"Among the most irascible and amusing bookseller memoirs I've ever read."
–Dwight Garner, THE NEW YORK TIMES "For anyone who has ever dreamed of owning a bookstore. Bythell's hilarious account will have those in the industry crying and those otherwise employed dropping their resume off at their local indie."
–THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE "Bythell writes with biting humor . . . [He] is a man on a mission, and a year seen through his eyes convinces the reader that it is a mission worthy of undertaking."
–THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE "Warm and funny, and deserves to become one of those bestsellers that irritate [Bythell] so much."
–THE MAIL ON SUNDAY "Entertaining and dryly humorous . . . the book is fascinating."
–THE MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE "With wit and humility, Bythell, owner of a used bookshop in Wigtown, Scotland, chronicles a year in the life of a bookseller . . . Bythell's narrative is lively and intelligent."
–PUBLISHERS WEEKLY "Sure to bring book lovers chuckles, nods of recognition and a surge of hope for bookshops everywhere."
–SHELF AWARENESS "Excruciatingly funny."
–BOOKLIST "Makes for entertaining reading . . . he has a keen waggishness which makes his reflections funny and memorable and this book a hoot."
–THE MEMPHIS FLYER "A cheerfully depressing account of independent bookselling today–deadpan, ruthless, poignant, and at times, so charming it's almost unbelievable . . . surprisingly touching."
–QUARTZ "Warm, witty and laugh-out-loud funny...will stay long in the memory."
–THE DAILY MAIL "Wonderfully entertaining."
–THE OBSERVER (London) "Peopled with fascinating characters . . . laugh-out-loud funny."
–THE SUNDAY HERALD "It is hysterical. Anything that anyone ever wanted to know about what a bookseller really thinks is in here."
–Caitlin Luce Baker, University Bookstore "Outspoken, hilarious and thought-provoking . . . It's the best inducement I've ever come across to set aside my occasional flirtation with e-readers, walk into a bookstore and get my hands on the real thing."
–BOOKREPORTER "Often hilarious . . .
The Diary of a Bookseller is a charming mix of wacky characters and caustic diatribe, an ode to that perilous trade."
–THE RECORD