Michael Popek

If you have ever borrowed a book, gotten something from a library, or purchased from a used book store, you likely know the thrill of finding someone has read this book before you, whether a glossy printed bookmark advertising a faraway bookstore or a library receipt offering a peek into another’s reading habits. In this pretty little book based on his blog, Michael Popek, a used book store manager, reproduces some of his most interesting and odd finds, along with the books in which they were found. As to be expected, these range from the mundane (a home improvement shopping list) to the historical (notes from government officials) and the domestic (a son’s dramatic epistle to his mother explaining his need for money). There is a certain voyeurism vibe that comes from reading these, a la Postsecret, especially some of the letters and notes which have no other context.

This is a fun little book to flip through, and if you want to see more, I suggest subscribing to Popek’s blog, http://www.forgottenbookmarks.com/.… (meer)