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

Wednesday, September 27, 2023, 6:00 pm PST

Karen Cook-Bell in conversation with Nikki M. Taylor

City Lights and Cambridge University Press celebrate the publication of two new books: Running from Bondage: Enslaved Women and Their Remarkable Fight for Freedom in Revolutionary America - by Karen Cook-Bell and Brooding over Bloody Revenge: Enslaved Women's Lethal Resistance - by Nikki M. Taylor- both books published by Cambridge University Press

Virtual
Event

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All of the sections you’ll find in our bookstore are available here for browsing!

Merchandise & Gifts

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