Idle Time Books

Good collection but the books are quite old sometimes (but not collection old!). They have beautiful postal cards too. Staff was friendly and resourceful.

A small and cozy used books store. The selection is ok. I’ve found one or two favorites here in the past. Don’t forget to go up to the second level. It’s a quiet and comfortable place to sit and read.

Hate hate hate. I don’t have any expectation to be pampered as a «customer,» just generally not treated with hatred. Yet that’s literally how the staff acts, I won’t give them any money out of principal.
Worst, most condescending book or any other kind of store I’ve ever interacted with.
I called and asked if they had a particular, hardly arcane book. Him: [highly annoyed] Maybe, you can check in the store yourself. Me: oh hey I’m really sorry, but I don’t live anywhere near the store, is there any way to look and let me know? Him: We dont have an inventory, you’d have to look on the philosophy shelf. Me: Oh I understand, but is there anyway to. .. Him: [annoyance somehow greater] «Thank you» verrry much [Click]
Me: [calls back] Look I’m really sorry, I just live five miles away, and wanted to check if it would at all be possible for someone to look at the shelf, since I’m far away and you’re standing next to the shelf.
Him: Sorry no inventory, «thank you» soo much.
Me: I … [Click].

I live in Adams Morgan and drop by Idle Time Books every now and then. I rarely find anything that’s worth the price. Unless the book is on sale, all titles are a minimum of $ 3 — including cheapo paperbacks. I always feel like I overpay.

I wandered in here one night with some time to spare, and I ended up staying for an hour. The staff was helpful, directing me to what I was looking for, and the prices were really good (it is a used bookstore, they should be cheap). They have a huge selection and lots of cozy spots to read. Also, they have a good foreign language section. Overall, great prices, great location, and great books!

Cyndy’s Bottom Line: Cozy, cute bookstore.
Wide variety of books.
Comfortable and casual ambiance.
Good customer service.

A little pricey for a used bookstore, but perhaps this is to offset rent costs in Adams Morgan. Organization is fine, I personally preferred the upstairs sections more than the downstairs. Lots of annoying signs around the store that say «No cellphones» and «No taking pictures of our books before you buy them». I understood the first few signs when I walked in at the entrance, but the «No cellphones» reminders at every turn were obnoxious and snobby. I get it, some people don’t know how to leave their phone behind, but as someone who doesn’t abuse cellphone use in public spaces it felt patronizing and unwelcoming. Regardless, I will return in the future since they do have a decent variety and convenient store hours.

cute place.
don’t judge it by the bottom floor alone, which was what I did until I found the shelf of books that *I* belonged to.
it’s got some cheap books that are slightly dated, but may be useful nonetheless. e.g. I bought «The Best Business Writing 2012», which I’m sure I wouldn’t find in an ordinary bookstore. Other books may be older edition textbooks, and the same applies.

I love the concept of this used bookstore! There are many out of print titles and just really random books that you have never heard of. My favorite though is their rare comic books. Today, I saw titles such as Heavy Metal and High Times. It’s also a great place to pick up unique postcards or greeting cards! No standard Hallmark BS cards at this place. Support your local bookstore.

POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE
The only thing that keeps me coming back is the deliciously pulpy and raunchy inappropriate postcards and the random sci-​fi books in the front.
I’ve never meet such a miserable person working with books before! I don’t know who she is, but on more than one occasion the same lady is working the register, apparently unaware that she has the sole responsibility of selling TOMES OF WISDOM to customers. I seriously had no idea someone could be so miserable selling books and basically playing Belle for a living.

Popped in here last week while running some errands in AdMo. Picked up some classic cook books that I’ve had on my list for a while, and so glad I stopped by! Extra bonus is that they’re open super late, so this would be a great spot to hang out post or pre-​dinner in AdMo.
As my friend Macrae O pointed out, Idle Time Books is extremely organized for a used bookstore. It lacks the musty smell and major fire hazard columns of books my favorite spot, Cap Hill Books, but it is catering to a different crowd. If you really want to burrow into a corner, sitting on the floor surrounded by a stack of books and be left to your own devices… Idle Time might not be the place for you.
However, if you would like to admire their good to new condition books, browsing organized and well thought out sections hoping to find that gem of inspiration that will get you reading again, Idle Time does more than just fine.

Oh Idle Time… your selection of reading material is full of surprises. Everything from mystery to poetry to law… it’s random, therefore awesome. I’ve been here a handful of times and always leave with a smile. Today’s visit led to the mystery section. My little treasures included Miss Marple’s first case (squeals were probably heard from the top level because anyone that knows me, knows I have a set of pipes), a couple Sue Grafton novels (which were recommended by a fellow Sherlock enthusiast), and a beautiful antique-​looking book of poetry.
I can’t wait to curl up with a mystery tonight!
So why 4 stars? The prices. Nothing extravagant to the point where I’d avoid you, but high enough to wonder if a local Friends of the Library has copies.
I will say the customer service is beyond exceptional. The owner (at least I think he’s the owner) asks questions to steer you in the right direction. He’s also very honest, especially when I asked for something comparable to Sherlock Holmes.
Yes, that question is entirely ridiculous… but a sliver of hope existed. Now it’s obliterated, but for a brief moment I envisioned a mystery so complex yet utterly simple that putting it down would cause tears. Oh well. Life goes on: sniff:
All in all, this establishment is perfect for every type of reader. I can’t wait to come again :)

