Take a literary trip this National Reading Month into the enchanting bookstores of Ann Arbor. Each establishment contributes to the city's vibrant literary landscape, offering unique selections and creating welcoming spaces for bibliophiles.

The Dawn Treader Book Shop

The Dawn Treader Book Shop was established in 1976 by Bill Gillmore. Owned by Africa Schaumann since June 2022, the shop has grown from a tiny basement to a spacious storefront with over 70,000 titles. The Booklover's Guide to the Midwest praises it as 'An absolutely fabulous book shop, with something for everyone.' Specializing in used and rare books, Dawn Treader buys books and collections. 

They are particularly interested in scholarly works, modern first editions, and early travel literature. They offer diverse titles, from current paperbacks to valuable Incunabula, and provide online browsing and purchasing options through platforms like abe.com.

Motte and Bailey Booksellers

Motte and Bailey Booksellers is a used and rare bookshop offering a diverse collection of 12,500 books covering various subjects. The shop's online offering includes nearly 2,000 books across over 50 catalogs. Specializing in ancient and medieval history, science fiction and fantasy, books about books, and military history, the shop also features sections dedicated to children's picture books, architecture, history of science, world history, and transportation history.

As one of the last local bookshops, Motte and Bailey Booksellers offers appraisal services for estate, donation, or insurance needs.

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Literati Bookstore

Originating in March 2013, Literati is the brainchild of Hilary and Michael Gustafson, two avid book readers. Located in Ann Arbor, this general bookstore has quickly become a favorite meeting space for readers and writers and a place to shop for the latest local, new, and backlist titles. 

Contributing to the vibrant downtown atmosphere and arts scene is what the founders intended to achieve with their vision of establishing a cozy venue for bibliophiles who can make it their regular meeting point. What sets Literati is a focus on being more than the bookstore by creating a welcoming oasis where the community can enjoy author readings, book clubs, poetry nights, and other literary events. 

Their basic creed is that the book, having been placed in the right hand, can make a tremendous difference in a person's life, which would be for the good.

Third Mind Books

Third Mind Books is a physical bookstore in Downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan, specializing in rare books about the Beat Generation and other significant movements. Founded by Arthur S. Nusbaum in 2010, the store offers new and used editions, emphasizing legitimacy for enthusiasts, collectors, and scholars.

Named after the William S. Burroughs & Brion Gysin collaboration, Third Mind Books extends its focus beyond the Beat Generation, encompassing works from the Modernist, New York School, and Black Mountain canons, along with rarities from various movements and recent publications by notable authors and philosophers.

Third Mind Books is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Crazy Wisdom

Since its establishment in 1982, Crazy Wisdom Bookstore has been a hub for information on holistic health, body-mind therapies, psychology, Buddhism, alternative spiritual practices, spiritual development, and consciousness. Owned by Crazy Wisdom, Inc. since 1989, the ownership consists of the husband-and-wife duo Bill Zirinsky and Ruth Schekter.

The store has a new Community Room, formerly the Tea Room, available for events starting March 1.

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