Grey Matter is heaven in a used bookstore! It has such a large and extensive collection of titles in every category. I am particularly impressed by its offerings in art, theology, philosophy, literary theory, and literature. (Where else could I find, to my delight, a copy of Julia Kristeva's Desire in Language, which was a work cited and consulted in my master's thesis so many years ago? It was like bumping into an old friend.) Some first editions reside inside glass display cases. Academic titles abound. The store is impeccably organized and there are no boxes of incoming titles obstructing one's view or path. They have a pile of free books near the door and a rack of titles for $1.00 each both outside as well as inside. Grey Matter is a must when book shopping in New Haven. (And I think I'll be back to pick up that title by Kristeva!) read more

Our bellies were full and we needed to burn off some calories while in downtown New Haven, so my friends took my wife and I over to Grey Matter Books since we are big readers and don't care to just walk into the Barnes and Noble down the street. From the moment you walk into this place you are slapped in the face with the lovely smell of used books. This shop is filled from front to back with thousands of used books all separated in little sections. This place definitely doesn't have a ton of newer titles, but is definitely the type of place you can spend an hour or so in just digging through everything and finding some weird and quirky reads. Overall, Grey Matter Books is a very solid used book store with a wide array of different types of books. Although I didn't leave with anything (I live in LA so I can only travel with so many new books, which is a shame) this place is definitely somewhere I'll continue to stop at when visiting Connecticut in the future. read more

Grey Matter Books - I found so many more books. - Used Bookstore Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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I had been to their "main" (original?) store in Massachusetts, and was so excited to see them as I drove through New Haven. In fact, even though they were not participating in the Dessert Crawl I was there for, they were my first stop. I made such a smart decision. This store has the same type of fantastic inventory you find in Massachusetts, just fewer ducks guarding it. Every space that can reasonably hold a book shelf has one. It's clean, well faced, and has the occasional folding chair to sit and take it all in. The clerk let people browse quietly, which was more appreciated. The prices were written on the inside cover, so it was nice and clear. I'm excited to go back for the next Crawl and include this store as a stop! read more

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Great selection. Organized. The person who checked me out was very kind. I got a like new and decently popular book for $5. Definitely worth checking out! read more

Such a cute place! They have a rotating selection of $1 books sold outside of the bookstore, too - you'll see quite a few students stopping by. read more

Any used bookstore that has a copy of an English translation of Macrobius' Commentary on the Dream of Scipio is first rate! A clean well lighted place. read more

Be sure to have lots of time to browse because there are many books. If you are looking for books in certain categories then this will be a quick trip since there aren't many books in each category. Each section is well organized. Thank you staff. I did notice a larger selection in Arts Section. Also, there are a few chairs in the store to sit and read. read more

Great selection of books and a helpful staff. Grey matter reminds me of the old New Haven before downtown turned into a mall. Thank you Grey Matter! read more

I stopped in here after hearing that they had a good selection of used books and was so excited to see all the shelves! The inside was a good size and had a great selection of non-fiction books. Their fiction was a little small but they still had some to browse through. I'd recommend a stop in if you love books. read more

Neat, clean, well-organized, and packed full of carefully selected and affordably priced volumes, this bookstore offers a much needed shoring-up to New Haven's crumbling independent used book store scene. From the wonderfully arcane to the dazzlingly scarce, walking through the book-lined walls of each room of this elegant little shop points the browser to books no internet algorithm could hope to proffer. Likewise, seekers with specific interests will be rewarded by finding unusual and scarce books on the subject of their obsession, or alternatively, that singular title which has eluded them for so very long. Also, the seller of books will find an eager buyer for their collection, small or large (though a review of the buying guidelines on their website is a very good idea.) And the prices are fair, though condition is really of the utmost importance (so, readers, treat your books well!) The owner of this shop also owns a 'warehouse-style' location in Hadley, Massachusetts, which must be seen to be believed (pack a lunch--it's huge bordering on vast!) In short, this New Haven shop is a great book-hunting destination in a city which has lacked them for too long. read more

One of the truly great bookstores is Grey Matter in Hadley, MA. So thrilled that there's now an outpost in New Haven. It runs the gamut from reading copies to rare treasures. Expertly selected. Comfortable and convenient. read more

Grey Matter Books is the latest addition to the York St. plaza. It's nondescript but step inside and you'll find walls lined with used and new books. All the works I picked up were in pretty great condition and the genres run aplenty Each volume is selected and fairly priced by the owner, some for as little as a dollar! The best part? There are a couple of padded reading nooks within that offer a space for you to get lost in between the pages. It was the perfect way to end an afternoon of wandering the Yale area. read more

This is a fantastic bookstore for true bibliophiles and anyone looking for something completely different. It reminds me of some of the great used book stores that New Haven used to have in the 90's and earlier, but with a more eclectic and better curated selection. Some older volumes that I thought would be outrageously priced were well within reach. The space is attractive and great for browsing. Please visit and help to keep them in business - a real gem. read more