Voltaire & Rousseau Bookshop

Imagine a cave filled with books, where narrow paths wind through towering stacks of volumes on the floor, with shelves packed with even more books lining the walls behind them. It can be a bit of an adventure finding exactly what you're looking for, but the joy is in the unexpected discoveries you stumble upon. It's a bit off the beaten path, but I've always found it to be well worth the visit. I've been going there for as long as I can recall; I believe I was first introduced to it by an art school lecturer sometime in the early 1980s. Remarkably, the place hasn't changed much at all over the years.

Visiting Voltaire and Rousseau Bookstore with your son is an experience like no other. The stacks of books tower high, each one a potential hidden gem waiting to be discovered. The cozy atmosphere and friendly staff make browsing a joy. And let's not forget the resident cat, who adds to the charm. It's a place where you can easily lose track of time as you immerse yourself in the written word. If you're a book lover, this store is a must-visit. Whether you're searching for a specific title or just want to get lost in a good read, Voltaire and Rousseau won't disappoint.

Gorgeous wee shop and lovely owner. It's so fun going through the many mazes of unique books, the owner is lovely and the cat is adorable

It's such a great place. They have an excellent variety of books at very good prices. I only got three because I didn't have more space in my backpack, but I could have easily left with many, many more.

One of the most romantic book stores in the world. Unfortunately all the really rare books I still found in this shop 40 years ago have disappeard. You need a lot of time and a good condition to find what you are looking for.

There are an enormous amount of second hand books, but a lot of them are stacked on the floor. Unfortunately I didn't have enough time to do a thorough search.

I started going to the V&R shop in the early 1970s, when it was still in Park Road, and have visited as often as I could in ensuing decades. As I have never lived in the city, those visits have been less frequent than I might have liked, but I can say with certainty, I have never left the shop empty handed. The shop is quite unique in my view, a magical place. I hope it goes on forever.

Lots of variety of books

Voltaire & Rousseau is the book shop of Bernard Black's dreams. There's no chatting, no coffee, no customer service, just books; books & books & books (oh and a cat!) I L O V E this shop, to me it's a Glasgow institution, a unique treasure trove of literature that appears to be completely unaffected by the world outside. If you remember seeing Scrooge McDuck diving into his vault of gold coins, I have this image of the owner jumping off the shop's ladder into all those books! What I love about this place is the fact that it's so jam-packed with books, a good number of which are probably at least 20 years old. It's like stepping back in time in the history of publishing. I've bought some of the most enjoyable & informative books I've ever read. Even if you don't like reading, then how about an old Oor Wullie annual for £1? Look up to the wooden shelf to get a (rough) idea of the subject of the books in front of you, just bear in mind that the books are three rows deep & tall enough to bury a child. I noticed a book in the shop today on mountain disasters & I felt a chill run through me, as if the cries of children, trapped behind the rows of books, were calling out to me. It also occurs to me that the current shop cat may not be the original... The two guys running the shop aren't the most animated of shop owners, usually they only move to make a cup of tea or if one of them is rolling a cig. There's a book for everyone in this shop, just don't expect any help finding it. While they're not particularly chatty, they're no Bernards either, so don't let a lack of a welcome put you off coming in to (carefully) rummage through the piles of brilliant, cheap books. Just leave a trail of breadcrumbs or maybe take a GPS marker if you decide to venture in past the first row!

