The most wonderful thing I've ever seen! If you have a single complaint about this place you might need to reevaluate your attitude, because there is simply nothing more amazing then any bastion of free knowledge open to the public and free of scrutiny or profit. Please donate books to this place, take books from this place, and work hard to make sure it exists forever! read more

This place is AMAZING. No, seriously, it's amazing. My co-worker told me about this place and I knew I had to check it out. When I got there, I was a little underwhelmed. My first thought "I drove 45 minutes for this place?" I parked, got out of the car, and the first thing I saw was a huge room filled with thousands of books in no particular order. Right as I started to go in, one of the volunteers pointed me to the correct entrance (duh -- there were also signs pointing to it as well). I walked about 10 steps into book heaven. This place was filled with even more books, organized by genre. My jaw literally dropped at the amount of books in this place. When you walk in, you're in the art, classics, self-help section. Walk towards the back, it'll lead you to a room completely dedicated to fiction. Beyond that, there's a room for politics, history, travel and a ton of other genres I can't even cover here. Like the other yelpers said, it's not a place to go to if you want a specific title. It's organized by genre, that's it. But it's a fantastic place to visit if you want to read someone new or stock up on Dan Brown novels. The books are free and you can take as many as you want. All you have to do is sign a sheet letting The Book Thing know how many you took. I think that the volunteers do a great job of making sure the books go under the category they belong in. So kudos to them, cause that sh*t isn't easy. Two things you should know. There's no heat/ac or bathroom. But who cares? Wear a parka/shorts and piss before you get there. read more

How can you NOT rate this place 5 stars? It's a warehouse of FREE books, totally volunteer run. Great finds if you're willing to dig around for a while. Reducing ignorance [via knowledge] and materials from landfills--I'll take it! Sure, it's only open on the weekends and a bit off-the-beaten-path, but like I said...everything is free. If there was a restaurant offering large quantities of free pizza, would you gripe that you prefer thin-crust or that there's no bathroom? I might, because I'm a complainer--but I don't have to go to the book thing, just like they don't have to exist or give me free stuff. Please feel free to volunteer or donate if you think it should be open more often, cleaner, have more variety or quality materials, etc.! read more

The Book Thing is one of the coolest things about Baltimore. Looking to impress out-of-town guests? Bring them here and tell them they have their pick of the litter. Guaranteed to impress. Granted, the shelves tend to be overrun with Microwave Oven Cookbooks and Dan Brown novels but it's free! If you give yourself enough time to browse you're sure to find something that will catch your fancy. Just bring hand sanitzer because this place will leave you feeling grimy. read more

How can you possibly give a place that literally hands out books for free anything less than 5 stars?!? Sure, it might not be organized for you to find things easily and the shopping experience isn't the aesthetically-pleasing Barnes and Noble experience you'll get 15 minutes away from here...but it's FREE! I'd definitely recommend devoting a good amount of time (and some of your own book donations!) to this place. You can find some good gems if you look hard enough...or just pick out some random selections from a category you like with no real risk! read more

I can't even believe a place as awesome as this exists! Free books! I have been here so many times and each time I probably leave with 50+ books. I don't get why people are complaining in reviews saying the place is dirty or hot or crowded or whatever. Like, shut up jerk. Go somewhere else if you don't like FREE books! read more

You have $7 in your pocket and it has to last you until payday. What do you do? You go to Baltimore Book Thing and you pick up as many books as you can. Then you go home and you read them. You still have your $7 to put toward that parking ticket that you got when you left your car in front of McGerks and went home with that amusing nerdy brunette with a fitted Star Wars shirt on. Or maybe it's reversed and you went home with that tousled haired, kind of emo guy with shutter shades and plaid shorts. The important thing that I'm getting at here is that Book Thing is free and you'll love it if you like reading. hell, even if you don't like reading, you may still like Bookthing. Looking for CLiffNotes on that novel your teacher is trying to cram down your throat? You may not like reading but you'll like the fact that you had to read a little less and there might even be the notes for a paper in the margins. Lucky you. Any time I have company in town, I drag them to Book Thing. The journey has everything you could want. You see crack addicts and homeless people on Barclay and Greenmount, you get to play the "Where's the Chicken and Lake Trout Establishments?" game, and you get to experience something completely unique for absolutely no cost. read more

