Left Hand Books

Left hand=leftist books. But seriously, there is an interesting collection of books in this place as well as an equally interesting guy who mans the shop (voluntarily I might add). Love the sign when you walk in that says: Ask me why capitalism is ruining our country. My boyfriend and I debated embroiling the guy in a debate about capitalism but chose not to. Good thing because he was a chatty Patty on normal topics so something tells me we would have been in there for hours debating him. I could spend hours in here perusing the shelves. Definitely some underground books and more conspiracy theory books I’ve ever seen. But crazy cool for opening your mind to differing points of view!

This bookstore is very unique compared to other bookstores I have been to. It has just about all of your resources for leftist paraphernalia. They have great stickers which will make any GOP supporter foam at the mouth. Yes it is a very fine place indeed.

Surprisingly quiet for a «leftist» book shop. I expected revelers protesting the latest news story, bombs going off every which way, red paint being strewn across the room in hazy fits of euphoria.
Instead I got a store that’s sort of hidden away on Pearl Street that is clean and nondestructive. What gives, Left Hand Books?
Even though I didn’t get what I was expecting, I do like this bookstore. I’ve always needed a place where I can buy Mein Kampf, the Satanic Verses, numerous feminist and queer books, and books about conspiracies in the United States all in one place. And that’s no joke, because there is so much more.
And… wait for it… there are postcards. MY kind of postcards that look sort of vintage and speak out about social norms. I’m so here every time I come up to Boulder.
Plus, the place is volunteer-​driven, and tons of free magazines and pamphlets about the stuff you don’t want anyone in your social circle to know that you’re reading about. Cool. It’s like a leftist book cult in underground Boulder.

An old friend of mine in Austin, Texas speaks very highly about a bookstore there called Brave New Books. Thus I had recently been thinking that I wished there were a Brave New Books –like store here in Boulder, or somewhere in the greater Denver area…
And then I realized — there is! Now, I’m not saying they’re exactly alike, because they definitely are not, however, I remebered that there is a lively underground (basement) bookstore accessible from the venerable Pearl St. Mall, right near the intersection of Pearl and Broadway. Left Hand Books! A collective, run primarily by volunteers.
As the other reviewers have already said, one can find books and other media here that simply cannot be found anywhere else; not even on the internet.
There are comfy chairs where you can sit and peruse your selection if you wish. It is usually quite friendly, and if you’re looking for an interesting and educational volunteer experience and you are liberal, left-​leaning, and/​or open-​minded, perhaps this would be a place for you to volunteer. Who knows?
For one who’s become a middle-​of-​the-​road coaster over the years (me), it’s a refreshing new awakening indeed.

Lots of Leftist magazines and books here, for those who are at home with that sort of thing («How much Change would an Obama Presidency really provide?»). It might be a little tricky to find, since it’s located not at street level but down a basement stairwell. Very strong political science and history sections. I sort of wish they carried more independent publishers, but it’s still rather amazing that they are still around in this difficult economic climate, esp. when it comes to indy booksellers. I would say this is a neater and cleaner version of Revolution Books in Berkeley, CA.

This place reminded me of my college only with less of a smug self-​righteous attitude when you’re considered not Liberal enough. Whatevs.
I’ve read my share of leftist literature and found the selection here to be both nostalgic and pleasantly diverse. While this place won’t please someone looking for a regular book store it clearly serves the leftist political philosophy niche with panache.
If you’re looking, this is the place to go.

Left Hand Books is a specifically Boulder bookstore — they even say on their website that they are a volunteer collective since the 1970’s — so think book commune found in the basement right off of Pearl Street mall.
Now if you couldn’t already guess, Left-​Hand is a leftist bookstore, so if you are looking for your newest Bill O’Rielly or Ann Coulter trash, you won’t find it here (and seriously, shoot self in face). However, by leftist I do mean LEFTIST — i.e. not democrat affiliated. This however doesn’t necessarily mean Socialist or Communist, although do have some works by people with both (separate) views. Now what this does mean is that like with any venue that pushes only one political viewpoint, it is imperative that you take what you see and read in here and check its credibility.
That said, the times I’ve been in here I’ve always found some decent reading material that you simply can’t find anywhere else. Furthermore, I came to a local
meeting here once, which was pretty cool; it was very cool that the store gave us the venue and the chairs; still, when the guy behind the counter cracks the joke «what was the Republican President before George W. Bush? uh… yeah, I think his name was Bill Clinton» three times while I was browsing their bumper-​stickers, I think we have a problem.