Berkeley campus. They sell books, more books, some totes, and I actually don't know what's upstairs because I ran out of time before my nearby therapy session but I still managed to grab the tiger sex (fingers crossed) book that I have yet to read, a day-planner that I've yet to write in, and grammar and punctuation guide even though I've literally never proofread anything I've ever written in my entire life (and if you've ever read my reviews you know I ain't lyin). LOVE perusing pages here and find soooo much stuff that makes me think I'm on the verge of becoming a full-fledged book-boning intellectual. If there's a book you know you want, let's be real, you prob just order it on amazon. But if you're just in the mood to be literature-ly inspired, Moe's is the shit. Sure you could maybe find the books cheaper on amazon but I like that I can come here and want/need nothing but suddenly feel like I need that book rightthisveryinstant because I couldn't possible wait for amazon primetime to make it arrive 2-days later and that's a great feeling second to maybe (probably) only tiger sex. read more

Moe's Books - I might read this one day - Bookstores Near Me - Berkeley, California

Great bookstore! BUT it shows up on a search of places in Berkeley with air conditioning. It has amazing books and ephemera but NO AIR CONDITIONING read more

I tried to sell books here and they refused to buy them basically accusing me of stealing them. They were brand new . I'm not saying it's because I'm black but. This happened 20 years ago why do I still think about this. Trauma is real. SMH read more

I love bookstores like this - great curated sections, maps and posters, local interest - definitely worth a visit read more

Moe's Books - In store signage - Bookstores Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The best independent bookstore around, love supporting them! I end up spending a couple of hours at Moe's on Telegraph whenever I have the chance to go. read more

I love this book store. Inventory goes on forever 4 - 5 floors of it. Great selections of new .& used. Clean organized. Friendly helpful staff. I can't say enough good things about this spot. read more

The ladies works here are very kinds and definitely book lovers. i was looking for this very old book and called a day before to hold for me. the guy took my call he called me back after finding the book. usually people in books store don't care or says we are out or tell to come other day. they even offered me if i wanna go down stair and read my book for sometimes. this is gonna be my regular store in berkeley from now. there is hundreds of books store in bay area but only the book stores with kind employees are worth visiting. hope they get more business and stay safe. read more

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

Been coming here for a decade and a half. Last REAL bookstore standing. Have happily spent thousands of dollars and untold hours there. Just wish ownership would chill TF out and respect the rights and needs of the Union employees! read more

I love this bookstore! I'm not from Berkeley but whenever I find myself in the area I am sure to stop by and get some posters or check out some books. There's so many cute little items sold here. read more

I was excited to find the book my husband wanted for Christmas. My husband has never made a Christmas list in his life. Not even as a little boy. So for his first list he put a book down. I was happy to see it on Ebay at Moe's Books site. I paid for it and Ebay said it would be there on a certain day. After a day and half when I still didn't get it I contacted Moe's Books. They said they didn't get a message from Ebay. They sent it 2nd day air. Came home from work excited. Opened the package to find the wrong book. I contacted Moe's Books who apologized and sent me a label to next day air the wrong book I received. They asked if I wanted a refund or wait for the book. I said wait for the book. This was the book he wanted. The next thing I know the next day a person from the store emailed me and said they refunded the money because they don't know when they will receive the book back. In my opinion if the person purchasing the item is willing to wait, then you should wait. Instead if felt like they were saying...we want to forget we just really messed up so let's refund the money and get her out of here. I would think twice about using this company. Yes, they did correct the problem with a refund, but that isn't the point. Stating that it was an individual error...no kidding...figured that one out. Didn't need that stated. How about listening to your customer as to what they would like. I had already said no to the other book on Ebay and when I went back it was gone. So had to go with another book, not the one he wanted. So buyer beware. You might not get what you ordered. read more

One of the best bookstores in the Bay Area, Moe's has an incredible selection of used books (most are in excellent condition). There is a section for new books, and you can always ask the friendly staff to order a new title, but the fun is losing yourself for 1-2 hours drifting up and down the shop's four stories. I always come out with more than I intended, and am all the happier for it! read more

A 4-story bookstore! As you go up the floors, it feels like you're warped into different eras. Books have gotten me through my worst times, and somehow time stands still for me in bookstores that offer the right vibe. Coming into Moe's I thought I would just quickly walk in and out, but as I ventured downstairs I happened to pick up a book of my interest and spent quite some time giggling in a corner. Been looking for a good read and happen to be in the area? Forget your amazon prime and check out Moe's! read more

I love Moe's and have been coming here for years. However, I won't be coming back until management stops retaliating against the store workers for trying to unionize! I love shopping at Moe's but I will take my business elsewhere unless I know that it is a safe, healthy, respectful environment for all the employees. I salute the brave bookstore workers for their organization and solidarity. Don't give up the good fight! read more

Moe's Books - These will be the last things I ever bought from Moe's unless their union negotiations succeed... - Bookstores Near Me - Berkeley, California

The ultimate used books store of the East Bay. The store's three floors have the best of everything for the ultimate browsing experience. Also its outside makes a one second appearance in the motion picture "The Graduate"! How can you best that?! You can't! Long live Moe's! read more

I have heard many wonderful things about Moe's books and wanted to support this local business since it is very convenient (close to campus). However, I am quite disappointed the handful of times I went in. The cashiers are rude, and the buy-in process is very picky. They give you little to nothing for books and are very selective. The cashiers could be snobbish and unhelpful, and even if you decide to donate books, they won't help you with that. Instead, you would have to move all the books to a designated 'shed' yourself...... And the shed is overflowing, poorly managed and organized. I hate to be that person who shops at amazon and destroys local businesses, so I would rather go to other stores like half price books for all my trade-in and buying needs. read more

This is my second time coming here and buying books. They have so many selection of old and new books. I bought like five used books already and they looked pretty new to me. Staff are very nice and very helpful. read more

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I stopped in at Moe's a few days ago and it's been too long since I've last enjoyed exploring all 4 Floors of their wide variety of books. I'm also pleased that they seem to still be going strong, especially considering the still empty hulk of the old Cody's just a few doors down. What I've also enjoyed about Moe's are the intellectual demands of the clientele and a store staff who are often their equals. My recent visit was no exception, as I listened some fascinating book requests and various literary conversations. Founded in 1959 by Moe Moskowitz and his wife Barbara, the original site of the store was a small shop on Shattuck just north of University Avenue. He moved the store up to Telegraph Avenue in the 1960's, right in the middle of the Free Speech Movement and the famous anti-war demonstrations that put Berkeley on the political map. Moe has now passed on, but his politics, love of books, and early Internet presence has left a lasting impression on me and many others.. That includes an active reading series and an always interesting group of individuals that are continually stopping by. read more