Just the best bookstore on the planet (and I've been to all of the other stores listed on the best rated bookstores list).

Just the best bookstore on the planet (and I've been to all of the other stores listed on the best rated bookstores list).
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In every way, this is the greatest bookstore in the world. Have you ever walked into a store and felt like you totally belonged right there? That is the essence of Powell's. I'm a book fanatic. ... More

In every way, this is the greatest bookstore in the world. Have you ever walked into a store and felt like you totally belonged right there? That is the essence of Powell's. I'm a book fanatic. If it has words and a binding, I'll probably read it. So walking into an amazing bookstore like Powell's is a spiritual experience. Everywhere you turn there are books. And although you may be saying, so what, that sounds like any bookstore, it's totally different. Powell's creates this wonderful marriage between new books and used books. So if you go in looking for one particular book, you can choose whether to pay full price, or pay a little less by grabbing the slightly dog-eared copy. And I'm betting that won't be the only book you walk out of there with either. The greatest thing about Powell's is the sheer volume of unusual, hard to find, just plain interesting books. And they are all priced just right. Don't even ask me about their rare book selection...it's amazing. If you love books, you must go there and experience this for yourself.
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If you haven't been to Powell's, then you need to make it a priority. Powell's is one of the few places you can go and spend hours perusing fantastic books. Now, I know there are many large... More

If you haven't been to Powell's, then you need to make it a priority. Powell's is one of the few places you can go and spend hours perusing fantastic books. Now, I know there are many large bookstores in the world, but Powell's puts them all to shame. They have new and used on the shelf together. It is an extremely rare moment when they don't have in stock anything you may be looking for. Half of the fun is finding so many books that interest you, that you didn't even know existed. All of the people who work there love books, so you get exceptional service. Go to Powell's grab a few books that interest you and go to the coffee shop and watch the world go by. Powell's is a little bit of heaven in Portland.
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If you visit Portland, this is one stop you HAVE to make. When I first arrived here, one of the first places I went to was Powell's. If you love books, this is your Disneyland. I was speechless when... More

If you visit Portland, this is one stop you HAVE to make. When I first arrived here, one of the first places I went to was Powell's. If you love books, this is your Disneyland. I was speechless when I walked in. I literally spent all day here, hours just wandering around and browsing before walking out with an armful of books at closing--the first of many such trips. Bliss.
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The Powell's on Burnside is huge!!! You can wander for hours on end. They have an amazing selection of books in just about every category you can think of. The prices are pretty good too! However,... More

The Powell's on Burnside is huge!!! You can wander for hours on end. They have an amazing selection of books in just about every category you can think of. The prices are pretty good too! However, don't expect to get much money when selling your books there. They don't pay very much at all, but that is how they give you good prices when you buy from them. If you haven't been there yet, you should really check it out! Powell's is a nice place to wander around on a rainy, dreary day.
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The world’s largest bookstore seems like a bold claim until you get lost in Powell’s flagship store in Portland. During the winter, it’s a place to escape the grey, wander the isles and wonder... More

The world’s largest bookstore seems like a bold claim until you get lost in Powell’s flagship store in Portland. During the winter, it’s a place to escape the grey, wander the isles and wonder at the breadth and depth of the non-fiction titles. Or hole up in the café with a new paperback. Whatever the circumstance, you’re unlikely to leave empty handed.
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I have been known to make the drive from Seattle to Portland just to go to Powell's. Sure, you can order from the website but for pure browsing enjoyment nothing beats the real thing. Powell's is... More

I have been known to make the drive from Seattle to Portland just to go to Powell's. Sure, you can order from the website but for pure browsing enjoyment nothing beats the real thing. Powell's is such a huge entity that you need a map just to maneuver your way through its various color coded sections. Besides books,Powell's also sells book reading accessories, cards, and the occasional left wing map. Powell's has other satellite locations scattered throughout the Portland area for those with specialized interests in tech or travel. There is also a café on site at the main Powell's to rest your feet after you spend hours rambling from section to section. The one problem with Powell's is that the selection sometimes carries a paucity of academic books. This is especially a problem in the political science section. Overall, this is a great bookstore for used and new books for every subject.
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A local landmark, don't judge a book by its cover: the main entrance to this block-sized store makes it look like a second-rate dump. Once inside, however, you could get lost for days, almost... More

A local landmark, don't judge a book by its cover: the main entrance to this block-sized store makes it look like a second-rate dump. Once inside, however, you could get lost for days, almost literally, since the place is a maze of new and used books that scatters in all directions. While it's easier to sit at home and "browse" through Amazon.com, there's still something to be said for the hands-on approach.
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Now, there probably is bigger bookstore's out there, but I have yet to find one. They have a gigantic selection of books, new and used, some that are harder to find now. I found books I thought I'd... More

Now, there probably is bigger bookstore's out there, but I have yet to find one. They have a gigantic selection of books, new and used, some that are harder to find now. I found books I thought I'd never be able to find, but they had them, and they were cheap. A lot of books I buy are as low as a dollar, in fact the most I've ever paid for a book here was eight dollars. If you like to read, or are trying to find a rare book, get down to Powell's, they'll have it.
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This book store is located in the fancy Pearl district. Many titles are used and can be bought at great prices. There are several locations thru out the city. Their web site has a news letter that... More

This book store is located in the fancy Pearl district. Many titles are used and can be bought at great prices. There are several locations thru out the city. Their web site has a news letter that is updated often. I enjoy looking at the discount book section near the back registers. Did I say they buy books from the general public and you can bring them in at most any time. The employees are knowledgable and friendly,mature people. I love this store! Its open early and late most days.
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