Bangkok Bookstores

[ricklee]

Can anyone tell me where the good used English language bookstores are in Bangkok? I just moved to Ranu Nakhon and I need a library desperately! I'll be in BKK next week and want to take an empty suitcase down with me to fill with books, something a bit meatier than Tom Clancy and John Grisham. Thanks!

[lazygourmet]

Can anyone tell me where the good used English language bookstores are in Bangkok? I just moved to Ranu Nakhon and I need a library desperately! I'll be in BKK next week and want to take an empty suitcase down with me to fill with books, something a bit meatier than Tom Clancy and John Grisham. Thanks!

Dasa Book Cafe

[bkkjames]

There are Asia Books everywhere and another good one is Kinkobuyuba or something to that effect.

[Gaccha]

The best firsthand bookstores (and they are only around 20% more expensive than secondhand so it is no big deal) are:

Kinokuniya at the Emporium--by far the best collection of English books in Thailand

Kinokuniya at Central World-- good English book collection and good Japanese collection

Kinokuniya at Paragon-- good English book collection and good Chinese collection

Bookshop next to Burger King on the east end of Khao San Road-- okay secondhand books' collection but the firsthand collection is excellent

But you are missing a trick:

... and the libraries have a much better collection than the bookshops.

My personal recommendations:

The Loss of Happiness in Market Democracies-- Robert E Lane

Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies-- Jared Diamond

The Selfish Gene-- Richard Dawkins

Historical Dynamics: Why States Rise and Fall-- Peter Turchin

Mathematical Models of Social Evolution: A Guide for the Perplexed-- Richard McElreath

Enjoy

Edited November 11, 2008 by soundman
Removed suggestion to violate the law.

[sunny747]

Hi, i work for a book distributor company usually for university and school. we have stocks but not for elder readers. If you want me to import with very little charge then please PM me.

[Gaccha]

My above post's most interesting point was censored as it was construed as recommending a violation of the civil (and possibly criminal) law of Thailand. That is partly my own fault as the way I wrote it hinted that it was illegal, but in fact my suggestion is wholly legal in Thailand.

I suggested that in the library you can have the book photocopied at 0.5 bahts a page and then bound for 20 bahts. This is a very cheap way of creating a book collection and also completely legal. The relevant Thai law on this states:

"Exceptions from Infringement of Copyright

Section 30 of the Copyright Act B.E. 2537 provides the exceptions from infringement of copyright, that is an act done in relation to the copyrighted work of another person by virtue of this Act shall not constitute an infringement of copyright, if done as follows:

1. 
   
   1. 
      
   2. research or study of the work, which is not done for making profit;
      
   3. use for one’s own benefit and/or use for the benefits of his family member, or close relatives; "
      

Enjoy.

[Ulysses G.]

I have a bookstore, but can not really imagine anyone wanting to keep photocopied books as a collection – no matter how cheap it is - until maybe when Armageddon rolls around.

[Gaccha]

I have a bookstore, but can not really imagine anyone wanting to keep photocopied books as a collection – no matter how cheap it is - until maybe when Armageddon rolls around.

You must be mildy metaphorically cacking your pants over the fourth generation electronic paper they have come up with: looks like a thin plastic newspaper.

It has all the resolution qualities of paper (a typical computer screen has 50 times less) so is very comfortable on the eye. Can be constantly updated, can be carried anywhere, can have 10,000 of books in its memory, does not require electricity except to update.

And the university libraries in Bangkok will scan to USB any book you want. This effectively brings an end to all bookshops.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Can anyone tell me where the good used English language bookstores are in Bangkok? I just moved to Ranu Nakhon and I need a library desperately! I'll be in BKK next week and want to take an empty suitcase down with me to fill with books, something a bit meatier than Tom Clancy and John Grisham. Thanks!

Dasa Book Cafe

Elite Book Store still open? An old one, 20++ years, 2nd hand books. Just down Sukumvit from Villa Market there near Soi 33. Sometimes a bit pricey.

Mac

[tw25rw]

I always look in B2S in Central World..

There's actually loads of bookshops selling English language books.

[soundman]

"Exceptions from Infringement of Copyright

Section 30 of the Copyright Act B.E. 2537 provides the exceptions from infringement of copyright, that is an act done in relation to the copyrighted work of another person by virtue of this Act shall not constitute an infringement of copyright, if done as follows:

1. 
   
