This is a book lovers paradise. Unbelievable selection of books, surprisingly good prices, and a store that I could spend days on end just browsing through. You might also run into some famous people here. I've seen a handful shopping for books during my visits here. It's one of the best book stores I've found in not just Chicago but the whole United States. read more

This is an excellent independent bookstore. They have an outstanding, and highly nuanced selection of books. I loved this bookstore when I was in high school, and 40 years later I still love it. read more

There was a cockroach in the bathroom. I felt uncomfortable in the gender free restroom for another reason, too, however: it had a stall but also a urinal - so a guy could come in there in the same room at the same time to pee! I don't even allow this with my husband!!! Very weird... it kind of turned me off from hanging out here longer, actually. read more

They have the most diverse selection of books I've ever seen. Every subject for the academic, a good variety of history and philosophy books, and contemporary fiction and nonfiction. There's some good seating inside the bookstore, and affordable souvenirs if that's what you're into. They have an amazing online selection as well, and offer a lifetime membership with many perks. read more

I've been a customer shareholder since 1974. Now that I write that, I wonder where my physical paper share document is. Not important. I've seen Nobel Prize Laureates, future Presidents and Supreme Court members browsing here. I've seen famous authors shopping here. I've seen obscure authors in here. I met the late Newt Minnow in here. These are the bookstores for scholars, thinkers, educators, policy makers, graduate students, those who wonder, those who wander, retired people, adventurers, shut-ins, dreamers, researchers, and revolutionaries. I've been in bookstores all over the world, and these are the best. read more

Wonderful well organized bookstore with interesting academic writings on issues of the day. They require masks, monitor numbers of people inside and take i to er pandemic era precautions. Prices are reasonable for the unique books on sale here, and we came out with an armful - 5 millions of interesting books - so little time to read stars read more

Seminary Co-Op Bookstores - A happy purchaser - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wow, such an unique bookstore. There is so many different book shelves, each shelf has it's own category which makes it easy to browse without getting overwhelmed. It has some seating sections around the book store, which allow you to read some of the book before purchasing or to just sit down. A good place to spend your day away. Plus there's a great cafe right next door (in the same building). read more

Cute little bookstore in Hyde Park with easy parking and lots of choices for adults and kids.

I first visited the Seminary Co-op Bookstore last September for an event (reading and book signing) with author Gary Shteyngart. The event was hosted at the bookstore itself and had the feel of a literary salon. It was easy to pre-order my book ahead of time and pick it up in-store. As other reviewers pointed out, this is a decidedly academic bookstore. It was illuminating to look at the titles on display as I waited for the event to start. I definitely felt smarter and more well-read for my experience here. I appreciate that this store offers a comprehensive roster of events, author talks, and Q&A/discussions. Pro tip: sign up for the Seminary Co-op's email list to receive advance notification of events and information on staff selections/front table picks. read more

Is this the best bookstore in the country? I make the pilgrimage every time I'm in this town and they never fail. All the new releases, everything from pop fiction to the most esoteric and beyond academic texts. They always have what I want and a TON more I didn't even know I wanted. Yes, this is the best bookstore in the country. read more

An excellent assortment of books for both curious book-lovers & the academics. The staff is knowledgeable and generous with their recommendations, you simply must ask & they were happy to share their knowledge. Found my next great read here! read more

I typically go to the 57th location, but they did not have the book I was looking for. I checked online and it said they had it here. A tip to people that know what they want before they step into the store--look online to see if they have the book in stock and their website will tell you if they have it at either location. If not, you can order it. It's also helpful to look online, so you can see what the book is categorized. The online category will match the category in the store. I knew what I was looking for, and found the book pretty quickly, but I still couldn't help to just walk around and browse. This store has so much quirkiness and character and the shelves are lined with great books, you can't help but just explore the aisles. Some of the shelves have a section on the side with recommendations. There's nooks and crannies with chairs, if you prefer to seclude yourself. There's also tables and chairs if you're here with a group.They accept cash and credit, and it's about a 2 minute walk from the 172 CTA bus stop in front of Booth. If you're looking for lunch afterwards, Plen Air cafe is right next to the store. The area in general is good if it's a nice Spring day. You can grab a book, a sandwich, and go have a picnic on the Quad. read more

Seminary Co-Op Bookstores - Inside the aisles of the Seminary Co-op bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Best bookstore in Chicago, full stop. One of the best in the country, easily. Making it one of the best anywhere. Come here first. read more

Seminary Co-Op is the academically minded sister to 57th Street Books. It has the clean, organized air of a campus bookstore, and it boasts an impressive selection of books. I spent my time browsing the fiction shelves, which were less comprehensive than 57th Street's but with a higher brow tilt. No separate categorizations for genre, just walls and walls of literature. I loved the way the shelves were arranged to create little reading coves, furnished with single chairs. I sat in a few of them and scanned all the titles at and around eye level. I ended up buying The Shawl by Cynthia Ozick and Dictee by Theresa Hak Kyung Cha. This was the first time I ever noticed Dictee in a bookstore. It had been on my reading list ever since I heard about this murdered Korean author who shared my last name. The book was pretty expensive for a paperback, but I was happy I'd tracked it down. I'd spend a good amount of time here if I were a Chicago student. It's well lit and there are tons of attractive books and comfortable places to sit. As a consumer I'd give the advantage to 57th Street but only by a hair. The two bookstores complement each other and make Hyde Park a great place to be a reader. read more

