Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Barrow St. Building to be Converted into Single Family Homes

A remarkable foreshadowing in the VILLAGER newspaper from August 14, 2014, is actually about Jared Kushner featuring a big centerpiece, highly pertinent & hilarious revolutionary polemic from our very own Jim Drougas.


Thursday, June 14, 2018

"He Speaks Words in Prolific Volume Like a Machine Gun"

POPEYE Magazine, a monthly men's fashion magazine based in Tokyo, Japan, published this article highlighting twenty-five bookstores around the world known for their character. They featured Unoppressive Books and seemed particularly taken with bookstore founder Jim Drougas, who they described as speaking words in "prolific volume like a machine gun."


Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Extra! Extra! Read All About Us in the New York Times

Check out this great write-up of Unoppressive Books in the New York Times, written by Maggie Paley!




Friday, August 8, 2014

Unoppressive Non-Imperialist Bargain Books Still a Hit on the Big Screen!

Did you know we're featured in the film Obvious Child, which came out back in June? Obvious Child, directed by Gillian Robespierre, is an unorthodox romantic comedy, a love story about an abortion. The main character Donna, played by Jenny Slate, is a 28-year-old stand-up comedian who works in a West Village bookstore -- that's right: us! -- until she's told it's going out of business. (No worries though -- in real life, we're in for the long haul.)

Check out these two more recent articles by the GVSHP and New York Observer that testify to how our store keeps people laughing as soon as they see the name on the screen!

West Village Bookshop Steals the Show in 'Obvious Child'
“Audiences laugh so hard when the sign pops up. Either they know the store or they just chuckle because the name is so great,” Ms. Robespierre told Off the Grid. “I’ve never been in a screening when the awning to the shop doesn’t get a laugh.”

The Unconventional, Extra-Ordinary Village Bookstore That Movie Directors Can't Resist
“The narrative in the movie of the store shutting down was very much a deliberate comment on the struggles that independent businesses face, especially in New York City with rents being astronomical, as well as the general decline in actual books being sold and the advancement into the digital age,” Robespierre wrote us in an e-mail. “I grew up in New York City in the ’80s and ’90s when the city was only mom-and-pop stores. Starbucks didn’t rule the streets and banks were not on every corner. We always wanted Donna to work in a small bookshop where the environment felt very familial (that’s very much the vibe of Jim’s shop).”

If you haven't seen Obvious Child, it's still playing at the Angelika theatre. It's truly a great movie, so go check it out (and keep a lookout for us!).

Thursday, August 7, 2014

New Series of Free Bookmarks: William Blake

We're proud to announce that the first in a new series of free bookmarks is now available in the store! This one features William Blake -- America a Prophecy's Plate 13, to be exact. Our most famous, nearly trademark image for Unoppressive and unoppressive thinkers.

Once again, these bookmarks are completely free and designed here at the store, so you won't find them anywhere else. Come by and get your own!

Are there other authors or major figures that you'd like to see on a bookmark in the future? Let us know -- we could make it happen!

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Authors You Need to Read Before Being Reincarnated: J. Krishnamurti

a.k.a., Unoppressive Non-Imperialist Essentials

In case you haven't heard, our new series, "Authors You Need to Read Before Being Reincarnated," features a list of select authors whom we believe are essential to the unoppressive, non-imperialistic life.

Last week, Alan Watts was featured as our first author for enlightenment. Today, we're excited to feature three works by Jiddu Krishnamurti.

J. Krishnamurti was the ultimate non-guru that every guru had to acknowledge, however reluctantly or joyfully. If it were up to him, we would all be completely free of any and every notion that ever interfered with our chance to be unoppressed and non-imperialistic. Every messiah that ever lived is saying to him- or herself, "Why didn't I think of that?"

Facing a World in Crisis by J. Krishnamurti

OUR PRICE: $6.75
Retail Price: $13.95

MAIL-ORDER OPTION: $3 shipping (US only)

J. Krishnamurti, one of the most beloved and renowned religious teachers of the twentieth century, often taught his students that they must look at the state of the world, with all its violence and conflict, if they are ever to understand themselves. To turn away from world events was for him not to be alive to what life has to teach.