Another teacher at my school clued me in about The Book Thing a few weeks ago, but I was skeptical. "Surely, you jest. Free? As in... nothing? What's the catch?" Well, finally, I worked up the courage to make the drive up to Baltimore to check out this mysterious free book non-store. As the GPS brought us closer to our destination, the neighborhood appeared a little sketchy. My partner in crime said "Let's make this quick." I couldn't help but agree. The entrance to The Book Thing is as unassuming as the neighborhood. Inside, there are three consecutive rooms subdivided into genre sections. Within those sections, it is a free-for-all. I found a few useful professional books among some incredibly dated ones. The general fiction section takes time, but can be mined for hidden treasures. We struck up conversations with other patrons, and formed a makeshift combing alliance. "Oh, you're looking for this? Well, I'm trying to find this." This unexpected social aspect was quite fun. One of the staff members noticed that I had a few science fiction books (my students' focus genre this year), and recommended another collection that had just come in. When you leave, you count your books, and sign the logout sheet. It's painless! Pros: - Free books - Friendly staff - Easy, free parking - Adventure (you never know what you will find) - Free books (so good, I'm telling you twice) Cons: - Warehouse smells a little like cat urine - Sketchy neighborhood read more

Hands down, bar none, best place in Baltimore. Better than the VAM, better than Ft. McHenry, better than Camden Yard. Free books. As many as you want. Open every weekend. Is this a great idea, or what? I used to live in the neighborhood this place is in. I don't think of it as a bad neighborhood. So don't let the comments about "sketchy" put you off. It's urban, yeah, but so what? I donated a whole bunch of books here. I hope some of them were valuable enough to sell. It helps to declutter books knowing donated books will go into the hands of someone who will love them. read more

Holy free books batman! I had a bunch of books I wanted to get rid of and this was the perfect place to donate my books! I felt like they were going to a better place than if I had donated them to Good Will. This place was larger than I expected, but man it was really hot in there. It is what it is. Its a pretty cool place. I will definitely bring a tote bag next time I come here. I was dumb and didn't bring one the first time. read more

This place is a thrift shop for books. But they are even better than any thrift shop you'll go to because it's free. Entirely free. You can walk out of there with six boxful of books FO' FREE! Seriously though, if you are a bibliophile, this place is your mecca, your Disneyland, your happy place. The selection of books might be hit or miss but you are guaranteed to walk away with something. Here are a few tips to help you navigate through this majestic place of FREE BOOKS - Come early. They open at 9 and The Book Thing veterans will be lined up before opening to make sure that they get the first choice of books. - Bring a bag or something to put your books in. I suggest a tote bag or a reusable bag, something that is sturdy and can carry a lot of things. It'll help you when you look around and it will just make your life easier. - You will probably need to do a few laps around the shelves before finding something. The volunteers do re-stock and I've had to walk around the same area a few times before finding something. It be really overwhelming when you first get there because there are SO MANY books to choose from so you need to have the patience to sift through the shelves. read more

The book thing is the most fantastic place!!! Thousands upon thousands of used books in four large rooms!! Super friendly volunteers and everything is free!!! Don't park in the other warehouses parking lots, you will get towed! If you love books, it is imperative that you make your way to the book thing! read more

This place is magical. I walked away yesterday with at least 4 years' worth of Martha Stewart Living magazines, 5 good-condition story books for my nephew and a handful of Sociology texts that are so old and so long out of print that they're basically only exist in the discipline's oral history. Last year, previous visits have resulted in inanely illustrated cookbooks, vintage gardening texts and Nothing like this exists anywhere else I've ever been. Only in Baltimore. I place this on my personal list of best landmarks in America. I've also dropped off many a book here, as well. Books at the Book Thing tend to be treated with care (with the exception of the children's book bins which get destroyed quickly). Of course, this is not the place to go during a heat wave, as my boyfriend learned yesterday. When the temperature outside is over 100, the Book Thing becomes the Furnace Thing and you will sweat buckets. I recommend bringing a canvas bag (like those used for grocery shopping) to help you carry out your haul while there. read more