Spent a couple hours browsing here last weekend, and could easily have spent a few more. It’s a decently sized used book store, but what impressed me most was the variety of the sections («Maritime Adventure», «Communities», etc.) and the range of books on sale — from uncorrected proofs to fairly recent semi-​academic nonfiction. I picked up a novel by David Eagleman (from their featured section up front) and a hardcover copy of a David Hackett Fisher book.
Prices were slightly higher than I might have expected upon walking in, but not bad by any stretch of the imagination.

stopped by and picked up books and cards for very good prices one saturday evening – some great selections including lots of mysteries, history books and collector items. I noted that the store IS WHEELCHAIR ACCESSible although someone has marked it is not. That is there is no step at the door, there seems to be enough width in the aisles and the bathroom is accessible.

This is a solid, old-​school used bookstore. To say it is ‘loosely organized’ is an understatement of sorts, but what a treasure trove it is if you’re willing to dig deep.
A lot of what is here are old books that I think do sit because they are sort of specialized, and old, and no one wants them for the prices (which, in reality, are a bit high, but I view it as supporting a small shop so I’m cool with that). You won’t find a lot of new or popular fiction that’s been lightly read and is waiting for someone to snap it up. No, these are mostly hardcover, ever so slightly dusty, generally well-​read tomes.
However, if you’re willing to spend some time here, and you are the slightest bit interesting, you will doubtless find an amazing book you never knew you wanted but have simply got to have.
For me, it was the children’s books. Toward the back of the first floor is a shelf low to the floor, filled with picture books. One was in French and had French songs in it. I snapped it up in a hot second because, playful and slightly snobby dork that I am, I love French and I love kids books pretty much the most of anything in the world. To find both at once is like pure gold. They also have opera and other scores, another (formerly secret) obsession of mine.
Come here with an open mind and ready to put in some time and you won’t be disappointed.

Oh Idle Time, you S.O.B. Remember when I used to work right across the street from you? And remember how every pay day I would run to you and spend most of my money on you?
Of course you don’t, you harlot! I was just one in a long line of hopeless hopefuls who were completely on your thrall. You don’t care and I know you don’t care and you know what? I don’t care either!
See you soon?
XXOO,
Me

is great. I visit the site when a favorite author’s published a new work, search for the book, add it to cart, and confirm purchase. As I’m already logged in the transaction takes no more than 30 seconds, to say nothing of the saved trip to the store.
A musty old used book store like this is a very different proposition. It’s so enjoyable precisely Because it’s so inconvenient. Screw letting an algorithm that digests past purchases suggest texts based on your cross-​categorized preferences (apparently I enjoy darkly comedic critically acclaimed literature) — THIS is how you browse… Walking up narrow, winding steps, breathing in generations of dust while your fingers flutter over ancient book spines… You passively allow different covers and titles to catch your eye before strolling up to the register with an out-​of-​print paperback on the history of pistachio farming for 50 cents.
And don’t think it’s all junk either. My favorite purchase to date — the pride of my collection — is an 1969 original print of Mario Puzo’s The Godfather.

This is a charming used book store! We bought a book on Giant Pandas in great condition published by the Smithsonian Institute. The lady behind the desk was helpful and fun to chat with! Everything is well organized and staff is willing to assist customers.

As a relatively new transplant to DC and a seasoned/​former used bookstore worker, I was thrilled to learn of this store’s existence.
I was a bit put off, however, when I called just now to see if they had a particular title in stock (I live over 45 minutes away), and the person on the other end not only told me that I needed to come in and browse the relevant section (law) myself, but also did so in a way that suggested it was presumptuous of me even to ask.
I will definitely not be coming in to browse…

I want to love Idletime — the music, as other reviewers mentioned, is awesome (a few nights ago, it was Lucinda Williams; the first time I was there, it was jazz), the people who work there are generally sweet and chatty, and the store always seems like it’s going to be quirky and fun (after all, it’s that fun green color).
But despite all this, Idletime is what I call a first generation used bookstore, the kind of used bookstore that has lots and lots of old, dusty books (this is especially true of the 2^nd floor, where sections like sociology, self help, and law have books that are very, very old). This is not the new generation of used bookstore (for Bostonians, think Raven) that has carefully, intelligently selected quality books that will move quickly (second generation used bookstores have lots of good condition Murakami, Pynchon, Franzen, Munro, Mistry, etc.)
While the 2^nd floor here is in need of some serious clean up, even the fiction section could use a good pruning. The truth is there are some books that people will always buy (how many times have I seen Jonathan Franzen’s Corrections at used bookstores?) And there are others that will just collect dust on a shelf. Idletime has a lot of the latter.