Small World Books

Found this little gem of a book store. Just happened to walk past it and I couldn't believe it. Family grabbed a dinner while I spent my time in the shop. It is amazing. Its like falling into a fantasy story and a bookshop just appears. Staff were fantastic. Left with 5 books. 1 was a local author, a trilogy was recommended and then my own find. It was great to have a fantasy person working as I was able to get recommendations. I didn't take photos of inside the store as that would ruin the magic of what it looks like.

Great little bookstore! So tucked away, but a good stop after walking down the beach. So many options to choose from, something for everyone!

Fantastic customer service and a delightful selection of books! From sketchbooks to beach reads and everything in between, you’ll find it all here. The person at the counter is kind and welcoming—adds to the charm!

I love visiting this local bookstore any time I’m in Venice Beach! Amazing curated selection, a big sci-fi / fantasy section, and it’s located right on the beach. And if you’re thinking that it couldn’t possibly be better - they also have a bookstore cat!

Way back in the '90s, when I was a youngster, this place sold many copies of my zine (they were maybe $1.50 each). Strolling in today several decades later, it was very nice to see zines on the shelf closest to the door. There's also an amazingly large poetry section, so this is a store that clearly cares more about what they have on their shelves than what actually sells, because there is no way that poetry and zines are big sellers. But there is much more to their inventory: tables of recommended titles, a banned book section, tables of new fiction in both paperback and hardcover and a swell music-related section. There should be at least one well-rounded bookstore like this in every neighborhood in the city.

Extraordinary In selection and nuance it's better to come if you don't know what you're looking for

A life giving cutaway from the jubilant calamity and commerce outside. A slip of time and place in the ocean backlight, a portal, a wormhole for the curious mind. An extensive wall of zines, a fine and expansive selection of poetry, a section for feminist sociology, and a landscape of heaping tables ranging interests from one end of the store to another. A rough diamond, a sunken treasure, and a trip-worthy place for bookshop lovers of all kinds.

This book store is the cutest with sweet resident cats and the staff is friendly and very helpful. Found several books and the kids enjoyed looking for and finding their own treasures!

Really awesome bookstore. Very small and unassuming from the exterior but a wide selection of books inside. Staff had reviews and recommendations placed throughout the store. I definitely could have easily spent at least 30 minutes wandering and browsing if I didn't have people waiting for me. The staff were also very kind and helpful. (Also, I didn't see it until after we had eaten at the cafe next door but you can get a discount at the cafe if you buy above some threshold, I think it was $10, at the bookstore.)

An incredible selection of books and kind staff! A wonderful hidden gem in the middle of Venice.

There is something magical about walking the Venice boardwalk when most tourists have turned in for the evening. One such day after work, I decided to listen to the waves crash and adventure on a after sundown walk. As always, there are so many things to discover in Venice: it's the rabbit hole of many delights. The small world bookstore is one such place. Tucked away, adjacent to a restaurant you may even miss it if ya don't look closely. I'd say it's quickly becoming an evening walk favorite. They have a cozy lil section towards the back of the store where you can rest yr tush, pop open a book, and free yr mind. The feminist sociology section. Are ya kidding me, this is a girl's girl heaven. It's really a dream come true. I bought the vagina monologues bc somehow I lost this tried and true college staple of a read somewhere in my several residential moves since college. Also, there is a lil sweetheart of a black and white cat. He quickly will say hello politely and be on his merrry way. Really, Is there a better way to zen out on an evening: reading literature, petting a fur friend, and listening to crashing waves? Nope, not in my book. I visited today and there will be many days to follow. I've found a place finally that feels like home on the boardwalk. Where you can explore of the confines of yr mind, soul, and hey pretty art is fun also.

I appreciated the little note card recommendations staff wrote for many of the books! The staff were so knowledgeable and friendly. The variety and prices are worth the visit!

Find this bookstore under the red awning of the Sidewalk Cafe. Wide selection, friendly management. A hidden gem!

Hidden Gem..Oh sweet dichotomy of walking through the lively revelry of the attached but separate resto next door into a welcoming, quiet, cool, respite of one of the coolest selections of books, laid out in a highly intuitive manner so much so as you forget that you're damn near two hours into it of perusing, and what was supposed to be a 10 minute distraction from Solar Himself to pick up a book for the day, has turned into a pile of amalgamated books that you've been meaning to read but have put off because of adulting and such, that the Starbucks barista you meant to initially visit has nicely and unnecessarily reheated your brownie, and you forget to bifurcate your stream of conscious/searching into paletable, fragmented, normal sentences appropriate for Yelpers to understand, unlike this one Childlike, yet Honest, sentence of a review. Your Inner Child is welcome to play, peruse, and get lost in here. I lied, thats three sentences. Cheers foúr validated parking. Staff's dope af, high fivee.