The few times I've been I haven't found anything worth taking home. It's a great idea--free books! But I've heard (from multiple trusted sources) that the owner(s) go through the books, pick out the good stuff (1st editions, hard-to-find titles, brand new books), and sell them on eBay and book auction sites. So it's not like if you drop off some great books they'll wind up in the hands of someone who doesn't have any money. If you drop off stuff that can fetch a good price on eBay, you're supporting the Book Thing, but maybe not in the way you think. read more

This is a bookstore without a coffee shop, without bank of couches to browse your selections, and most importantly without a cash register. The books are loosely organized by genre. If you walk in with a list of things you want you'll be disappointed, but if you're just looking for a few things to sample and try you'll be all set. Watch where you park, I've gone a few times and have seen police writing tickets. read more

BEST THING IN BALTIMORE. Free books, as many as you want, an easy atmosphere, open all the time. Free for those who don't have the money for books they love, explorers, and donors alike. read more

What's better than free books? Free sex? Free pizza?? Free Beer??? OK-Yeah those are all up there.... Expect to get a little musty and dusty when you plan your visit. Just remember to bring some canvas bags, a box, strong children...something you can use to carry books and make it a great day. They got everything, and the best part, (besides being free) is that they TAKE THE TIME to CATAGORIZE THE BOOKS! Unbelievable!! I feel so good about this place, that I regularly give them a donation...of used books, naturally! read more

This is a great place to check out if you have time to meander through the various shelves here to browse. The Book Thing is a free book exchange. Take whatever you like out (just be sure to make a note of it on the clipboards by the entrance/exit). However, next time bring in a few books or magazines you're not using anymore. This is a great place to donate reading materials. I wouldn't really recommend going during the hot summer days, because this place doesn't have AC. So, it can get really hot and stuffy in there. Just be sure you have plenty of time to look. There are great books to be found, but you just have to be patient and lucky to spot them off the bookshelves before someone else does! Parking situation can be a bit tough, as it's mostly street and their small parking lot (located near the entrance). Do not park in the large (fairly empty) parking lot behind the place; you will get towed! read more

I can't believe no one has reviewed the book thing yet! But it will be an honor to be the first, and give it five glowing stars. First off, the book thing is filed under shopping, but it's really a category of its own. Especially because you can't buy anything there. You can, however enter this amazing warehouse, filled with books and bustling volunteers, browse through books in endless bookstore-like sections, and leave with PILES AND PILES of books for not a penny at all. The book thing accepts donations of books, and encourages people to visit and take as many books as they can read. And you will always find something. Oh, there is so much to be found! I found a falling apart vintage children's book with the most amazing drawings. I found literature classics I've always wanted to read. I found books I actually needed for school. I found books with hilarious titles that served to amuse whole groups of people. I returned many of those when I left town, and felt great about not having to throw anything away. This is a wonderful place to donate to, volunteer at, and spent a weekend afternoon browsing and finding unexpected things. I wish every city had a book thing! read more

Even if the Book Thing had nothing I liked, I'd give it five stars for the fact that everything it offers is free. I mean, you'd have to be particularly obnoxious to complain about THAT. However, it often DOES have something I want. It's not making my house any emptier, unfortch. That's its only downside. When I organized a performance of The Vagina Monologues a couple of years ago, I came to the Book Thing and loaded up on feminist literature and women's fiction that seemed relevant for a big book giveaway in the lobby. There was not a single book left after the show was finished. Since they now own the building, though, I'm surprised that they haven't put up a mural of some variety on the front. I would think there would be plenty of people willing to help paint some of their favorite titles on their favorite book "store". Sign me up if you hear of them deciding to do this. Hooray Book Thing! read more

How could you give it anything less than 5 stars?! Everything is free! Shelves upon shelves of books and magazines of all types. Did I mention that they're all free? You can take as many items as you want. The place is open on Saturdays and Sundays only, hours are 9a - 6p. Due to the sheer volume, it takes awhile to shift through to find items of personal interest. It's a little dusty and musty but what do you expect? Oh, and while you're there, drop off your used, unwanted books and share the wealth! read more

