The World’s Smallest Bookstore (The Best of Book Riot)

Jeff O'Neal

CEO and co-founder

Jeff O'Neal is the executive editor of Book Riot and Panels. He also co-hosts The Book Riot Podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @thejeffoneal.

Much of the good ship Book Riot is off at Book Expo America this week, so we’re running some of our best stuff from the first half of 2013. We’ll be back with reports from BEA next week and our usual array of new book-nerdery.

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Now this is the kind of roadside attraction I would stop for.

About 100 miles northeast of Toronto, The World’s Smallest Bookstore sits on a quiet stretch of County Road 503.

world's smallest bookstore
The bookstore itself is about 10ft by 10ft, and its shelves are full of mainstream literary titles and classic authors.

The kicker is that the books are only three dollars apiece, paid on the honor system. (There is a larger selection of books (and prices) in another building on the property).

Lest drivers miss the little speck of store, the bookstore’s road is several times bigger than the store itself.

world's smallest bookstore from road

There are handbills for visitors to take titled “Why I Love Books” that list the following reasons:

1) Books are silent.

2) Books do not require hydro.

3) Books do not interrupt

4) Books open easily — no switches or remotes

5) Books can be shut up easily anytime

6) Books cannot be offended

7) Books do not talk back

8) Books do not demand T.L.C. — but get it anyway.

9) Books do not require food or water

10) Books will not feel neglected

11) Books will not send you on a guilt trip if you lose interest or ignore them

12) Books never require medical attention

13) Books do not have commercials

14) A book does not go into a snit if you look at another book

15) A book won’t mind if you are reading more than book at a time.

How can you not love a place like this?

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