Stopped in here on our beach walk. We left with several great books. Love the selection here as well as the helpful staff. Bonus for the cool cat walking around the store as well.

Walking along the Venice Beach storefronts and stalls, you see a lot of superfluous items sold. But hidden amongst it all you find some treasure. And that is "Small World Books". It covers a variety of subjects from biographies, non-fiction, political, etc. There are some great finds. We had a great time browsing through it all. They also have an important employee who I enjoyed meeting. His name is Malcolm.

Absolutely my favorite bookstore in West LA. They're an independent bookstore with an extremely well-curated selection of books, especially translated books from foreign authors which I find it hard to find anywhere else . It's a hidden gem tucked away next to a restaurant. Staff is super nice and helpful, and I love a quiet time at the bookstore that I usually spend at least an hour here. Each time that I'm reluctant to go there is because the surrounding area is pretty touristy, and I'm usually stressed about finding parking there, but only once out of ten times was parking really difficult, I usually am able to find parking across the streets rather efficiently. Seriously just love coming here, you have my support!

Nothing like having a real book in my hands. Although I have a Kindle, I prefer real books. When I saw the sign I had to go in. This bookstore is exactly what I hoped it would be. Lots of shelves with a wide variety of interesting books. Most of the books were organized by type. Even if your not looking for a book there is something about bookstores that are soothing. The guy working was super friendly. Located on the Venice Beach Boardwalk. Covid friendly too. Masks required and hand sanitizer provided.

we may not always agree on What books to get, but we Always agree on Where to get them!....even though the sections have moved around the store, we were able to find a few to take home, and a couple to put on order...

This is a delightful place to buy books. Considering Venice Beach has been ransacked by corporations, it warms my heart that this independent (to the best of my knowledge, at least) business still shines. This is especially important due to many out there turning their attention towards the technosphere as opposed to physical books -- which is very unfortunate. Thankfully, I have been able to pick up some superb reading selections at this shop. I would also recommend all different genres, as the quality of the books does not seem to be specific to any particular genre(s).

What a cool book shop! Stopped in briefly while in town for a few days. I don't buy many new books so I didn't buy anything but they had a fabulous selection of new and some older books as well. I didn't see any used but may have missed them as I was only in for a few minutes.

I have walked by a little sign next to a restaurant on the Venice boardwalk that says bookstore. I barely noticed it. Finally a couple weeks ago I decided to walk in and see what was going on. It's a little strange because you walk by some tables of people eating. Then you walk into a nice size bookstore. With a wonderful store cat. She is actually very friendly and loves to be petted. I was very impressed with the quantity, and variety of books the store carries. I ended up buying three books as gifts. And did not spend a lot of money. Their price is very reasonable for this tourist area. The next time I am in the area I plan on returning. If you want to get out of the craziness of the boardwalk, this is the place to go. And the restaurant right next-door is always packed. I haven't eaten there but everyone says it's very good.

Small World Books is a small bookstore on crazy Venice Beach Boardwalk. If you want to get away from everyone trying to sell you something and need some piece, this could be an OK respite. Just OK, because it's located right in front/next/near a restaurant so you'll still hear people talking while browsing their inventory. There are signs, so you'll be able to see it, entrance is to the left, a bit tricky. The books selection is very good, well updated, all the notable writers, last decent releases are on their shelves, alongside classics and paperbacks. The place does get pretty warm, no AC action in here, so I couldn't stay for that long inside, especially on a hot summer day. I love books, this isn't the perfect store to shop for books, linger for longer, not as peaceful as I'd like it to be, but I'm glad it's there. It brings some culture to the Venice Boardwalk!

Excellent little bookstore tucked away on the crazy waterfront becomes a great way to escape the hustle of Venice. Shelves are inviting as you walk in. Recent publications are available at first glance, and there are notes left by the staff for different reads and insight. Truly, this is a readers bookstore and a little gem in Venice. It was also very refreshing to see some lesser publishers and some local authors displayed. I was also pleasantly surprised to find a book about what Venice is all about in years past with an account of forgotten Beat Generation.

