What is the atheist section of the bookstore like in your community?

Question

I went on a short road trip over the weekend, about 40 miles from home. I stopped by a large chain bookstore, and found that the "atheist section" was five books on an endcap, but closer to home, I can find anything I could ever want. What has your experience been?

Answer 1

we don't have an atheist section in bookstores, but then again we have a religion section, so I guess anything else falls under the atheist one :D

Answer 2

I've never seen an atheist section in a bookstore. Even in the very large, two story book stores in my area (like Borders or Barne's and Noble), there is only a Religion Section, Spirituality Section, and a Philosophy Section. The books about or by atheists can be found scattered among these sections. I found Sam Harris' "End of Faith" in the religion section at a large local bookstore.

In the larger bookstores, there is an extensive section on Christianity but no specific section for any other religion. You don't see a Buddhism or Atheist isle.

The bookstore closest to me is very small and has almost nothing on these subjects. I usually have to have them order a book I am interested in in order to get it without driving to one of the larger stores.

Answer 3

In NYC, I have seen much larger atheist (and Pagan) sections in smaller bookstores, and only those "five books on an endcap" in ginormous chain stores! I prefer to avoid the chains.

Answer 4

I've never seen a special atheist section in any book store. Atheists are interested in hundreds of thousands of subjects, and are not just hung up on religion, which tends to drag you backwards into the archaic past. I checked out - The God Delusion from the library, but only read about a third of it because I found it dull dry and boring. Next, I'm planning on reading - The Unfinished Canadian by Andrew Cohen, should be interesting.

Answer 5

It depends on what you classify as "Atheist".

When I worked at Borders, Sunnyvale (CA) we had a moderately extensive philosophy section. It almost never required maintenance because it was rarely browsed.

Next to the spirituality section there there was a fairly good section of alternative spirituality books that most true Christians would consider Pagan, though the writers themselves often spoke of a single god.

At least once a week we had to rebuild the "Black Magic" section and replace its talker. Not only did the Christians complain about it (and prolly thrash it), but white light pagans would complain about it on a regular basis. It just goes to show you that for some people they want freedom and equal rights as long as it does not include EVERYONE.

Answer 6

I grew up in a small conservative community and the only section in the religious section was "Christian." Quite sad, really. Now I live in a large diverse city and the religion section is quite expansive. I've never considered what the atheist section would contain, I'll have to check it out next time I go.

Answer 7

We have two large chain bookstores across the road from each other. They both have a respectable selection in the science section.

Answer 8

You mean some bookstores have signs stating Atheist section? I thought that 90% of all bookstores were filled with atheist books.

Answer 9

I am a transplanted northerner living in Tallahassee (the Bible Belt), and so far as I have seen at several chain bookstores the atheist section is nonexistent!

Answer 10

There is a 'Religion' section in the Borders in my town. It has a pretty good balance, and includes atheist books. The 'Philosophy' section has quite a few books discussing atheism.

I live in a very conservative Christian town, but couldn't tell in the bookstore.