If you don't want to encounter the same bestsellers in a bookstore, then Baicao Garden is the place to be. The books in the store are mainly social science books, and the style is serious and professional. There are so many books that it is difficult to display them in a calm way in a business area of tens of square meters, so Baicao Garden has a satisfying scene for readers - books are stacked from the floor to the ceiling. The store is located at Sunshine Wharf, and the coffee shops, restaurants, and B&B buildings that stand in a row all have the same literary and artistic tone, making up for the lack of function of Baicao Garden. These small shops come from the original Huashi Cultural and Creative Street, as a product of Nirvana after the demolition of the street, Sunshine Pier is also a scenic spot in the eyes of locals.
Baicaoyuan has a strong professionalism in the selection of books. Compared with natural science and reference books, the books in the store are more inclined to literature, history and philosophy, and their content is quite practical, and new readers can also gain their own interest. Richard Dawkins' work is a good example, and the store even exhibited different printed versions of "The Selfish Gene". The stacking of books is a bit messy, and it can be difficult for readers to summarize the style of each shelf if they are not sophisticated.
The shopkeeper's books come from a wide range of sources, and some of the items are unique books from used bookstores; Some may be gifts, including the signature of the author of the book; The independent publications of Benpu Academy and the occasional works of Bishan Book Company are precious, both of which are representative of the minority.
As an independent bookstore run by an individual, the level of book recommendation often depends on the owner's own quality. For non-social science books, the proprietor Wang Guolin can overcome the limitations. Shopkeepers often refer to sales, as well as the professionalism and purpose of the book buyer. For example, "Wandering to the End of the Universe" was once recommended because it was sold in large quantities to astronomy enthusiasts.
Small, cluttered bookstores often confuse book seekers, so if you have any difficulties, you should consult the owner directly. Its memory is amazing, the shopkeeper once showed his professional skills in "The Strongest Brain", and the program team randomly selected books, and the shopkeeper could accurately say the publisher, author, and price. When it comes to price, customers are often pleasantly surprised, and the store's quotation is usually 20% off the list price. Customers can also provide a book list directly, and if there is a missing item in the store, the store owner will try to buy it.
Baicaoyuan is not entirely a product of idealism's paranoia, the bookstore has a clear positioning, and the selection of books will not deviate from the main line of social science. Unless there are incredible difficulties, the next move will inevitably be adjacent to liberal arts and comprehensive colleges and universities with strong humanistic qualities. In addition, although the purpose is simple and unintentional, the owner has also established a circle of acquaintances among the senior customer group - Baicaoyuan is actually a small medium.
The disadvantages of the store are also stark, the number of seats is very small, and there is also a lack of readers' meetings, exhibitions, and cultural and creative supplies that large bookstores have. The more fatal weakness lies in the instability of the operation, and based on very reliable information, Baicao Garden will be relocated in the future.
