Provo, UT

A book is like a garden carried in the pocket. ~Chinese Proverb

Those ever-wise Chinese were on to something. Books are the ever-new, wonderful, paper-bound time machines that take us to untold, uncountable places. My wife thinks there ought to at least be some moderation to the acquisition of them, which is why my visits to Pioneer Book in Provo are probably not as frequent as I might wish they would be. But whether you stop by once in awhile or during your lunch break every day (not that I would do that!), you are in for a fun and low or no-cost treat.

Sitting right on Center Street in downtown Provo, Pioneer Book has been hard at work since 1980, buying and selling books by the stack load. At any given moment there are over 500,000 books sitting on the shelves (and these are real book shelves, folks. Easily 7-8 shelves per case. Stuffed.) With hundreds of categories to choose from, you’ll seldom not find what you’re looking for. And if it’s the latest bestseller you’re looking for, they carry those too. My personal favorites are the non-fiction, LDS, and rare book collections, but they definitely carry something for everyone.

Speaking of rare books, be sure and ask to see the vault. That’s right, the vault. You literally go inside of a giant safe to see the real goodies. There’s just something super-cool about looking at or thumbing through all of those old leather-bound books. While I was there last time they had an over eighty year-old German Bible on hand. It could easily double as a serious weight for your workout, should you want to combine religion and physical fitness.

They also have a wonderful children’s book section, which is a real hit at our house. Pioneer Book is very kid-friendly and you’re sure to find some of the real classics for that snowy afternoon when you need to make a memory with the little ones. With countless out-of-print books to be found throughout the place, be prepared to get happily lost.

Located at 129 West Center Street in Provo, they are a quick hop off of Interstate 15 in either direction. Just head up Center until you a block off of University Avenue. Store hours are 9am-7pm, Monday-Saturday. At one time they maintained their own website but have determined that they can reach a wider clientele by using the Alibris website at http://www.alibris.com/stores/PIOBOOKS.

Nowadays, with so many independent booksellers going out of business, it’s great to see a place like Pioneer Book continue to thrive. Current plans include a café and reading space for those looking to soak up the atmosphere while enjoying the simple gifts of a good book. Find and then lose yourself there soon. You’re welcome.