Rizzoli Bookstore — Local services in New York

This shop had a pretty atmosphere and a broad selection! Masks were required, but not vacc cards. My fiancée and I came in without any particular book in mind and bought five, but we spent around an hour browsing before that without anyone ever asking us to, like, move along and buy something, so hopefully those of you who don’t have the budget to buy as many or any books can enjoy this place too if you have the time. I believe monetarily supporting your local bookstores (or libraries, for books that aren’t either brand new or in high demand) is a nice thing to do, as for many they provide an experience of physical immersion in stacks of fascinating books that they can’t really get online (though developments in VR may soon change this), which is not to say that it’s one of the BEST ways to do good.

But as I see it, IF you wouldn’t think it worth it to buy a book even if piracy weren’t an option, based on your budget, then there isn’t actually anything wrong with pirating that book! My reasoning is that the way an act of piracy can harm booksellers like the folks at Rizzoli, publishers, and (most importantly) authors is by causing them to miss out on money they would otherwise get from the person who pirated. But if you weren’t going to buy the book in ANY case (that is, even if the pirated copy didn’t exist), then you aren’t actually causing them to miss out on anything, and you shouldn’t be affecting their economic motivation to make more content. The situations are you without a book and them without some money vs. you with a book and them still without some money. A counter argument is that it’s hard to tell what you would do if piracy weren’t an option, when it is. In my experience as a financially privileged college student, it was easy to convince myself that if pirated copies of everything I wanted to read weren’t immediately available on Library Genesis and Z Library, if I couldn’t use private browsing or outline.com or clearing cookies or the technique of Googling an article rather than following a link to avoid news site paywalls, if I couldn’t Google site + login and see if I could get access by using a library’s login or a Wisconsin ZIP CODE or whatever, then I wouldn’t waste money BUYING anything, I would just find something free and legal instead. I really thought I was not changing anything for any of the people who made the content I was benefiting from, since they were never going to get my money anyway. But eventually I realized that wasn’t as true as I thought, especially once my financial security increased after college. I certainly read way more things than I would have if I had had to pay for them all, and certain things that I read out of mild curiosity I definitely wouldn’t have paid for. But I now believe I would have bought at least 10% of what I read, though it’s hard to know which things, and now I try to be much more careful. I plan to go back and “donate” to the people I “stole” from in this way if I ever figure out which they were and how to do that. I don’t use my legal name here, so I’m not worried about getting in trouble, and I hope seeing my experience helps others avoid pirating in a way that, I believe, is in fact unethical, while still not letting their financial situation limit what they read. Pay when you otherwise would, pirate when you wouldn’t, I say, essentially. A related consideration is that, maybe you spend your free time pirating a whole bunch of things that you would never buy, but if you couldn’t pirate, then maybe you WOULD buy something to spend your time on, just something else entirely. Then the piracy is harming the people who made THAT thing, even though it’s not a thing you’re pirating. Or maybe it’s just wrong to benefit from someone’s labor without giving them something “fair” in return, even if the labor would have happened in any case. If so, it’s not clear how to find out how much is fair, and our economic system generally doesn’t even try, so this wouldn’t be a...

I was so excited to come in here and buy some Christmas presents for my family this year! The store is stunning and I had heard so many great things about It. I walked in and was thrilled to see such a vast collection of all different types of books. I normally do not write negative reviews but after my experience today I felt I had to in hopes that they could be kinder to the next shopper in there. I was hoping to get some advice on new Fiction thriller novels and when I went up to the man and woman working behind the counter they just stared at me, never came out from behind the counter, and told me they didn’t know of any (the store was not busy there were maybe 2 other people there). I gave them the benefit of the doubt seeing as maybe It was too niche of a category that I was looking for. So I decided to look around some more and then I went up to them again. I was looking for autobiographies by famous actors…i asked if they had any autobiographies by comedians or just beat sellers. I was once again met with dumbfounded looks- the woman said “you can look there or maybe over there” and led me to a section and walked away with no other help. At this point I was getting a little frustrated seeing as there’s usually a little more guidance in bookstores when you’re asking about specific categories. I asked them “is there anyone here who could maybe help me find these books that I’m asking about” and they told me “no one else is working right now”. I finally gave up on trying to find a book for myself and went up to the counter to purchase the coffee table book I had found (on my own when i first walked in). I set the book down and the man working the register didn’t even look up at me. He just said “that will be $103” so I paid and he said “would you like a bag?” I said “yes please” and he then set the bag on top of the book and slid my receipt to me. He couldn’t even be bothered to put my purchase in the bag?? I wasn’t even going to write a review about their poor customer service until he did this. I packed the bag up and said thank you to the man and he once again didn’t even say a word to me. I am truly shook that a bookstore so well known and adored would have such unhelpful/rude customer service. I hope that this was just a fluke and that my next experience in the store is...

Rizzoli Bookstore in New York is a vintage, old-school gem that every book lover should visit. Stepping inside feels like entering a bygone era, with its high ceilings, wooden shelves, and that unmistakable old-New-York ambiance that’s both elegant and nostalgic. The store layout invites exploration, with several distinct sections to peruse, including a fantastic Italian-language collection that highlights the store’s rich heritage.

The selection here is thoughtfully curated, blending popular titles with unique, hard-to-find books you won’t see in larger chains. I was delighted to discover The Overstory by Richard Powers, which had been on my list for ages, alongside Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, a beautiful and deeply insightful work recommended by one of the staff members. Both have become personal favorites, thanks to the wonderful guidance of the Rizzoli team.

The art and photography book section is a standout, offering visually stunning volumes that make perfect gifts or coffee-table additions. On a recent trip, I picked up Vivian Maier: A Photographer’s Life and Afterlife, a breathtaking collection that captures the mystery and beauty of Maier’s work. Rizzoli’s variety across art, architecture, and fashion books is fantastic and feels refreshingly unique compared to typical bookstores.

The staff here are true book enthusiasts who genuinely enjoy helping customers find hidden gems or rediscover old favorites. They’re knowledgeable, passionate, and add to the store’s warm, inviting atmosphere, making it a memorable experience every time.

Rizzoli is more than just a bookstore; it’s a place to savor the joy of books, art, and culture in a setting that feels untouched by time. For anyone who loves discovering books in person rather than online, Rizzoli offers an experience that’s hard to beat—a true haven in the heart...