Cody's Books

Cody’s curates a great reading series, with all sorts of interesting authors hocking their books. The Sue Mingus event was a real highlight for me last year. Also, books aside, there’s no better place to check out a lot of cool magazines, many titles I’ve only seen here. I love standing in that green house and catching up on all the latest weekly/monthly culture. Indie bookstore heaven! more

One of the bookstores in Berkeley that focuses mainly on new books and independent books. There are a few "clearance" items available, though the selection is not very wide. The prices for the new books are standard bookstore fare (nothing too cheap) as are the books offered themselves (there are quite a few books I've been unable to find there). One of the main draws for me for Cody's is the occasional "Everything for Twenty-five Cents" setup they will have on the curb outside their store. There's usually something there worth the quarter (and much more) that one can find. more

Great bookstore. I often come here to browse through their books, in addition to the B&N store. They have great selection and helpful staff. It's also quite nearby on Telegraph, so it is easily accessible.The prices are pretty good, so definitely go check it out for your reading needs. They also have lots of clearance items, and saving extra money is always good! Highly recommended! more

I'm a used book person myself, and while Cody's does have some clearance items, as well as even fewer used books, the store does well at carrying new books. The prices are standard, no big savings here, and I've had some problems with the staff there (they once made me leave a section because the power went out in another section near me, despite that I had finally found the section I was looking for.) Otherwise, their alternative religion section has some interesting titles that I haven't found elsewhere. more

Cody's Books was the most dangerous place for me freshman year because I would spend half of my paycheck on the bargain books they sell upstairs. I love the fact that they have all sorts of books up there for sale. You're not going to find the current best sellers upstairs, but its still a great place to find a cheap classic. It's definately a great place for you, if you're like me and go through books like water and always want to find something new to read. more

Straightforward and easy to get college textbooks. The lines aren't as long compared to the other bookstores, which is a good thing, when thousands of students are trying to buy their textbooks the same week! Definitely recommended because they have nice workers willing to assist you in any way they possibly can. more

I don't know what Telegraph Avenue would be like without Cody's? It is one of the great independent bookstores in the country. Their book selection is pretty diverse and large. I have spent countless hours in the technical, scientific and travel sections. Another great thing about this store is that they constantly have events featuring talks by various authors, and it is just great to go attend that sometimes. They have a special children's section with great collection. more

I absolutely love coming to Cody's Books. Cody's is a very local bookstore, but it carries a large selection of books. I love spending hours inside Cody's, flipping through magazines and books. Friendly, helpful employees are willing to help you find any book you need. They go the extra mile. Cody's Books has a cute collection of cards and games, and some toys. They also bring in an amazing number of authors to come showcase their books, such as Bill Clinton and Madeleine Albright. They also carry a big selection of used or sale books. It's definitely a bookstore you won't find in big cities dominated by Barnes and Nobles. You must visit Cody's Books if you're in the area. You won't find another bookstore like it. more

cody's books is a large bookstore at the popular forth street in Berkeley. the selection is great, and it's in a great area where you can spend your Sunday walking around by the nearby shops and have brunch at one of the restaurants while reading a book you've gotten from cody's. my only complaint is that a lot of people spend their Sundays doing this so even though cody's has it's own parking lot, it gets busy on the weekends and is hard to find parking nearby. more

I used to frequent Cody's quite often and I was never disappointed. The bookstore is huge and they have a wide variety of books. I love browsing through the sale section. They also have one of the largest magazine sections of all the bookstores in Berkeley. Parking is pretty horrible on Telegraph though! more

Cody's Books on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley is a great bookstore. They have a great selection of books ranging from the scholarly to the good old comic book. They also have a nice selection of magazines and all occasion cards. There is also a large "sale" section on the top floor. You can find all sorts of books up there, and they have a lot of children's books as well. Cody's also hosts book signings and author events. One recent author was Bill Clinton! You should have seen that crowd outside waiting . . . Cody's Books is located on the historic Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley, and there is an excellent music store, Amoeba Music (reviewed by me as well), right across the street. more

Cody's Bookstore is one of the landmarks you point out to people because everyone knows where it is on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley. They have a great selection of topics, and a nice relaxing atmosphere to the store. The staff is great, they are very helpful and knowledgable about where specific topics and items are. more

Cody's, located on Telegraph Avenue, near the UC Berkeley campus is a great alternative to bigger chain stores like Barnes 'N Noble or Border's. Cody's has competitive prices, and a huge selection of books. It's easy to get spend hours browsing through the selection, finding all kinds of gems. The staff is very helpful and friendly, and will help you locate any book you're trying to find. I've also found them to be pretty knowledgeable about literature. They also carry a huge assortment of magazines, so if you're looking for your favorite obscure publication, they just may have it. more

I grew up going to Cody's, and I still hold it as the epitome of a great independent, community bookstore. It's clean, HUGE, well lit and organized. They host numerous author events, have a great magazine section, and the staff is always friendly, helpful and honestly enthusiastic. But it's a little more than that too. You get the feeling that the store actually belongs to you and the community.. The website has photos of the renovations happening and their newest location, as well as work being done on a school they support. There's a great little corner (at least in the Telegraph location) of small and independent press publications, and I actually had a chapbook that I xeroxed myself on consignment there many years ago. I especially like the shelf in the front with autographed copies of new books, it gives a great little kick if you're looking for a gift. more