Shaun Bythell is a second hand book shop owner from Wigtown, Scotland, and also the author of the Diary of a Bookseller. Owning a book business let alone a second hand one, is bloody hard. Imagine all the Kindles, Kobos, Amazon Primes, AbeBooks and eBays. They don’t make it any easier on you. And all the people that come into a book shop just to preview the books and then order them on BookDepository. Off their phones, whilst still standing in said book shop. Who wouldn’t be passive aggressive about this literary misery?
5 reasons to read The Diary of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell
1. It makes you rethink the value of books
I’ve already given your 5 reasons why vintage editions are just beautiful and must not be forgotten but I’ve totally forgotten to mention reason number 6. That is that books themselves are gorgeous little pieces of art, but they also earn living for people who run book shops. And book shops are one of the most magical places in the world. Imagine what a sad world that would be if there were no book shops left in it. Buy second hand books to resurrect the world of breath-taking book stores!
2. Shaun Bythell is a legend
I’m not keen on people in general. I loathe certain people for absolutely no reason. Shaun hates them for a very specific reason. People are just dicks when it comes to buying second hand books. They want them basically for free (because they’re already used, eh), they come to the shop just to warm their feet and remark something intellectual that adds no value to the world anyways. Shaun is able to react to everyone’s remarks with wit and that’s what makes this book so enjoyable for miserable fucks like me.
3. You will want to go to Wigtown for a holiday
I’ve never heard of Wigtown, Scotland before but immediately after I started reading the book I decided that I need to go there. I need to stroll through the crooked alleyways, hike up the foggy hills, buy a dozen of books and silently admire the local church with its huge church yard. Ideally you’d want to visit when the Book Festival is on – and you’d book to sleep in the Book Shop’s festival bed. The dream!
4. Captain, the cat
This book contains a fair bit about the book shop’s cat, Captain. And I’m here for it.
6. Shaun’s YouTube
Once you’ve finished the book you most definitely cannot skip on Shaun’s social media – his YouTube is a gold mine. I can’t decide whether my favourite video’s the one where Nicky sells her mobility scooter or the one where she comes to work in socks and sandals. And you can’t miss out on either of these!
You can buy the Diary of a Bookseller on the book shop’s website HERE.