Best bookstore in Chicago if you're smart or want to become smart. The Front Tables are perfectly curated to put the best books in front of your face. If you can walk out with just one or two books you're a stronger person than me. read more

The Seminary coop bookstore is one of my very favorite bookstores in the country. It has academic books, biographies, and the types of history books that are hard to find at most other places. I always try to visit whenever in Hyde Park. read more

Despite my earlier negative experiences, after leaving HP for Pilsen and then Ravenswood, I'm now pretty confident that the Sem Co-Op has the best selection of books in the city. I used to take for granted being able to find anything I wanted here, from new to old, fiction to theory. Now, even when I go to bookstores that I really like, I rarely find specific books that I'm looking for, which I guess is just common sense when bookstores have limited space and need to cater to demand. At the Co-Op, the large space and diverse, committed customers allow the store to stock an incredible selection of books, which I've come to appreciate so much more since leaving HP. They've also made membership, which provides 10% back in store credit each month, free, whereas I think it was like $200 when I first shopped there. So, for being an independent bookstore selling new books at 10% off with the best selection in the city, I have come to love the Co-Op despite being upset by their policies and customer service in the past. read more

Great location here! Worth the trip to Hyde Park. During the day, you can go here for books and then without going outside, go to the Plein Air Cafe. It's an academic-focused bookstore and so carries works by faculty at the University of Chicago. It's a nice place to just browse for more scholarly/research-oriented nonfiction, though it's got plenty of other sorts of books. And it's got a textbook selection, not sure if non-students can buy from there. This used to be a sprawling underground maze, but has moved to a fancy new location on Woodlawn Avenue. Anyways, it is the sort of place you could spend hours, if you wanted. Probably nicer to visit during the school years when it's slightly busier, buses come more often, and perhaps in the warmer months of the year. read more

This is the greatest bookstore in Chicago, if you are interested in reading books that will improve your mind, rather than simply soak up spare time. An amazing selection, price points, and knowledgeable and friendly staff that are always helpful. They also have some truly interesting author events and discussions, which doesn't hurt. The selection of fiction, sociology, urban, and Africiana studies, media studies, and poetry sections are extremely well selected and stocked, particularly. read more

Thank goodness they've reopened. My favorite Chicago bookstore. I go back to the days when it was in a basement on University Ave. A wide variety of academic books across a wide array of disciplines but they also have an extensive supply of literature from across the globe. Truly a local treasure. read more

Of all the bookstores I've visited, this is one of my favorites. I love the variety and mix of offerings here, as well as the little nooks for relaxing and perusing books. You can easily get lost amidst the beautiful, yet simple, shelving. I found the organization and sectioning by genre to be very intuitive. As a moderately well-informed book enthusiast, there were a number of standard, best-selling titles I would expect to see alongside many that were new or completely unknown to me. I could easily spend hours just perusing and reading cover jackets here! There's a café attached and bathrooms inside the bookstore itself. I will always drop in if I'm in the area again! read more

It's the promised land. Next to the Harvard Bookstore, it's the best academic bookstore I've been to - special highlights include a great lit crit section, an extensive African American Studies section, and a well curated film studies section. They even have a smattering of very well chosen fiction (for more, head to 57th St Books). read more

Seminary is a pretty good bookstore but a great academic bookstore. They have a great curated selection in the front with lots of faculty books lining the immediate area. Outside of that, they have scores of academic books from all sorts of topics. Not really for someone looking for a ton of fiction but absolutely great for academia. read more

This may be the best bookstore I've ever been to. As soon as I walked in, I felt comfortable and happy. The store is large enough to give freedom to meander and get lost in the rows and rows of tall bookcases. When I walk into a bookstore, the two sections that I frequent the most are the comics/graphic novels section and the poetry section. The Seminary Co-Op Bookstore had a great selection in both. They also have a great selection of those nice slim essay/poetry/short story volumes that are just so nice to carry around in one's bag. Definitely make sure that you visit. If I am ever in the area again, I will definitely come back! read more

You've died and gone to book heaven. I cannot find the words to convey just how awesome this bookstore is, so I'll just have to leave it at that. Book heaven. Wow. Much selection. Very broad. You should visit. read more

This is the best bookstore in the city. I live on the north side and I periodically make a special trip to Hyde Park just to shop here. I'm an ex-academic turned writer, so my tastes are very diverse. The challenge here is always to make myself stop shopping when I start grabbing more than I can carry.Their fiction section is extensive and their philosophy section could easily be a one-stop shop for your comps reading list. Their classics section is nothing to sneeze at, either. Love this place. read more

This place has a great selection of books. It looses a star because the layout is confusing and difficult to navigate. This was done on purpose as a nod to their old location which was also confusing. Why they felt the need to hold onto the maze like layout it beyond me. Still, the staff is friendly and the place is clean. And as I said, the book selection is amazing. read more

Great selection of books in a beautiful location with plenty of comfortable chairs for lingering. I couldn't ask for more.

I have been buying my books from the Seminary Co-op and 57th Street for over 20 years and I have nothing but praise for all who work there! Best bookstore ever. read more

Certainly not as awesome as their sister store, 57th Street Books, but this store is still pretty great. Very academic, some of the staff is a bit pretentious, as one might expect. read more

How all bookstores should be! I could wander these aisle forever. Looks like some university kids have moved in to the comfy chairs by the windows. I can't blame them. Grab a coffee from the next door coffee shop. Love this place. Only downside, is no kids books here. Have to go to the 57th street location for that. read more