   1. 
      
   2. research or study of the work, which is not done for making profit;
      
   3. use for one's own benefit and/or use for the benefits of his family member, or close relatives; "
      

Enjoy.

That is really interesting.

Any chance you could post (or PM me) more of the Copyright Act B.E. 2537 as I would love to read more on the aspects of what is legal and illegal to do with regards to copyright infringement in Thailand?

Cheers.

[somtampala]

... and the libraries have a much better collection than the bookshops.

I suggested that in the library you can have the book photocopied at 0.5 bahts a page and then bound for 20 bahts. This is a very cheap way of creating a book collection and also completely legal.

And the university libraries in Bangkok will scan to USB any book you want. This effectively brings an end to all bookshops.

Are you serious? You are opening the gates of heaven here for me.

Please forgive me if I'm asking stupid questions here (my aim is to finally be smart ;-) ):

• Where can I find a directory of libraries in Bangkok (or which libraries do you recommend most)?
  
• I can actually go to university libraries and ask them to scan a complete book onto my USB stick? How much is that? (Gees, I'm doing this myself with some books so I don't have to schlepp 10 kg of books around but can read them on my laptop)
  
• They copy for 0.5 THB per page (so 300 page book would be 150 baht)?
  

Guru Gaccha (I have to call you that way now), the thing I am missing the most in Bangkok is the libraries. And now you're telling me they actually have good libraries there?

In case Asia Books is a publicly traded company, I suggest now is the time to sell your Asia Book stocks, cause they're losing their biggest customer ;-)

Oh though enlightened Guru Gaccha, I can't hide my excitement.

Thanks,

Ben

Passionate Bookworm & Information Junkie

[Ulysses G.]

This effectively brings an end to all bookshops.

I've been hearng this on and off for the last 20 years, but most people still much prefer books and I and many experts expect that they will for quite some time.

[popshirt]

I know a few Thai librarians in Bangkok and they tell me that the book-copying scheme may be more trouble than it is worth. For one thing, there are no decent public libraries in Thailand at all. The colleges and universities are not interested in accommodating non-students or non-faculty. Most library workers seem to see their job as a "protector" of the books and present many barriers to browsing much less copying. Many academic libraries have limited or out-of-date English language materials.

The "library experience" here is nothing like what we expect to find in the west.

[bkkjames]

"Exceptions from Infringement of Copyright

Section 30 of the Copyright Act B.E. 2537 provides the exceptions from infringement of copyright, that is an act done in relation to the copyrighted work of another person by virtue of this Act shall not constitute an infringement of copyright, if done as follows:

1. 
   
   1. 
      
   2. research or study of the work, which is not done for making profit;
      
   3. use for one's own benefit and/or use for the benefits of his family member, or close relatives; "
      

Enjoy.

That is really interesting.

Any chance you could post (or PM me) more of the Copyright Act B.E. 2537 as I would love to read more on the aspects of what is legal and illegal to do with regards to copyright infringement in Thailand?

Cheers.

Yes, interesting topic, but in this case does he not have a point? I think its safe to say its not illegal to copy a cd to an mp3 or DVD to your computer for personal use, so I don't know if a book would be different?

[sbk]

Weekend market at Chatuchak, there are several booksellers in there selling used English books

[desi]

Dasa Book Cafe

Ditto Dasa. But be careful as they are not free.

(I've walked out with a shocker of a bill one time, grinning the next)

Compile your list of books. Google online prices. Grab the prices from Dasa. Waltz on over to the other known book stores in BKK (Asia books, B2S, Kiko's, etc).

As for copies... well... there's nothing like a real book. Second hand, or not.

Personal preference.

[mrtoad]

This effectively brings an end to all bookshops.

I've been hearng this on and off for the last 20 years, but most people still much prefer books and I and many experts expect that they will for quite some time.

Spot on

Nothing beats a proper book, and in a photocopied or whatever form it ain't going to be on my book shelf. Quite happy to take the copies of various bits and pieces, which have been available for years on ATHENS, but for actual books for pleasure rather than research no way.

Books rule!!

[ayayay]

Can anyone tell me where the good used English language bookstores are in Bangkok? I just moved to Ranu Nakhon and I need a library desperately! I'll be in BKK next week and want to take an empty suitcase down with me to fill with books, something a bit meatier than Tom Clancy and John Grisham. Thanks!