I was walking through " Vineyard " street when I see " The Book Thing " Banner, The sign attracted me and bought my attention, I love reading so I decided to enter the store to buy a book, After entry I have been shocked when I know that ( the books is for free ), do you know what I mean BOOKS FOR FREE !! .. Whataaa... are you kidding me !! Meanwhile after I wake up from the shock.... I take a round for choosing the favorite book, and I did, There are a lot of kinds of book that you can compares between them, take what you want it's for free . Furthermore the friendly staff, they are staffed by volunteers it seems like a charity work, they helping you, giving advice and always smiling, don't forget the easy and free parking, Also you can see that the store is systematic by a different sections like religion, philosophy, education, poetry , history etc ... The most amazing thing they are opening in the weekends , awesome right , so I can't wait until next weekend to heading to the most affirmative place in Baltimore, MD to select the choosing books and take it home . I give you a 5 stars and all my respect . read more

OMG we spent 3 hours here finding some amazing reads! We are from Rhode Island and don't have anything like this up here. Everything is well organized and staff is very helpful. We left with two boxes of books!! Even found a Game of thrones book :) thank you!!! read more

It's free. So you basically get what you pay for. Recommended unless you're a discerning reader. Good luck to them, I'll stop by to donate books which are actually worth reading and it's something other people should do. Not just donate things that need to be recycled. I'm sure I look like an arsehole after everyone's been raving about it. read more

I'm not sure what anybody could find to be bad about this place. I mean, even if you were blind, you could have a friend read you the books that are picked up from here. FOR FREE. This place is an absolute treasure for anybody who even remotely likes to read. Besides being free, this pace keeps a relatively organized, quickly circulating (most likely due to its gargantuan, Brobdingnagian) selection of books of all sorts of types, ranging from fiction to nonfiction to technical to reference. There's even a recommended reading section for those who are looking for something exciting but are unsure of what to choose from. Your biggest problem coming here will probably be committing to which books you want to take home this time. That, or being able to physically carry all the books away from here. read more

I absolutely love this spot! During the summer or a rare weekend day off I really enjoy browsing the stacks and taking a well-loved book or two home. They have books on every imaginable subject and it's usually the first place I go to if I want to learn about something new and unusual. It's a crap chute as far as finding the new NYTB that you're dying to read, but usually you can find multiple copies of popular stuff from the past few months/years without a problem. It's also great because there's no monetary risk! And I love that I can bring it back (or not, if I really enjoyed it!) the next time I come. It's like a library without late fees! I also think the staff there is quite friendly and helpful. Of course it depends on the day, and I believe they work on a volunteer basis, but everyone I've interacted with there was very nice and helpful. The surrounding area is not too great and parking can take a few loop arounds on busy days, but all in all it's FREE BOOKS so really who can complain?! read more

One of the amazing gems of Baltimore, The Book Thing is a warehouse-sized gathering of books that you can explore and cull through...and then take home as many of your treasures as your little heart desires for free. Yes, the books are free. Books are organized into loose sections (eg, American history, fiction, classics, Spanish, psychology), but no amount of organization would make it possible for you to get in and out in less than an hour. The experience is just that mesmerizing. Boxes and bags are often provided or you can just bring your own. And, if you want to let go of some of your own stash of books or magazines, The Book Thing is a wonderful place to donate to--keeping the book karma going. read more

"Thrift store that sells books, for free" 5 Stars solely based on what the Book Thing promotes: the recycling of literature (and therefore knowledge)! I found this place a year and half ago looking for a place to donate some books I had. It came up on google maps and sounded interesting. Visiting it was one of the best impulse decisions I had made in a while. Park, walk-in, drop books, pick up books. Pretty simple. If only libraries could work this way... read more

Okay, so you are probably not going to find the latest books here and some have seen better days but you cannot have a problem with free books. I found a few books for my daughter and a few things for myself. I was halfway tempted to pick up the financial guide for living in the 1980's just to see what it had to say. The place is cold in the winter time so bring a coat. Despite this, it is worth checking out. Pick up your box and start browsing folks! read more

EVERYTHING IS FREE!!! No joke, and don't ask twice because after years of good deeds the creator is kind of bitter about people lack of belief he'd (or anyone) would do such a thing as give away books. I completely understand and sympathize. To show my appreciation I take a trunk load of books, magazines, audio-books... They have website www.bookthing.org for details but this place has grown to warehouse size and has all sorts of whatever you are looking for! Spend all day! - Weekend day - Run by volunteers see? - they do accept donations - Thanks for your time. read more

