City Lights is a landmark general bookstore, internationally known for our expert selection of titles and our commitment to free intellectual inquiry.

Founded in 1953 as the nation’s first all-paperback bookstore, we now offer both hardcovers and paperbacks from all of the major publishing houses, along with an impressive range of titles from smaller, specialty publishers. Our shop features an extensive selection of poetry, fiction, translations, politics, history, philosophy, music, spirituality, and more, with a staff whose special interests in many fields contribute to the hand-picked quality of what you see on the shelves.

Events

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Calendar of Events

Seagull Books at 40

Saturday, December 4, 2021, 11:00 am PST

Seagull Books at 40

City Lights celebrates the 40th Anniversary of Seagull Books with special guests Naveen Kishore joined by Nancy Naomi Carlson, Alain Mabanckou, and Khal Torabully.   Hosted by Peter Maravelis and Paul Yamazaki of City Lights

 

Virtual
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Hervé Le Tellier in conversation with Daniel Levin Becker

Sunday, December 5, 2021, 12:00 pm PST

Hervé Le Tellier in conversation with Daniel Levin Becker

Hervé Le Tellier discussing his new novel The Anomaly: A Novel published by The Other Press. Winner of the Goncourt Prize and now an international phenomenon, this dizzying, whip-smart novel blends crime, fantasy, sci-fi, and thriller as it plumbs the mysteries surrounding a Paris-New York flight.      

 

Virtual
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Poor Books/ Prensa POBRE Celebration

Tuesday, December 7, 2021, 6:00 pm PST

Poor Books/ Prensa POBRE Celebration

POOR BOOKS celebrates their 2021 fall releases with Audrey CandyCorn, Ingrid DeLeon, Lisa Ganser, Angel Heart, Muteado Silencio. and Val Vera. Hosted by Lisa Gray Gracia and Tongo Eisen Martin

 

Virtual
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Nancy Perloff in conversation with Antonio Sergio Bessa

Wednesday, December 8, 2021, 6:00 pm PST

Nancy Perloff in conversation with Antonio Sergio Bessa

A significant new collection of concrete poetry that redefines what this unique literary movement means today.

Virtual
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Christopher W. Shaw in conversation with Ralph Nader

Thursday, December 9, 2021, 6:00 pm PST

Christopher W. Shaw in conversation with Ralph Nader

Celebrating the release of First Class, published by City Lights, which investigates the essential role that the postal system plays in American democracy and how the corporate sector has attempted to destroy it.

Virtual
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Eduardo Berti with Daniel Levin Becker

Monday, December 13, 2021, 2:00 pm PST

Eduardo Berti with Daniel Levin Becker

City Lights in conjunction with Fern Books present Eduardo Berti reading from his new novel An Ideal Presence

Virtual
Event
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Amitav Ghosh in conversation with Raj Patel

Tuesday, December 14, 2021, 6:00 pm PST

Amitav Ghosh in conversation with Raj Patel

In his ambitious successor to The Great Derangement, acclaimed writer Amitav Ghosh finds the origins of our contemporary climate crisis in Western colonialism's violent exploitation of human life and the natural environment.

Virtual
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Gloria Gervitz with Mark Schafer

Wednesday, December 15, 2021, 6:00 pm PST

Gloria Gervitz with Mark Schafer

City Lights in conjunction with New York Review Books celebrate Gloria Gervitz's new collection of poetry MIGRATIONS

Virtual
Event
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Freeman's Love & Change Solstice Party!

Tuesday, December 21, 2021, 6:00 pm PST

Freeman's Love & Change Solstice Party!

Join John Freeman in a solstice celebration with Lina Meruane and Sayaka Murata reading from the LOVE & CHANGE issues of Freeman's

 

Virtual
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Gina Apostol in conversation with Malaka Gharib

Tuesday, January 18, 2022, 6:00 pm PST

Gina Apostol in conversation with Malaka Gharib

Join Gina Apostol in conversation with Malaka Gharib discussing her award winning debut novel Bibliolepsy

 

Virtual
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Hawa Allan in conversation with Pamela Sneed

Thursday, January 20, 2022, 6:00 pm PST

Hawa Allan in conversation with Pamela Sneed

A discussion exploring Hawa Allan's new book Insurrection: Rebellion, Civil Rights, and the Paradoxical State of Black Citizenship

 

Virtual
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Peter Richardson in conversation with David Talbot

Tuesday, January 25, 2022, 6:00 pm PST

Peter Richardson in conversation with David Talbot

celebrating the launch of the new book Savage Journey Hunter S. Thompson and the Weird Road to Gonzo  

 

Virtual
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John Nichols in conversation with Congressman Ro Khanna

Wednesday, January 26, 2022, 6:00 pm PST

John Nichols in conversation with Congressman Ro Khanna

A discussion exploring John Nichol's new book Coronavirus Criminals and Pandemic Profiteers: Accountability for Those Who Caused the Crisis

 

Virtual
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Jordan Stein and Bruce Hainley in conversation

Thursday, January 27, 2022, 6:00 pm PST

Jordan Stein and Bruce Hainley in conversation

Jordan Stein and Bruce Hainley discuss the life and afterlives of Jay DeFeo’s Estocada, a work created in the shadow of her masterwork The Rose  

 

Virtual
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Morgan Thomas in conversation with K-Ming Chang

Tuesday, February 8, 2022, 7:00 pm PST

Morgan Thomas in conversation with K-Ming Chang

Morgan Thomas's Manywhere features lush and uncompromising stories about characters crossing geographical borders and gender binaries    

 

Virtual
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Staff Picks

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