Voltaire & Rosseau? More like, Voltaire & RoussOH My! Am I right? Ok, calming down. The bookshop is less like a bookshop that you might expect to find in real life and more like the kind of bookshop you might expect to read about, described in an obscure work of fiction, and then to wish you could visit in real life. It's hidden away down Otago Lane which is, in itself, not an obvious place to visit. The first room you enter is a kind of porch area, with books that are always £1 or less. It's worth a rummage but don't let that distract you from moving into the main room. Here the shopkeeper sits behind a desk stacked high with books. Across from him is a small heater (honestly I have no idea how this place passes fire safety inspections and I'm completely beyond caring). Watch out for the book shop cat, or possibly cats, she or they like the heater. The walls are lines with bookshelves and there's a central stack separating the wall-lining stacks. The shelves are packed several layers deep and there will be stacks on the floor to navigate around as well. Here's a fun game: Search for a book that looks interesting, pick it off the shelf, now, is the book behind it more interesting, or less? Most of the books I've bought here I only found because they were hiding behind something interesting. The vast majority of what's available here is second hand paperbacks (unless you count "the cure for aching souls" in which case, it's abundant, but not technically for sale). However, there are also interesting items here for collectors. I'm no collector, but I've picked up a few Folio Society editions here and the old, leather bound books on the cases closest to the shop keeper can be eye-wateringly expensive, especially given how inexpensive almost everything else is. My advice: Go in, but go without a particular book in mind. Go with an open mind, ready to pick up something you didn't expect to. Enjoy.

V & R is exactly what a second-hand bookshop should be - it's a decaying old building with books stacked from floor to ceiling so that you feel it can only be the books that are stopping the place from collapsing. The shelves have long ago been filled and are now half-concealed behind the piles of books on the floor. Don't expect an organised filing system here - I'm sure there is one but it's pretty impenetrable. Fortunately the chaps who run it have a positively encyclopaedic knowledge of what they have and can usually point you in the right direction. There are some great finds to be had if you're willing to spend the time looking; in the past I have found some rare esoteric books in here. They're not so good at buying books from you as I discovered recently when I was offered a pittance for 5 boxes of quite unusual books from my library, all in good or better condition. I appreciate they have to make a living and it can't be easy in this age of e-books and Amazon; anyway I declined the offer and I still have the books for the moment. In winter it's a bit chilly and the sole heating appliance appears to be a portable Calor gas fire - not the safest thing to have in room full of nice flammable paper you would think and I'm sure it's an accident waiting to happen. Definitely not the place to visit if you're in a rush; expect to lose an hour or two browsing around in here. It has to be my favourite second hand bookshop in Glasgow and long may it continue to be so.

I love used bookstores. There's something about the smell of them that I like. Voltaire and Rousseau is the type of place where it looks like old books go to die. There are PILES of them everywhere. It's not so bad if you're not looking for anything in particular; you could easily scootch around in there for hours just digging under stacks and piles and behind other books on the shelf. I love it. I wondered, when I walked in, how the owner managed to get himself to the desk in the corner. It looked like he was completely blocked in by books. And how, I wondered, do I get to that book up there? Just ask, really. The owner is a really lovely man, and it's clear he takes great pride in his shop. I don't think he'd be quite as happy if all the books where layed out alphabetically and easy to reach. I think it would lose most of its charm that way. One great thing about this place is that it's relatively cheap, and was a favourite haunt for my Uni days when I was searching for a cheap copy of a book for literature class. Dig? Yes, to save that extra £1.50, dig. In the front room as you enter, you'll find the first really crammed room full of books, however, they are all £1 or less. I found a few in there that I wouldn't mind taking home with me, including a full-sheet atlas. I wouldn't even guess what it goes for new, but for £1, I can totally get on board! It's a great way to spend your free Saturday afternoon, rain or shine. And if you like the idea of finding a treasure amongst an archeological dig, then this is your place. Plus, you never know. You might find something rare, maybe a first edition or something signed by the author in there. You never know.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Voltaire and Rousseau house every book under the sun! It's a real book store - not glossy (mostly second hand), not overpriced, not organised at all, although the guy who owns it seems to be like a homing pigeon when it comes to locating his stock. Books act as walls in here - they are spilling out the doors even as you walk in. You could build a house (or a FORTRESS!) out of how many books are in this place. So we've covered the fact there's a lot of books in here; and I may be exaggerating (only slightly) about the chaotic nature of Voltaire. Books are separated into sections but are stacked high so you can't get to the ones you want! But that's part of the fun - finding a book you need from here becomes a quest and an adventure rather than a bland purchase. It's bursting with character, the guy who works in here keeps track (somehow) of every book he has (usually by ticking it off in a massive binder he has) and there's an added cat for your enjoyment. Said cat is really cute, although can get grumpy if pestered so give him peace sometimes! He is usually to be found lounging on top of a comfy paperback, living the high life. Voltaire has tons of personality and is two minutes away from the main campus of Glasgow uni, not to mention Kelvinbridge subway if you're travelling from further afield. With books at 2 pounds and rarities, what's stopping you? Go fetch! ( And good luck on your mission!) Be like Mario, smash through the books like bricks to get what you want - even if it is a fiction frenzy I promise you'll be 1 UP at the end of the experience.

