Book Thug Nation

I love this book shop and I make it a point to stop by whenever I’m in the area. They have many genres and unique books, even though the spot is kind of smallish.
I love supporting local small businesses, and the mom and pop bookstore is set to go the way of the rotary phone if we don’t support it. God knows, I love online shopping, but small bookstores like BTN are such a joy to behold.
BTN offers a variety of used books, too, which I love because book sharing helps save our Mother Earth. They have fun events with cool people. The whole experiences is pretty neat.
When a library just won’t cut it, I urge you to shop small and local. BTN is just the spot.

I’ve been supporting this store, buying books there fairly often for a couple years, but no more. Went by today at 2:40. Store was closed, even though it’s supposed to open at noon. As I turned to walk away, a person walked up to the door and started shouting at me that he didn’t know what was going on, and that he wasn’t working there today because he’s been working for hours on another project (no, I don’t know what he meant either). I hadn’t said a word to him nor had I attempted to enter — I was just standing near the door confused that it was closed several hours later than it should be. Someone with even basic social skills could have explained what was going on, or if they were maybe even slightly competent, apologize, but for some reason I was shouted at, as if his incompetence was my fault. He then proceeded begrudgingly to open the store. Regardless, I get it — you don’t want my business. I’m happy to go elsewhere.

The cramped space can leave you lost and claustrophobic between the numerous shelves stacked with wonderful titles. However, if you do visit with a bit of time on your hands you can find some really wonderful selections and leave without feeling like your wallet has taken a serious lightening.

I live quite close to here, and visiting is always a treat. The books are always changing, but they always have this eery consistency to them. There are always so many that are relevant to me! I especially enjoy their art criticism and poetry sections. They even have some small presses and zines!
The staff that I have encountered are always very friendly, and are able to engage in thrilling conversations about whatever book happens to be in my hand. The prices are great, too!
I used to only go to Book Thug Nation when I was looking for something specific, but now that I know that their tastes somewhat align with mine, I stop by often to peek at the shelves. I often get way too excited at Book Thug. I once gasped way too loudly at some old issues of October.

I used to visit Book Thug Nation when I lived in Williamsburg, but I’m appalled by the racial profiling described in the reviews below, which is 100% unacceptable and I’m even more shocked that the owner hasn’t reached out or posted a comment publicly. The very least you can do is respond.
What a shame, because I love supporting local bookstores and it does have a nice/​eclectic selection.
Still, I won’t be back. The staff has never been especially nice or friendly. I once sold some of my used books here and I swear the guy rolled his eyes when sifting through mine. Yes, I have Hunger Games. The audacity!

I stumbled across Book Thug Nation earlier this spring and was excited to find a small independent bookstore with an interest in being a community space. I also love that they have rare books. We desperately need community bookstores! I did notice the employee working at the store at the time of my visit was not particularly friendly but was hoping that was just a one off. Unfortunately it appears to be standard practice at Book Thug Nation, and I am now learning the issue is more serious than just rudeness. I am appalled to hear that an employee told an African American man to leave the store on Sunday 7/​20, claiming he resembled a supposed «police sketch.» I will never return to this racist bookstore and will be sure to tell friends and acquaintances to boycott this store. Racial profiling and racist behavior have no place in my community. I hope the bookstore will issue a public statement of apology and provide some sorely need customer service and anti-​racism training for their entire staff.

Wow! F this place… I usually keep my nose out of other peoples buisness… But so many people have concluded that this place is racist and not afraid to show it! How horrible!!! One star cuz it’s required by Unilocal.Whoever hired that suck at life blond dude is hating life.

I used to love this store! Always great finds + never left without a good book (or five). I can’t imagine what’s going on with staff/​mgmt but the recent experience of a friend has left me appalled. Racial profiling is not okay, not anywhere and not at anytime. Hearing that a staff person forced a black friend to leave the store (racially-​profiling and criminalizing him in the process) has made me realize that the management has to be lax at best and intentionally racist at worst. Please train staff and publicly apologize for racist behavior. Until then, I’ll gladly take my service to East Village Books, as has been suggested by other reviewers.

I used to go to this bookstore, but I refuse to go to it after I found out that one employee racially profiled a customer and engaged in racist behaviors, language and attitudes against a customer who was a person of color. Don’t shop here.

My very dear and close friend, an African American man, was approached in what WAS his favorite bookstore in Williamsburg. He was then told by a white employee, in a hostile manner, that he needed to leave immediately. He was told that he resembled a police sketch of a shoplifter and that he needed to leave the store immediately. The employee then acted as if he was some sort of threat to him and the store. There was no police sketch. My friend is not a shoplifter and doesn’t deserve to be treated like that.
I hope the store shows some accountability for their actions. This is an outrage. I love to support independent bookstores. So long as their not extremely racist!