Dasa Book Cafe

Elite Book Store still open? An old one, 20++ years, 2nd hand books. Just down Sukumvit from Villa Market there near Soi 33. Sometimes a bit pricey.

Mac

Yes, still there (i think)

[jsdwd]

Can anyone tell me where the good used English language bookstores are in Bangkok? I just moved to Ranu Nakhon and I need a library desperately! I'll be in BKK next week and want to take an empty suitcase down with me to fill with books, something a bit meatier than Tom Clancy and John Grisham. Thanks!

Dasa Book Cafe. On Sukumvit a bit down from Emporium. Large selection and not only English titles; also German and French.

[Gaccha]

... and the libraries have a much better collection than the bookshops.

I suggested that in the library you can have the book photocopied at 0.5 bahts a page and then bound for 20 bahts. This is a very cheap way of creating a book collection and also completely legal.

And the university libraries in Bangkok will scan to USB any book you want. This effectively brings an end to all bookshops.

Are you serious? You are opening the gates of heaven here for me.

Please forgive me if I'm asking stupid questions here (my aim is to finally be smart ;-) ):

• Where can I find a directory of libraries in Bangkok (or which libraries do you recommend most)?
  
• I can actually go to university libraries and ask them to scan a complete book onto my USB stick? How much is that? (Gees, I'm doing this myself with some books so I don't have to schlepp 10 kg of books around but can read them on my laptop)
  
• They copy for 0.5 THB per page (so 300 page book would be 150 baht)?
  

Guru Gaccha (I have to call you that way now), the thing I am missing the most in Bangkok is the libraries. And now you're telling me they actually have good libraries there?

In case Asia Books is a publicly traded company, I suggest now is the time to sell your Asia Book stocks, cause they're losing their biggest customer ;-)

Oh though enlightened Guru Gaccha, I can't hide my excitement.

Thanks,

Ben

Passionate Bookworm & Information Junkie

The university libraries are much better than some quips in this topic suggest.

It's easy to find libraries, by doing this: go to one of the biggies (e.g. the Chula library or the huge underground Thammasat library), then access their library database. Besides checking to see what books they have, they will invariably list all other university libraries. And will also virtually always say if the other libraries have the books in stock.

Also, ignore the posts saying the librarians won't help. At no point in this process is a librarian needed, except to walk past the turnstile. The people doing the copying are specialist businesses, they have 6-10 youngsters lined up in a box shop wihtin the library (typically) to do any copying you want (whether it is scanning or copying). The price is as you have stated (around 150 bahts for a book).

So how many books do they have. Well, I checked to see if they have the Robert E Lane book that I recommended above, and it is sitting quietly in the economic department's library of Thammasat.

Of course, the university libraries are factual book biased, but then since I read no fiction (what's the point when there is so much facts to learn in life) I don't care.

Seriously... enjoy.

[Gaccha]

"Exceptions from Infringement of Copyright

Section 30 of the Copyright Act B.E. 2537 provides the exceptions from infringement of copyright, that is an act done in relation to the copyrighted work of another person by virtue of this Act shall not constitute an infringement of copyright, if done as follows:

1. 
   
   1. 
      
   2. research or study of the work, which is not done for making profit;
      
   3. use for one's own benefit and/or use for the benefits of his family member, or close relatives; "
      

Enjoy.

That is really interesting.

Any chance you could post (or PM me) more of the Copyright Act B.E. 2537 as I would love to read more on the aspects of what is legal and illegal to do with regards to copyright infringement in Thailand?

Cheers.

Yes, interesting topic, but in this case does he not have a point? I think its safe to say its not illegal to copy a cd to an mp3 or DVD to your computer for personal use, so I don't know if a book would be different?

This is getting very technical, but with a CD there are at least three different Intellectual Property Rights you are busily breaching when you you copy, which you are not doing with a book. For example, the design rights, the copyright on the lyrics, various trademarks littered across the CD.

Of course, from a CD to an MP3 for personal use is a different matter. I understand the US has a very vicious law that restricts format changes but for most countries it is generally legal.

The area of IP is where the money is. When you look at new laws, always ask who are the 'players', why do they want what they want. Many recent changes in USA and EU law are over pieces of law that were thought to be long ago settled.

This is an interesting area that you might want to read further (perhaps by copying a book or downloading an academic journal [for free] from a Bangkok library ) .

[seobangkok]

Amazon dot com

[desi]

Amazon dot com

Evil. And addictive...