Facing a World in Crisis presents a selection of talks that Krishnamurti gave on how to live in and respond to troubling and uncertain times. His message of personal responsibility and the importance of connecting with the broader world is presented in a nonsectarian and nonpolitical way. Direct and ultimately life-affirming, Facing a World in Crisis will resonate with readers today who are looking for a new way to understand and find hope in challenging times.

On Freedom by J. Krishnamurti

OUR PRICE: $5.25
Retail Price: $9.95

MAIL-ORDER OPTION: $3 shipping (US only)

Inward Revolution: Bringing About Radical Change in the World by J. Krishnamurti

OUR PRICE: $6.75
Retail Price: $14

MAIL-ORDER OPTION: $3 shipping (US only)

J. Krishnamurti was one of the most influential and widely known spiritual teachers of the twentieth century. Here, he inquires with the reader into how remembering and dwelling on past events, both pleasurable and painful, give us a false sense of continuity, causing us to suffer. His instruction is to be attentive and clear in our perceptions and to meet the challenges of life directly in each new moment.

Call or e-mail if you'd like to place an order, or come visit us anytime. And check back here soon, as we have many more incredible authors to talk about!

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Authors You Need to Read Before Being Reincarnated: Alan Watts

a.k.a., Unoppressive Non-Imperialist Essentials

Check out this new series we're launching! "Authors You Need to Read Before Being Reincarnated" is a compilation of certain select authors that we love here at Unoppressive, and the works we offer by them. All are a must-read for passing onto a fruitful and enlightened reincarnation. :)

Yes, we do offer MAIL ORDER for all these books. Shipping is $3 anywhere in the US. Simply call or e-mail us to place an order!

Many of these books are either rare editions or just totally out of print anywhere else. We really do offer the most unoppressive prices on the market. Come visit us soon! And check back here, as we'll add more authors each day.


Alan Watts, the first figure in our series, is one of the most important philosophers and interpreters of Eastern philosophy for his time and ours. If he were alive today, he'd probably subvert social media the same way he subverted Christianity in his time. One day, his complete audio recordings will be obligatory for anyone coming of age in the new age. His book transcripts are a terrific artifact of his pervasive effect on our times and a magnet for all those that nearly know of him and dearly need to.

Philosophies of Asia: The Edited Transcripts by Alan Watts

OUR PRICE: $6
Retail Price: Out of print everywhere else!

MAIL-ORDER OPTION: $3 shipping (US only)

Featuring the edited transcripts of eight talks delivered by Alan Watts from 1965 to 1972, The Philosophies of Asia offers an overview of the major traditions of Eastern thought. Watts addresses the major Asian philosophies--Hinduism, Zen Buddhism, and Taoism -- and reveals the common threads of spirituality that weave their way through each of these traditions.

Myth and Religion: A Thorn in the Flesh by Alan Watts

OUR PRICE: $6
Retail Price: Out of print everywhere else!

MAIL-ORDER OPTION: $3 shipping (US only)

This dynamic collection of edited transcripts begins with Not What Should Be, But What Is! In this powerful talk on the contrasts between classical Eastern and traditional Western mythologies, Watts questions whether the image of a divine patriarch is still intellectually plausible in light of our ever growing understanding of the universe. He then takes a revealing look at the mystical origins of Christianity in Jesus - His Religion, Or the Religion About Him? and explores how Christianity has diverged historically from those teachings in a brilliant and well researched critique of the Church. In Democracy in the Kingdom of Heaven Watts then carries his inquiry one step further, and asks if indeed a monarchical religion still makes sense in a democratic society. Watts takes a fascinating look at the ultimately anthropomorphic quality of man's view of his god in Images of Man. Here he is only half kidding when he says that "In the beginning there was Man, and he created God in his image," pointing to the highly subjective nature of our inquiry into the highest orders of reality. In the final chapter, Religion and Sexuality, Watts again looks at organized religion, but with more than a touch of humor as he suggests that churches today are sexual regulation societies, and precious little else. To make this point Watts asks, "How else can you get thrown out?" He then goes on to discuss the social implications of the Church's investment in moral issues, and demonstrates that this may in fact be a ploy to cover up for the lack of any substantial religious teaching in organized religion today.

