Evan Friess is a professor of history at James Madison University. He lives with his wife (a bookseller) and two children (who sometimes sell books) in Harrisonburg, Virginia. ABOUT A PROFESSION THAT MAKES ALMOST NO MONEY, BUT ALWAYS OUT OF LOVE. A bookstore is often the setting for romantic comedies or romance novels, sitcoms or detective thrillers. The atmosphere of the bookstore cannot but inspire — it is a romantic place and at the same time a refuge where you can get lost in books and find yourself. That's how the people who work there make it. "Where Books Live" is the story of American bookstores written with great tenderness, from Benjamin Franklin's first bookselling company to the online giant Amazon. But first of all, this is a story about booksellers, caring enthusiasts who are sincerely in love with books and their profession. "A sincere declaration of love for bookstores. Evan Friess shows them not as outlets, but as places of power — centers of attraction and community formation. In his book, bookstores become what changes people and the cultural life of the country.: It's not about business at all, but about ideas, lively conversations, and people. For anyone who works with books or just loves them, this is an important reminder: a bookstore is much more than a cash register and a shelving unit. It is a hymn to the "vitality" and faith of people in love with books." — Evgenia Rykalova, publisher and media manager.