A recent order for two books from the US to Thailand

(the UK has crazy prices for the same product so I order from the US).

Item(s) Subtotal: GBP 14.31

Shipping & Handling: GBP 10.08

Total for this Shipment: GBP 24.39

Ouch.

I haven't looked into prices for the same items in Thailand (too much running around with the possibilities of not finding all I want), so I'm not sure what the comparisons are / would be.

[asanee]

For NEW books-the usual chain stores; AsiaBooks, Kinokuniya, Bookazine (much smaller)-all have websites that detail the stores. I think Asiabooks in Siam Centre AND the original store in sukhumvit have the largest selection-otherwise all are much of the same.

For USED books-Chatuchak is mainly very old and 3d hand stuff-2 areas:-its NOt in the weekend section-just south and opens daily. mainly a waste of time-unless you have spare time to wait for your bus at nearby Mochit

1.around Elite-Sukh.vit sois 22 and aorund -a very few, like detailed

2.around bangLamPHu=that infamous Khao Sarn area-mainly 2nd hand-what travellers have left behind-many guidebooks of course. Hit and miss-but at least 5 big stores remaining (there were many more-bisnis is going down)

[BEENTHEREDONETHAT]

Can anyone tell me where the good used English language bookstores are in Bangkok? I just moved to Ranu Nakhon and I need a library desperately! I'll be in BKK next week and want to take an empty suitcase down with me to fill with books, something a bit meatier than Tom Clancy and John Grisham. Thanks!

Ricklee........Have you considered ebooks and a ebook reader. You don't have to leave home to get them and don't need a suitcase to carry them around. Have been toying with the idea myself, but I'm rather attached to having a library of my own. Although it would be easy to swap ebooks with others, just by downloading. If I could find enough people to swap with (thereby reducing the cost), I'd consider it.

Any thoughts or experience in ebooks?

[bkkjames]

Can anyone tell me where the good used English language bookstores are in Bangkok? I just moved to Ranu Nakhon and I need a library desperately! I'll be in BKK next week and want to take an empty suitcase down with me to fill with books, something a bit meatier than Tom Clancy and John Grisham. Thanks!

Ricklee........Have you considered ebooks and a ebook reader. You don't have to leave home to get them and don't need a suitcase to carry them around. Have been toying with the idea myself, but I'm rather attached to having a library of my own. Although it would be easy to swap ebooks with others, just by downloading. If I could find enough people to swap with (thereby reducing the cost), I'd consider it.

Any thoughts or experience in ebooks?

One, don't drop them in the bathtub.

[BEENTHEREDONETHAT]

Can anyone tell me where the good used English language bookstores are in Bangkok? I just moved to Ranu Nakhon and I need a library desperately! I'll be in BKK next week and want to take an empty suitcase down with me to fill with books, something a bit meatier than Tom Clancy and John Grisham. Thanks!

Ricklee........Have you considered ebooks and a ebook reader. You don't have to leave home to get them and don't need a suitcase to carry them around. Have been toying with the idea myself, but I'm rather attached to having a library of my own. Although it would be easy to swap ebooks with others, just by downloading. If I could find enough people to swap with (thereby reducing the cost), I'd consider it.

Any thoughts or experience in ebooks?

One, don't drop them in the bathtub.

Is that the voice of experience

[bkkjames]

Can anyone tell me where the good used English language bookstores are in Bangkok? I just moved to Ranu Nakhon and I need a library desperately! I'll be in BKK next week and want to take an empty suitcase down with me to fill with books, something a bit meatier than Tom Clancy and John Grisham. Thanks!

Ricklee........Have you considered ebooks and a ebook reader. You don't have to leave home to get them and don't need a suitcase to carry them around. Have been toying with the idea myself, but I'm rather attached to having a library of my own. Although it would be easy to swap ebooks with others, just by downloading. If I could find enough people to swap with (thereby reducing the cost), I'd consider it.

Any thoughts or experience in ebooks?

One, don't drop them in the bathtub.

Is that the voice of experience

Did try surfing the web on a mobile once while taking a bath. The phone rang - I dropped it, thankfully the only shock was the sticker price of replacing it.

Worse yet, don't drop your ebook or mobile while sitting on the toilet!

[thithi]

There are Asia Books everywhere and another good one is Kinkobuyuba or something to that effect.

it sounds like African bookstore, doesn't it?