Zen and the Beat Way by Alan Watts



OUR PRICE: $6
Retail Price: $10 (from 6.99 lbs)

MAIL-ORDER OPTION: $3 shipping (US only)

Zen and the Beat Way is based upon selections from Alan Watts's early radio talks, many of which were first aired on the Pacifica Radio Network in the late fifties and early sixties, and sessions from two of his most compelling seminars in the mid-sixties.

Check back soon!

Friday, July 11, 2014

New Arrivals! Featuring Art Spiegelman, Hunter S. Thompson, and more!

Hey everyone! We have a few new quality books out on the shelves this weekend. Come check them out! As always, everything is far below half retail price.

Be a Nose! Sketchbooks by Art Spiegelman

We're very excited to offer this package of 3 sketchbooks by Art Spiegelman, a personal friend of the store. In fact, Jim himself even cameos in one of the sketchbooks!

OUR PRICE: $10.75
Retail Price: $29

Description:
Art Spiegelman, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Maus, creator of Wacky Packs and the Garbage Pail Kids, and father of the modern graphic novel (though he’s still demanding a blood test), presents this warts-and-all reproduction of his private sketchbooks — and the results are as candid, sharp, and funny as the relentlessly innovative man behind them. Be a Nose! is a rare glimpse into the secret scribblings of an American original.

Fear and Loathing at Rolling Stone: The Essential Writing of Hunter S. Thompson


OUR PRICE: $6.50
Hardcover Retail Price: $32.50

Description:
From the bestselling author of The Rum Diary and king of “Gonzo” journalism Hunter S. Thompson, comes the definitive collection of the journalist’s finest work from Rolling Stone. Fear and Loathing at Rolling Stone showcases the roller-coaster of a career at the magazine that was his literary home.

“Buy the ticket, take the ride,” was a favorite slogan of Hunter S. Thompson, and it pretty much defined both his work and his life. Jann S. Wenner, the outlaw journalist’s friend and editor for nearly thirty-five years, has assembled articles—and a wealth of never- before-seen correspondence and internal memos from Hunter’s storied tenure at Rolling Stone—that begin with Thompson’s infamous run for sheriff of Aspen on the Freak Party ticket in 1970 and end with his final piece on the Bush-Kerry showdown of 2004. In between is Thompson’s remarkable coverage of the 1972 presidential campaign and plenty of attention paid to Richard Nixon; encounters with Muhammad Ali, Bill Clinton, and the Super Bowl; and a lengthy excerpt from his acknowledged masterpiece, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. The definitive volume of Hunter S. Thompson’s work published in the magazine, Fear and Loathing at Rolling Stone traces the evolution of a personal and professional relationship that helped redefine modern American journalism, presenting Thompson through a new prism as he pursued his lifelong obsession: The life and death of the American Dream.

Haunted Greenwich Village: Bohemian Banshees, Spooky Sites, and Gonzo Ghost Walks by Tom Ogden

OUR PRICE: $5.50
Retail Price: $14.95

Description:
Tales of ghostly goings-on and otherworldly encounters in Greenwich Village

Among New York City’s many treasures is Greenwich Village, a bohemian area filled with creativity and rebellion. Haunted Greenwich Village—a collection of stories of ghosts, mysteries, and paranormal happenings in Greenwich Village—will leave readers delightfully frightened. Meet a colorful cast of spirits and spectres, visit haunted hotels and houses, and experience the eerie and supernatural. Many of the locations are accessible to the public—and some are even open for overnight stays for the truly daring—including:

Washington Square: This upper-class neighborhood is haunted bycelebrity apparitions, the spirits of those buried there, the ghosts of those executed at Hangman’s Elm—and even a phantom dog.