It's hard not to reserve a soft spot for this place really. While generally speaking I'm not a fan of orderless set-ups, the kind of shops whereby you feel you're due a medal should your incessant rummaging finally uncover something worth buying, there's no doubting this second hand book mecca is a mess done with care. Not only are the owners knowledgeable, they also have a scarily accurate memory for finding titles you may require and are willing to hike over piles of tattered books to help you get them. Indeed the closest this place comes to order is the inclusion of a separate room which has books stacked up from floor to ceiling. "Everything in this room a pound," reads the sign. In many ways, this place should be a parody of itself, particularly as it includes an obligatory cat which wanders in and out at its pleasure, but it's just so welcoming and likeable. Although be warned - it definitely helps if you're a mean Jenga player when selecting books from one of the precarious balanced piles.

Voltaire & Rousseau is one of my favourite bookshops ever. This is NOT a place to go in if you're looking for something particular and you don't want to spend some time digging for whatever it is you want. This is a place you go in when you want to rummage around, spend some time and probably find more books than you wished for. It's very cheap and extremely unorganized, but there's not a bookshop quite like this--it's an experience! If you like to read, like to take your time selecting books, and you're looking for nothing in particular, this is one of the best places you can find.

The wonderful Voltaire and Rousseau Bookshop is one of the independent businesses that makes up the community on Otago Lane. It's run by two brothers, and is always filled with a beautifully eclectic selection of second hand and rare books. You'll also usually find a couple of cats around the place - probably attracted more by the warm friendly atmosphere that the literature. Whether you're looking for novels, philosophy, poetry, economics or science, you'll find it all here. You do need to be prepared to do a lot of rummaging though, as there is often no rhyme or reason to the placement of the books! The owners are generally very clued up to what they have though, making me think that the place is probably more organised chaos than anything else. The Voltaire and Rousseau bookshop is the kind of place that makes you feel better about the state of the world. Why? Because as long as wonderful places such as this one still exist - society can't be all bad.

A treasure trove of randomness and wonderful literature located on the delightfully boho Otago Street. If you want to get lost in a sea of old books then this is the place for you. If you are looking for the Borders/Waterstones experience then maybe don't bother.... I went there when I was at university and I was able to get a host of great books at a great price. My pride and joy was a like-new copy of the 100 top philosophers which was full of annotated notes. I still use it. The staff are friendly enough and seem to have some idea of the organised chaos that defines this little odd ball of a shop. It is like being in an episode of Black Books minus the disgruntled Irish man.

Such a wonderful and unique bookshop! I had quite a hard time finding it, but it was well worth the wandering! There aren't really any bookshops like this in the US, so it was such a treat to find!

I think I only go out with my boyfriend due to where he actually lives. He's within walking distance of pretty much everything, so I saw him off today and went off to Voltaire and Rosseau because as a booklover, I've always wanted to go to Voltaire and Rosseau. It was still emblazoned with "Yes" posters which was endearing. And then I walked in and there were piles of books that were nearly the height of me! I'd love to have the energy to look through them, but I was carrying a really heavy bag, there were hunners of folk in about all the books which made it fairly impossible to move and I got frustrated pretty easily which made me feel a bit rubbish, because I love second hand bookshops. I know I should have asked the man who runs the place, because he clearly has an encyclopedic knowledge of the books he has, but I wasn't really looking for anything in particular. It would be a great wee shop if I had the time and energy to through it!