You'd miss this little gem if you didn't know it was there. Tucked back along the boardwalk along Venice Beach, we stumbled across this place on accident while strolling along. It's the quintessential little independently run bookstore, like you'd see in the movies. The staff are friendly but unobtrusive, and they allowed us to peruse in peace while we looked through their collection. You'll find various titles pulled out along the shelves with staff synopses and recommendations (we would up purchasing one based on this, and the recommendation note has become my new bookmark). They had a surprisingly good selection of children's books, and they also stocked some beautiful cards and small gift items. Best of all is the cat that follows you around and winks at you from atop the bookcases. Beach and a good book - it's a combination that's tough to beat.

One of my favorite stops on the boardwalk! Located behind the cafe, it's easy to miss but this hole in the wall bookstore has a lot to offer! Current books, older reads and paper goods make this a fun and unique place to stop and pick up a new book for the beach. The staff is always friendly and I never feel like an inconvenience for being there, like some smaller shop owners make you feel. I love to support local bookstores and this one is definitely a stand out!

This is my favorite bookstore ever. They have the best selection of books, mostly literary fiction. I come to Venice just to visit this bookstore and always spend a long time in there. Whenever I go, I buy a stack of books.

Of all the bookstores in my entire Metropolis of Angels, I frequent Small World Books the most. I just recently perused some female poets and authors before buying three postcards of women scientists and inventors for tiny precious nerd girls I might encounter. The owner still never complains when I walk in with (slightly) sandy feet. And, yes, they have male poets and writers, too, if anyone still reads them.

Very sweet second hand book store in Venice. Easily able to get lost in there. My advice - don't go in there looking for specific titles because you may not find them. Just enjoy finding something new to read by looking through the shelves!

With all the Venice Beach craziness swirling around outside, it was a wonderful surprise to happen upon this gem of a bookstore. Over the week and a half we'd been driving down the California coast, we'd been hitting every new and used bookstore we could find. I could not believe that my husband was able to find something there that he'd not seen elsewhere. You have to look hard to find this place, but it as a lovely respite.

Quiet refuge that reminds me of Shakespeare's Books in Paris. Mystical and a lovely small town community feel. Real Old world service and lots of fun unusual stuff. Fell in love with this place when visiting and going to a conference.

I absolutely loved this place! Even though it is not a big outlet bookstore, the shop is not small and holds a wide variety of selection. This is a great change of pace from the crowded beach outside. There are stools to sit and read for a while and they even have a beautiful bookstore cat that lays around and allows anyone to pet it. I believe the cashier mentioned it's name was Connan/Konnan? I greatly enjoyed finding this bookstore on my trip to Venice, I will definitely be returning.

Charming little bookstore tucked away on the Venice boardwalk. So thankful to have found this hidden gem!

One of the great independent bookstores in CA! What more do you want? ...a beach, best people watching in LA and books.

I always find a book there I like and they sell absolutely unique fun and artistic cards. Plus, it's close to the beach and paper smells so nice ....

Lovely little book store in the heart of Venice. Impressive selection and knowledgeable staff. I could spend hours in this store. Book nerds rejoice and visit this shop!

I was very excited to see a bookstore tucked back behind a restaurant and in order to escape the windy day, I ducked inside. I thought it was a bit odd to not be greeted by any of the workers there; two seated behind the counter couldn't bother to interrupt their conversation for a quick "hi how are ya?" Me and my partner have both worked in bookstores for several years and make it a point to visit local bookstores where ever we are visiting, never once have I heard of not being able to take a simple photo of the cover of a book. I take photos of books I don't necessarily want to buy at that moment, but that sound interesting to add to my "to-read" list. They couldn't bother to greet me, but loved to tell me I could not take any photos of the covers of books... found this very odd having worked in bookstores and having shopped in bookstores both local and corporate for years. Not a warm environment at all. Pretty disappointed considering how great their selection was. Would not go back.

Amazing little bookstore tucked away from the bright and noisy chaos of the beach. Except for the massive awning that it shares with a day-drunk café outside, you would not know it exists. Inside is a completely different world from the rest of the boardwalk: a cool, pleasingly dark and quiet collection of curated displays, expertly picked finds and interesting outliers of literature. And there is a bookstore cat named Frannie. What more could you want?

I was looking to buy a guidebook last minute for a trip and decided to go here rather than usual corporate bookmart in MDR. If not for the motorcycle, parking would have been an absolute nightmare so keep this in mind if you hope to drive on over. Small World books is a nice little mom-pop book store nestled in between touristy tshirt shops, tattoo parlors, and medical marijuana clinics. If you are at Venice Beach and need something different to do or just get bored from walking around you can come here. It is a quiet oasis in the midst of tourist & grunge mayhem. As a bonus you can get 10% off on the not-so-special looking burger/bar joint next store with a $10 book purchase.