Looking at the previously positive reviews before, I’m assuming this store must have had a change in staff or management, because I visited recently and my personal experience was easily the worst I’ve ever had in any bookstore.
Ever.
As a woman of color, I strongly recommend that you take your business elsewhere, especially if you are a person of color.

Having heard this account first hand from his friends, I’m boosting it. Racism is simply unacceptable and I was deeply saddened to hear that he was mistreated based on race and skin color. Speaking out is the only way to hold this business accountable.
*This is a repost of Gabe P. ‘s post which was filtered out.
Gabe P:
«Book Thug Nation
Acting kind of racist?
Here’s the scenario. My friend who is African American introduced me to Book Thug Nation a couple months back. He loves sci-​fi. We have gone to the store several times and checked out the sci-​fi section. He was considering getting the Octavia Butler book in the front. I was looking to get a book on Santeria they had on the right wall.
We were in the store today at 6:45 pm when the blond man behind the counter told my friend he had to leave. According to the employee, Book Thug Nation had a sketch from a week ago of a suspected shop lifter that fit my friend’s description. He said the suspect had the same beard. The employee did not present the sketch and it kind of felt like he was making it up.
We were stunned. There was nothing to say. We couldn’t pitch a defense for a crime we didn’t commit. We didn’t have the where-​with-​all to pull out day planners to show we weren’t in the area last week. So we left believing any other course of action would be perceived as threatening.
It appeared like the employee just wanted to get a bearded African American man out of this store in a rush.
The ironic thing about this event, is that my friend turned me onto Book Thug Nation.
So we went to SPOONBILL and SUGARTOWN where we were allowed to shop in peace. At SPOONBILL and SUGARTOWN I purchased Sputnick Sweetheart and Micro-​line pens (for sketching) $ 32. And my friend purchased Don’t Eat Me: Lunch is Very Important: A Guided to Good Fortunes. $ 20 (Discounted at the counter by the cashier because it was lightly damaged!)
In total Book Thug Nation lost a possible sale of $ 52 in our combined purchases and two costumers. I would love to support a used book store, but I can’t in good conscious support Book Thug Nation. It’s employees profile black men looking at sci-​fi sections as thieves.
If buying books at brick and mortar shops is going to fraught with so much drama, racial profiling, and unprofessionalism, I think it’s better to go to Amazon than waste time at Book „THUG“ Nation.»

I love this used book shop. Though it may be small in size, they have a great selection to choose from. Despite what some say about it being overpriced, I found it to be on par with most of the used book shops on the lower east side. I found some great penguin mass market first editions for a reasonable price here. I even bought The Gun from 1938 for four dollars in wonderful condition. I make it a habit to check in anytime I’m in the neighborhood. Well worth the walk over from Bedford ave.

Book Thug is a great little used bookstore in Brooklyn.
Here you will easily be able to pick up a dusty book of poetry or a historical biography for rock bottom prices that hover as low as a dollar. They have a great Vonnegut collection, they have some rare finds for sale, they have a pretty extensive NY section and film section.
The staff is abrupt but in their oddness you will find really well read book lovers who give awesome recommendations on stuff that you may not normally pick up. They turned me on to an author Jakob Arjouni who writes a series of crime fiction set in Germany. I ended up getting a couple of books in his series.
Long live physical books!

I stopped in here yesterday based on the strength of the name alone. Thinking it was a normal book store, I was not expecting the air of chaos that I found on the other side of the door. There is something part charming and part overwhelming about an entire room packed floor to ceiling with used books. The overwhelming part ruled supreme for me in my state of exhaustion and I beat a hasty exit to the door. Once outside, I came face to face with a few book carts stuffed with $ 1 books. Books carts are FAR from overwhelming. This was more my speed. My friend and I spent a good 30 – 40 minutes examining every single title and pulling one gem after another. I ended up with nine books and my friend found 6. SCORE! I don’t know that I’ll ever work up the energy to pore through that shop with the dedication it deserves, but I can guarantee that I’ll be back for those dollar carts.

I like this book store.
This place always have dollar books that worth than dollar to me.
Also I like how many book they store in their small space.
Fun to visit and explore, they have rare vintage books and records as well.
The workers are not very nice or friendly but they are not bad people.

Perfect selection and cost — yet thug indeed if you have the misfortune of being a woman in this store.

Really solid selection. All used too which I love.
But what the hell were the owners thinking? Book thug nation? Stupidest name ever. There is nothing thug about a store that sells Game of Thrones books or Paul Auster.

Lots of books
Irritating music
Staff that overcharges tax
Overall if I’m around maybe I’d pop in again but I wouldn’t go out of my way to go to this place.
I would also clarify the price and tax prior to purchase.

I love this place for their awesome old Sci-​Fi book collection. Seems like every time I come by there’s a ton of new ones in! Great prices and great selection.
I’ve bought at least 15 books from this place and I’m probably never going to stop.
If you’re looking to sell books, they do buy as well. But, they’re a bit selective (which is 100% understandable, but just a heads up!)