Book Brothers

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Michael and Tom Zubal have been in the used book business their entire lives and love to share their experiences of buying books around the country as well as discuss the pitfalls of selling books online at sites like Abebooks.com and Amazon.com

Zubal Books


    • May 12, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 35m AVG DURATION
    • 20 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Book Brothers

    Police, mathematicians, and BIG book jobs

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2025 25:41


    In episode 14 the Zubal brothers discuss the synchronicity that runs through just about every interaction when doing a deal. Also, Michael details a run-in with the start-struck New Jersey police and Tom waxes philosophical about booksellers as glorified moving companies. 

    The Best Laid Plans....

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2023 20:16


    Michael and Tom discuss a HUGE book collection in Virginia as well as a book aquiring trip up to Muskegon. Both trips share in common a few unforeseen obstacles. The brothers also discuss how they market books to various clients and other aspects of the used book world in the 21st century

    Art + books = Love / Treachery on the East Coast / Digital Book Piracy...

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2022 39:49


    Tom recounts a 14 course meal with book artist Amanda Love, Michael almost loses a load on the East Coast, the brothers discuss the scourge of digital book piracy, and more!

    The biggest book deal (conclusion) / What makes a book valuable?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2021 25:37


    Our BIGGEST Book Purchase (to date!)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2021 37:43


    In our 10th episode Michael and Tom discuss the biggest book purchase of their lifetimes, what makes a book rare or valuable, and the challenges of entering the used book business in the 21st century.

    Book tripping into disaster

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2021 26:25


    In episode 9, Michael recounts his near-death experience in a wintery maelstrom with a van full of books and Tom provides a breakdown of his recent book trips to St. Louis and Los Angeles.

    Michael Zinman discusses his legendary NY Public Library story

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2021 30:33


    Michael and Tom Zubal (The Book Brothers) veer from their usual path and bring on special guest renowned book collector Michael Zinman to set the record straight regarding and important 1990s rescue of tens of thousands of printed artifacts from the New York Public Library. Aside from sharing rare insight and first person experiences with The Brothers, Zinman appears in the recent film "The Booksellers"

    The art of the book deal in the 21st century - Rock n' Roll, leather, and movies

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2020 39:11


    Michael and Tom Zubal discuss 2 local deals that involve rock n' roll lifestyles and several trips hauling the goods as well as a major purchase of several thousand pristine Easton Press books on the East Coast. They also share their thoughts on the movie "The Booksellers"

    50,000 Books on an Island

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2020 35:17


    Michael and Tom Zubal discuss a purchase of 50,000 books on a remote island and chat about scholarly, rare and collectible books

    50,000 Books on an Island

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2020 35:17


    Michael and Tom Zubal discuss a purchase of 50,000 books on a remote island and chat about scholarly, rare and collectible books

    Book Brothers Episode 5

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2020 36:38


    Michael and Tom Zubal discuss their recent adventures buying and selling scholarly and rare books. Among other topics, Michael recounts a horrific episode in San Francisco, and Tom discusses the Easton Press market as well as Amazon's refusal to remove the millions of fake, duplicate book pages which deceive customers into spending more than they should

    Book Brothers Episode 5

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2020 36:38


    Michael and Tom Zubal discuss their recent adventures buying and selling scholarly and rare books. Among other topics, Michael recounts a horrific episode in San Francisco, and Tom discusses the Easton Press market as well as Amazon's refusal to remove the millions of fake, duplicate book pages which deceive customers into spending more than they should

    Episode 4 - ABEBOOKS' Fake listings & California chaos

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2018 41:13


    Michael and Tom Zubal discuss the millions of fake book listings on Abebooks.com and then recant their tales of a huge book haul in Northern and Southern California.

    Episode 4 - ABEBOOKS' Fake listings & California chaos

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2018 41:13


    Michael and Tom Zubal discuss the millions of fake book listings on Abebooks.com and then recant their tales of a huge book haul in Northern and Southern California.

    Book Brothers Episode 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2016 71:59


    Michael and Tom Zubal talk about the ins and outs of life in the book business. Highlights include a chaotic visit to Queens involving several thousand books, an introductory course on BOOKJACKING LEVEL II, a recap of Michael's talk at a seminar on stealing books, and other adventures unique to the Book Brothers!

    Book Brothers Episode 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2016 71:59


    Michael and Tom Zubal talk about the ins and outs of life in the book business. Highlights include a chaotic visit to Queens involving several thousand books, an introductory course on BOOKJACKING LEVEL II, a recap of Michael's talk at a seminar on stealing books, and other adventures unique to the Book Brothers!

    Book Brothers Episode 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2014 28:20


    Tom & Mike discuss the evil known as BOOKJACKING. Find out how you can save lots of money by NOT buying from bookjackers. Also, Tom talks about his most recent buying trip to Los Angeles that netted about 30,000 books.

    Book Brothers Episode 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2014 28:20


    Tom & Mike discuss the evil known as BOOKJACKING. Find out how you can save lots of money by NOT buying from bookjackers. Also, Tom talks about his most recent buying trip to Los Angeles that netted about 30,000 books.

    Book Brothers Episode 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2013 15:15


    Between Michael and Tom Zubal, they have over 70 years of experience in the used book business. Zubal Books, founded by their dad, John, in 1961, has been a giant in the scholarly, rare, and out-of-print book business for decades. Now, for the first time, the brothers reveal secrets of the trade, tales of book hauls on the road, and other insights on this ancient vocation. Every episode will educate you on what books are valuable, introduce you to some of the amazing characters that the Zubals have worked with over the years, and just let the boys unload about things in the book trade that make them smile or give them the feelings that their heads may explode!

    Book Brothers Episode 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2013 15:15


    Between Michael and Tom Zubal, they have over 70 years of experience in the used book business. Zubal Books, founded by their dad, John, in 1961, has been a giant in the scholarly, rare, and out-of-print book business for decades. Now, for the first time, the brothers reveal secrets of the trade, tales of book hauls on the road, and other insights on this ancient vocation. Every episode will educate you on what books are valuable, introduce you to some of the amazing characters that the Zubals have worked with over the years, and just let the boys unload about things in the book trade that make them smile or give them the feelings that their heads may explode!

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