What is not to like about The Book Thing. I mean FREE BOOKS, you can't beat a deal like that. Granted if you are going there to look for a specific title, well you're gonna be disappointed. But for the breadth of subjects, your sure to find something that perks your fancy and perhaps find a diamond in the rough. On top of it they accept books as donations. So you're giving a chance to recycle your books to someone else. They also welcome volunteers, which i have done several times on Wednesday (a day in which they are not open), which allows you the chance to get the first crack at the books for donating an hour or two your time to shelving and sorting the book. It's a great service to the community, to Baltimore, to book lovers, and to literacy. read more

You just can't beat free. The Book Thing is an awesome resource for anyone in the area. Each time we go, it is an adventure as to what we will find. School textbooks, comics, recipe books on French cuisine; its all there. There is also a lovely little reading garden nearby to peruse your new finds. read more

What's not to love about free books? The surrounding location is a bit sketch and parking can be tight, but definitely worth the time to check it out! It can be a bit overwhelming at first, but there is good signage and posted maps on the bookshelves of the general categories. The place itself is a bit grungy, and books aren't organized well within each category, so be ready to spend some time browsing but it makes it all the more sweeter when you find an awesome book! I found several childhood gems and walked out pretty happy. Can't wait to come back! read more

I have to give this place high reviews simply because of the concept of the place! Tons of free books. My complaint is that I come in looking for children's books and there selection has always been pretty small. They do have lots of great books though and I love the fact that it is free and you can take as much as you want. wonderful concept. read more

So, second time here. The staff was nicer this time and offered to help me unload all of my old college textbooks, so that was a plus. I remembered not to bring anything but plain boxes, because you won't get them back. Be aware that when you come to browse in the summertime, the place is not air-conditioned. You're going to be dripping sweat by the time you leave. Combine that with the old, musty smell/feel of books, and it could make for a pretty clammy and unpleasant feeling after you're done. Bring hand sanitizer - lots of it. No organization of any kind in there, so if you're looking for books to be organized by author's name, etc., think again. You're going to have to search for what you want, but there's a lot in there - you're bound to find something you like. We didn't find a whole lot this time, which was a bit of a disappointment, but I also couldn't stand the heat in there - it was seriously stifling in there to the point where I felt kind of sick, so maybe I didn't look hard enough. Still, free books. That's always a good thing. Rating remains the same due to the heat in there and the slightly smarmy feeling that I had upon exiting. The staff gets a bit higher of a rating, though. A worthy place to while away an afternoon, in any case. read more

If ever you suspect that this world is running out of awesomeness, pay The Book Thing a visit. Free books. A lot of them. End of story. read more

I LOVE The Book Thing. Not only is it a place where it is completely free and legal to go in and leave with whatever books you want, but they have an amazing selection. I've walked out with cookbooks, textbooks, John Grisham novels, and travel guides. It is truly an amazing place and I tell everyone I know about it. Two things to remember before visiting: 1). It gets kinda hot in there, so definitely dress lightly. 2). The books are organized by topic, but you have to have at least 20-30 minutes blocked out to look around. read more

As everyone else has mentioned this is the place to come for FREE books - it's an incredible service to the city and I'm grateful to have benefited from it! A few things new visitors should know: there is no bathroom so go before you come. As others have alluded to, the building has no ac in the summer and is colder in the winter so dress appropriately. Also make sure you come with plenty of time to browse! The wonderful volunteers do their best to keep the large volume of book organized but it can a bit hit or miss. Their largest/best section is probably fiction and they do have both paperback and hardback books. If you're looking for a way to check out some new authors without too much of a commitment this is the place to go! read more

How can you not give a free bookstore 5 stars? I absolutely love this place and thing its a wonderful 'edition' to Baltimore. :) Yes, I know it should be addition - but puns are fun! read more

My mom took us here recently and we had a genuine book orgy. We grabbed perhaps 100 really awesome books on topics such as boats, psychology, true crime, fiction, and biographies. Some books were old some books were new. The organization of this Free Book place (is this heaven?) is equally awesome. Devoted volunteers have this place meticulously organized. The fact that the building looks like a soup kitchen? Don't let that deter you. Is it a little grimy? Yeah, but it offers free books and empty boxes for you to haul them in. The grime just adds authenticity. I am grateful that I was able to get about 40 books for me and a local library. Thank you Book Thing. You are truly awesome. read more