If you live in Venice or nearby, please do the following. Put Small World's number on your speed dial. When you hear about a book you want, call them. If they have it, their hours make it easy to get. If they don't, they'll get it and call you within a few days. Why is it good to give them ALL OUR business? Because cold, distant corporations will never provide this warm environment, where friendly, intelligent people can answer questions and give comments about books they've read, and where it's just pleasant to come in and browse. If you come by car: I've had good luck with the meters on Windward. If not, try Main and you're still right around the corner from their door. Support this place. They're excellent. I've lived near them for eighteen years.

NOSTALGIA IN HIGHEST FORM ~ Take a seat and dive into some great book's here_ a lot of classics to be found, just take your time_

Great bookstore carrying a wide selection of new releases, classics, and LA writers. They do a lot of recommended books using handwritten notes by store employees--a great personal touch, if you ask me. Cool find in an almost hidden nook on the Venice Beach Boardwalk. I say check it out!

Such a marvelous collection of books, well displayed in quite a quirky way and at the end of the day the staff may even discuss the zombie apocalypse with you, but only if you catch them off guard.

There used to be lots of great book stores in LA. Now there aren't. Here's one of the last remaining. Go there and support them.

One of the best reasons to visit the Venice Boardwalk. This gem of a bookstore is a quiet refuge from the crowds and craziness of Venice beach. Wonderful selection of great books. Knowledgeable and helpful staff.

This place is Legit! It's a welcomed change of pace to the constant cacophony of chatter, music, and folks trying to hustle. If you can find it, you've already taken the most important step. It's so tucked away, like a speakeasy. The people running the show actually want you to find something you like, but it's not like the way a lot of folks push their products on tourists who are just caught up in the fervor of Venice beach. They'll point you in the direction and give you time to find something special. If they don't favor your choice, they'll reccommend one of their choices. You may find that their choice is superior, or you may stick with what you got. Either way, they're happy to have you! I love their selection of books.. I'm a fan of hardcover art books. Coffee table books. And I love non-fiction/ biographies of musicians. But whatever you're into will most likely be touched upon. Like I said, the place is small, so there's only so many books they can carry, but the place is packed with them! You will be paying retail, but you will always know that you purchased this particular book at a cool bookstore at Venice beach, which often gets overlooked by the masses.

I had a double deja vu moment in this bookstore. Double? Yes, double. How, John S.? OK, I'll tell you, but first you have to promise to stop this interlocutor-exchange crap. I've written almost 800 Yelp reviews; I don't need gimmicks like this anymore. So go away. OK. Permanently. . . . . . . . . . OK, he's gone. So the first bit of deja vu I had went down thusly. The first (and only) time I came here was in 2003, right after I had moved back to California from Indiana. I needed books for my upcoming summer-school class, and I happened to have the sheet of paper with the book list with me. So I dutifully made my friend, a tourist, come into this store before we walked down the horrible Venice Beach boardwalk. (I almost got robbed and possibly roughed up a little bit after patronizing Small World of Books.) As I was searching for the books I needed, I felt magically transported to the mid-1980s. Specifically, I felt transported to the B. Dalton in the Whittwood Mall. The Whittwood Mall before they tore the indoor-mall part down and after they put the roof on the formerly outdoor Whittwood Mall. This B. Dalton was the first place I had ever seen the rolling ladders along the stacks that they use to get books on high shelves. It was also the first place I became familiar with the library stool. You know the one-- Yeah, I know what you're talking about. I thought I told you to shut up. Yeah, sorry, I'll shut up. You know the one? It's round and rolls and has a cloverleaf kind of design on it? Well, I don't remember whether Small World of Books has any of these, but something about its shelves reminded me of that B. Dalton. It might have even been that I was facing a northish wall (streets in both Venice and Whittier, California, not having been laid out in cardinal directions) as I once had been at that B. Dalton. OK, after I moved to San Francisco and finally got around to checking out Aardvark Books, I had a re-deja vu. It reminded me of Small World of Books, which had reminded me of B. Dalton in the Whittwood Mall and which had preminded me (or deja vued me or whatever) of Aardvark Books. Again, I was facing the northish wall, although this time the wall faced truly almost due north. So the bookstore. It's small and cool and wonderful. I love bookstores like this. I would come here again except that I don't like the beach part of Venice too much. Venice needs more canals than the pathetic few it still has.