Third Street: The spirit that haunts a block here sometimes parks his horse and carriage directly in front of NYU’s D’Agostino Residence Hall. This famous early American politician and his daughter, who disappeared at sea, have even disrupted a restaurant about four blocks away in the West Village.

Voices of Time: A Life in Stories by Eduardo Galeano


OUR PRICE: $4.50
Retail Price: $25

Description:
In this kaleidoscope of reflections, renowned South American author Eduardo Galeano ranges widely, from childhood to love, music, plants, fear, indignity, and indignation. In the signal style of his bestselling Memory of Fire trilogy—brief fragments that build steadily into an organic whole—Galeano offers a rich, wry history that is both calmly philosophical and fiercely political.

That's all for now! Come visit us, and check back for more in the future!

Monday, September 13, 2010

Dylan on Dylan on Dylan on Dylan...

Did you know we have kind of a thing on Bob Dylan here at Unoppressive? Maybe it's the large life sized cardboard cutout in the window, or our close proximity to Cafe Wha?, or the 35+ different Dylan books dominating the wall of the music section, but if you've ever stopped in we're sure you've noticed a certain reverence held here for the life and works of Mr. Zimmerman.

So how about coming in and checking out our highly-recommended gorgeous hardcover edition of Dylan On Dylan, a collection of 29 fantastic interviews/conversations with the prolific singer/songwriter spanning 20 years, now for sale here at an economically-friendly $12.00.



Read it? Already have it? We got you covered. Let's run through a quick list, shall we?

Bob Dylan Chronicles Vol 1 -- $8.00, reduced 1/3 from our normal $12 discounted price
Keys to the Rain: The Definitive Bob Dylan Encyclopedia -- $9.00
Younger Than That Now: The Collected Interviews with Bob Dylan -- $9.00
Bob Dylan Performing Artist, The Middle Years 1974 - 1986 -- $8.00
Bob Dylan Performing Artist 1960 - 1973 -- $8.00
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right: Bob Dylan, The Early Years -- $8.75
Hollywood Foto-Rhetoric: Text by Bob Dylan, Photographs by Barry Feinstein -- $15.75
Bob Dylan: The Essential Interviews -- $6.00
Bob Dylan Album Fire & Complete Discography -- $6.00
Forever Young: Photographs of Bob Dylan -- $15.00
Dylan's Visions of Sin -- $9.00
Bob Dylan Inspirations -- Was $6, now and extra 1/3rd off at $4.00

And there's more than that, but damned if my fingers aren't getting tired. To get a better idea of our shrine to Dylan-related literature, stop into Unoppressive sometime at 34 Carmine St. between Bleeker and Bedford, open until at least 10pm weeknights, midnight on weekends. As always, all prices include tax, so leave your pennies at home.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

LCD: The Art & Writing of WFMU-FM

For the music-minded, back in stock is The Best of LCD, edited by Dave the Spaz, a collection of material from the program guide/magazine put out by legendary freeform radio station 91.1 WFMU here in New York and New Jersey. Filled with art, design, comics, and articles from the magazine’s 26 issue run (premiering in 1986), LCD is a brilliant piece of print history for collectors or casual listeners alike. Pick it up for great art from the likes of Harvey Pekar and Richard Sala (along with scores of others), and articles ranging from “Why Playlists Shouldn’t Be Politically Correct” to “The Perfect Repressing”, or “The Step-By-Step Guide to Staying Unemployed”, down to my favorite, “Why Don Mclean (The ‘American Pie’ Guy) Is An Asshole”. Definitely pick this book up because we can't guarantee you how long it will last.

Retailing originally for a worthwhile $29.95, you can now pick up The Best Of LCD: The Art and Writing of WFMU 91.1fm here from Unoppressive for only $9.