Chapter 1: “In the Beginning…”
The book opens with Shaun Bythell, our narrator, introducing himself and his little bookshop The Bookshop in Wigtown. He further goes on to explain what inspired him to open up his bookshop, as well as the expectations and initial difficulties he experienced. We learn how he had to start from the ground up, stocking shelves, organizing inventory, and working hard to build up the bookshop’s reputation. Through his struggles with bookselling, Bythell gives an insight into the business of bookselling, highlighting the trials and tribulations that come with it.
Chapter 2: “Living The Dream”
In this chapter, Bythell gives us a broader overview about the bookselling industry and how it works. Highlighting different booksellers, trade organizations, and communities within the industry, Bythell also offers advice to aspiring booksellers. He goes into details about the importance of networking and attending book fairs, how to differentiate between books, and how to price inventory, giving readers a comprehensive overview of what bookselling and book buying entails.
Chapter 3: “Time Is Money”
In chapter three, Bythell talks about the different techniques for pricing and selling books. We learn about the ins and outs of pricing a book, including the importance of research, offering discounts, and factoring in shipping costs. Bythell also mentions the difficulties of pricing rare books. He talks about having to attend book auctions, research for catalogs, and determining the right amount of knowledge to give the customers in order to turn a good profit.
Chapter 4: “This Ain’t No Library”
This chapter focuses on the everyday life of a bookseller. Bythell gives readers an insight into the true hardships of novel bookselling, including the constant time restraints and difficulties in dealing with customers. He also gives us a look into the realities of customer interactions, such as the unique personalities, their preferences, and petty disputes. Bythell also touches on the struggles of acquiring rare titles due to their limited availability. Bythell openly shares all the successes and difficulties of bookselling, painting an honest picture of the life of a bookseller.
Chapter 5: “Thorns in My Side”
Bythell dives into a few of the book store’s consistent customers in the chapter, both good and bad. He talks about the customers who stopped by the shop weekly, always buying books despite the often steep prices. On the other hand, he discussed the customers who were not so pleasant, including a customer who attempted to haggle for a low price in exchange for a “favor”, and another who attempted to return a book he had already ruined. Through these stories, we get a better understanding of the real customers that visit a bookseller’s shop.
Chapter 6: “The Crazy Ones”
In this final chapter, Bythell gives us a good account of the craziest customers he has ever encountered. These customers whom he refers to as “the crazies” are people whose interests are far and wide, including customers who only buy books by a certain publisher and one customer who literally wanted to fill his house with books from the shop. We get a glimpse into the eccentricities of the customers, and how challenging it could be to meet their needs.
Overall, The Diary of a Bookseller is an interesting and deeply personal look into the world of bookselling from the eyes of a bookseller. Through every chapter, Bythell enlightens readers with his insights and experience, from storytelling bookselling’s highs and lows, to detailing the industry’s intricacies and nuances. Along the way, Bythell gives us a better understanding of the bookselling business, while giving us a glimpse into the life of a bookseller.