RIght when you walk in, you know this is an indie bookstore. Typical of its kind, you are greeted with tables after tables of unorganized pile of books. Usually this would be enough to get a hipster cream because it's yet another bookstore that defy convention by ignoring the Dewey Decimal System or god forbid, the Western bourgeois invention of alphabetization. Small World however broadens the horizon of its narrow-minded rastafarian clientele by introducing them to plenty of book options that rival at least a Borders Express. There are non-ideological evidence-based science books for example. I almost picked up a book about California air, but the time for horrifying reads have passed. The travel section is thorough as well. Half the store though you just kind of have to ignore; rows after rows of book titles that reads like the deranged post of a DailyKos blogger. As for that ultimate test of open-mindedness: Do they have at least Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations? Move along and moveon.org.

We are so used to seeing Large Bookstore chains, it is refreshing to see an Independent bookstore as well. Technically it is not in Marina Del Rey,CA( it is 500 yards from the border in Venice, CA )right on the Boardwalk is Small World Books at 1407 Ocean Front Walk, Venice CA 90291 (tel) 310.399.2360 This bookstore has a nice selection of signed first editions books. As well a wide selection poetry and magazines are available. I love their Mystery Annex, it is cozy and well stocked for fans of this genre (you guessed it by now, I love mysteries) What is unusual, that here you will find published books both of major as well as small presses. http://smallworldbooks.com

You might not expect to find it in Venice Beach (I wasn't), but this is a solid, local, independent bookstore that appears to have some history. We stopped in after hanging out on the beach, and I might not have seen it had it not been for its sign frontage, because it's tucked behind a restaurant with sidewalk seating. Inside, we found an impressive selection of poetry, including local writers such as Charles Bukowski, who spent many of his end days in not-too-far-away San Pedro. Picking up several poetry titles, including a book by local press Beyond Baroque Books, I attracted the attention of the woman working checkout. Turns out they're actively involved in the upcoming book fair -- at the end of April -- and that they're in charge of the poetry corner, which seems to involve many of the notable poets of local nature. Wish I'd still be here for that! A place to return to, as it seems to be the kind of bookstore at which you can plug into the local lit scene quickly and easily. Good to know about.

When you're walking down Venice Beach and surrounded by loud noise and crudeness, it's nice to escape into this little quiet literary haven tucked away beside a café. The book selection for each section is thoughtful and interesting. Right away, I found a food-oriented novel I had been lusting after, and I bought it as a show of support for small bookstores like this. This is where the real culture is on Venice Beach! P.S. Love the friendly cat who resides here and approaches shoppers for a pet!

It's nice to browse around a small bookstore and smell all the book smells and feel all the book feels. Can't get that from browsing Amazon. A fun stop on the boardwalk. Plus they have a store cat. Love.

Find your way into the book store when wandering along the boardwalk. Take a break from the crazy, and get into some pages. I LOVE a good book store - and this is certainly one that makes me happy. Good selection.

I came into this store after having lunch at the sidewalk cafe and I was extremely impressed by the variety of books that were in here. It wasn't just a bunch of best seller and popular books like you would see at a bigger store, it has a fantastic selection of just about everything. I wanted to buy almost everything I saw.

My friends and I decided to stop by on a whim. You know, the usual, I don't need anything new but "here, take my money" type of moments. We found a few gold mines amongst their "quality over quantity selection" and ended up grabbing two books. As for the service, we apparently interrupted the sales person's lunch and had to wait a a bit while she stared at us. Can you say awkward? This was a completely adorable shop but help was scarce and a bit rude. I was going to come back and get a few books, but the last few minutes of my visit made me rather save my gas money and just go to a local bookstore to get the books I wanted.

I WILL BE BACK! I love this small hole in the wall bookstore! ps, spend more than $20 and get 10% off the cafe! Anyway, they have a bunch of great books and what I love most about it is that owners (I'm guessing) put a little note in some books describing either what its about, how they felt when they read it, or a short synopsis on it. It makes the staff seem more trustworthy and knowledgeable about the books knowing that they read most of the books they sell. Its a great place to pick up a book, walk to the beach and enjoy a great read!

A unique little place stashed among the beach cafes and souvenir shops in Venice. Small World Books has a decent collection of traditional books, but the real draw is its variety of eclectic volumes you probably won't find in many other places. It's a great place to browse... ... When you don't want something that's been on the New York Times bestseller list or the omnipresent literary canon... ... When you'd like to skip Melville and read the charming story of "The Monster That Ate Stars"... ... When books don't really appeal at all, but amusing postcards do... ... When you want a BuK instead of a book. In all honesty, I've never bought anything from Small World. For me it's almost more like an art gallery than a bookstore - something to peruse at leisure, where I can find something to think about or smile at before I skip my merry way down the beach walk.

Cute place, friendly, humble staff (none of that hipster snarkiness), a true neighborhood gem and Venice staple!