Be prepared to spend a lot of time in this little, out of the way, secondhand bookshop. The books are piled to the ceiling in front and to the sides of walls full of two-deep book shelves. It is a real treasure trove of a shop that has to be seen to be believed. Hushed voices required in here, punctuated only by the sound of piles of books falling over frequently! But the owner doesn't mind, and neither does the resident cat. Of course, like the most authentic of second hand bookshops, this place has a distinctive smell which makes stepping out into the fresh air again very refreshing, but when you leave you're guaranteed to have purchases with you!

hm. i just don't think i'm hip enough for this place. i've heard about it for a while and i finally stumbled upon voltaire and rousseau last weekend and decided to go in. in fact, i was scared to because when i was going to walk in two small children pushed a ratty old stroller (pram) out with a dirty old doll in it and it freaked me out, as no child was behind pushing it...but then the kids ran out screaming. scary...but decided to go in. i like books, i prefer them second hand, especially if someone has written notes in them...but i just found the whole place overwhelming in a not so good way. obviously the shop is far too small for the amount of books they have, it's messy...feels dirty. yeah, everything is stacked so it's hard to look for what you want or possibly would want. it's like jenga, giant,in public, crazy dusty jenga. there was a scary cat inside...i don't like cats. i don't want cat hair on things i buy. cat hair makes my eyes itch. when i went in the shop it was 'crowded' with people, meaning you're basically trapped and have to move in a line, which doesn't work when people think they are the only ones in the aisle/shop. also, those children came back and were running around making lots of noise... i...i actually like sprinted out of there. y'know, maybe if i was the only person in the shop and could throw books around and had a few hours to spare... anyway, points for being a used book shop. but really, i don't know if i'll go back anytime soon. i've definitely been to better, more comfortable used book shops.

I love spending a lazy afternoon in this bookshop hunting for treasures. Its seems chaotic, and it is always like a treasure hunt. Every time I am there at least one pile of books collapses (it takes some jenga skills) However, my experience is that when you look for something in particular, the owner can usually tell you where about you may find it... I keep this very short : I read the many reviews and cannot think of any more to add to them but I wanted to contribute my rating.

Man! I love this shop. To hell with regular book shops. If you're looking for something specific then give it a miss. I'm pretty sure that a) they wouldn't have it and b) you would be hunting for days on end BUT, that's the fun of it. I've bought lots of books from here that I can't understand and will never read. They just look good! Old, worn books about to crumble in your hands from age. I like to flick through them and imagine what the "olden days" were like. You know - when everything was black and white? Their doorway is filled ceiling high with bargain novels. I guess you just have to remain open to whatever stands out to you. An absoloute gem of a shop. It even has the old boy and a little dog to go with it.

A life-defining place. I recall wandering in as a young fresher at Glasgow University and being blown away. A book lover's dream - and a valuable bit of history given the domination of amazon. The ramshackle lack of order is exactly the point: it is educative to browse shelves, making discoveries, learning of things you never thought might interest you. And, certainly in the humanities, you can find up-to-date editions alongside obscure Edwardian tomes or kitschy 70s paperbacks. Out of print treasures are hidden in precarious piles - and the pricing reflects wanting to make sales for the love of books rather than pure profiteering. Eddie and the cat are always friendly. Having travelled far, I've found nowhere quite like this place. When I scan my shelves, memories abound - my collected editions of Ben Jonson, Milton, Freud; my odd 1980s Middlemarch - everything from Marx's historical writings to Old Testament Theology and Neo-Latin love poetry and all from here - my shelves and life have been enriched by this bibliophilic Valhalla.

I love this place, not somewhere to go if you're in a hurry though! Trawling through piles of books until you come across a wee gem is what this place is all about. It's a ramshackle mess and all the more charming for it