City Lights is a landmark general bookstore, internationally known for our expert selection of titles and our commitment to free intellectual inquiry.

Founded in 1953 as the nation’s first all-paperback bookstore, we now offer both hardcovers and paperbacks from all of the major publishing houses, along with an impressive range of titles from smaller, specialty publishers. Our shop features an extensive selection of poetry, fiction, translations, politics, history, philosophy, music, spirituality, and more, with a staff whose special interests in many fields contribute to the hand-picked quality of what you see on the shelves.

Events

Thursday, May 30, 2024, 7:00 pm PST

Launch Party for Gil Cuadros' MY BODY IS PAPER

Co-sponsored by the SF LGBT Center - An evening with Kevin Martin, Rafael Pérez-Torres and Amy Scholder- with an opening statement by Greyson Wright from the SF LGBT Center - and with readings by Joseph Cassara and Flavia Elisa Mora - City Lights celebrates the publication of My Body Is Paper: Stories and Poems - by Gil Cuadros (Edited by Pablo Alvarez, Kevin Martin, Rafael Pérez-Torres, and Terry Wolverton) - Foreword by Justin Torres - Published by City Lights Books

Instore
Event

Browse Our Shelves

All of the sections you’ll find in our bookstore are available here for browsing!

Merchandise & Gifts

Skip to content