Have you ever been in one of those neighborhood bookstores that are packed to the gills with books? Well, this place is just like that but on a grander scale. There are 18,000 miles of books, or so they say, but when you see the amount of books in this small Union Square facility, 18,000 seems quite possible.

Depending on when you head in to the mammoth shop, your experience could be an empty one or so extremely busy that find a book becomes like finding a full canteen in the middle of the desert; it's a survival of the fittest contest. I love going here because the selection of books is amazing and everything is decently priced or even on sale. I went there to buy a Jack Kerouac book and found it for $3 when Barnes & Nobles was charging it $15. If that’s not a steal, I don't know what it is.

I know that a lot of people aren't going to care so much about visiting a giant book store, but for me, this place is always a fun and new experience topped with the choicest books around. Plus, just to see all of those books jam packed into that small area is a sight unto itself. Enjoy!

It’s that time of the year again. Time to spread the yuletide spirit, to shop until your credit card drops, and most importantly, to boost your country’s economy with the Christmas dollar. If you happen to live in a country whose economy isn’t sporting a jolly ol’ Santa Claus-like potbelly, well, it’s time to do your part and spend, spend, spend. What an incredible time of the year, indeed: not only do you have the power to make friends and loved ones smile from ear to ear, but also your government.

So, then...what to buy? Here in New York City, if you want it, you can have it, from a date with Paris Hilton (I’m assuming that can be arranged —- hey, if she’ll date Nick Carter, she’ll date anyone!) to a Macy’s shopping spree. But this Christmas season, instead of buying little Bobby one of those distasteful video games that replicate actual World War II battle scenes (don’t even get me started) or your lovely wife a new diamond ring (c’mon —- why stop there when you can finance a new car?), head to the cream of the bookselling crop, Strand Bookstore.

Yes, that’s right, a book. Maybe not as exciting as a blinking, blipping doo-hickey, but a gift that promises to be much more enriching. Originally opened in 1927, Strand is a family-run establishment that somehow crams 18 miles of books into two floors of hardcover and paperback madness. Looking for a rare Graham Greene biopic? Head to Strand. Want to find that sci-fi fanatic a complete episode guide to Star Trek? Head to Strand.

You’re likely to find this popular store, located just below Union Square, totally packed, especially before Christmas, but bite your lip and press on through the stacks and stacks and stacks of surprisingly well-organized books. Stock changes every day, and this is one of the best spots in the city to find best-sellers and new releases at up to and over 50% off the cover price. In other words, a shopping excursion at Strand is bound to be much more of an adventure than, say, an outing to Barnes & Noble.

People, the written word is dying (and attention spans with it). Do your part by spreading its goodness —- hook your friends and family up with a book. Cater to their interests —- if its sports they’re into, search for one of Hunter S. Thompson’s works. If its homes and gardening, find "101 Tips to Beat Down Martha Stewart While She’s Still In Prison." The possibilities are endless... especially when you’re shopping at New York’s one and only Strand Bookstore.

This is a bibliophile’s dream and nightmare at the same time. It is cluttered with books, although they have made a commendable attempt at labeling sections for easy viewing. You know that you are nearing Strand’s because of the sheer number of outside bookracks that line both sides of the store, since it’s very conveniently located on a corner. Whatever the subject you will find it here and then some.

I always start with the outside racks, just in case. It’s really hard to see every single book that’s out there, although I’d love to. You can find paperbacks sometimes for 50 cents! On the other hand, if you are looking for rare books, you need not go elsewhere. Strand is famous for their claim of "8 miles of books" and I wouldn’t doubt it. They occupy 5 of 11 floors at this location. I haven’t been upstairs or downstairs yet so you can imagine; and to boot, I live here. If you think it’s impossible to exhaust a subject, you need to pay Strand a visit.

The nightmare part is made up of the very narrowest possible aisles where you can barely squeeze by, and if you were 8 feet tall, then you could browse the books that are stored all the way up there. They’re not all vertical mind you.

And if you’re looking for a place to sit, or a cappuccino to go with that great photography book you found, forget it. This is not Barnes & Noble or Borders. However, it is one of the few extremely successful and enduring independent bookstores around. It was founded in the late 1920’s and is still owned by the same family. They have another store downtown Manhattan on Fulton Street, but I’ve never been there. They are very conveniently located just minutes from Union Square , so if you’re taking the subway, this is the stop you’ll need. Their website is impressive, and you can shop on line, download their catalogue (how on earth does anyone do this incredible work?) and since they also deal in used books, you can buy or sell. Books are usually priced at 50% off and sometimes more. I am a passionate reader and I do like the fact that Strand does not judge a book by its cover. There are books on view here that would be censored elsewhere. Freedom of speech and the press is practiced here and one thing you really don’t see here are children. They would probably get trampled; if not stacked along side the books that have not been put away yet! And as books arrive continuously, the situation of disarray is eternal. The staff is responsive, but not terribly well mannered especially when they tell you to get on line to pay for the books. If you don’t take it personally, you’ll come back again and again.

It's a Friday night in New York City and The Strand is packed. The lights are bright, the dress code is casual and the beverage of choice...well, no drinks are allowed.

Strange you think?

Not for this bookstore.

Organized like a B&N, with books grouped according to topic but with the look, feel and yes, even smell, of an old library, The Strand houses about eight miles of used books and a countless number of students, professors, artists, writers and any other types of book lovers.

You can find books here on travel, poetry, history (of just about any country, war or culture), philosophy, religion, photography, cooking, the classics of course, and so much more. You could spend hours strolling up and down the miles of books, taking time to flip through something that catches your eye or picking up as many must-reads as you can carry on your way to the cashier. The Strand will also buy hardcovers on art, literature or philospohy.