the problem with Blackwell in Oxford

I did find two of the seven books I was looking for: one on Duns Scotus, the other on Napoleon. They probably had the others too, but the experience was too frustrating, so I left.

The problem with Blackwell is simple: they overcategorize everything. I’m sure they think they are being helpful, but all it really does is curtail the sense of plenitude in each subject area, and change the experience from fascinated browsing into a sort of brain-teaser exercise where you have to imagine things like: “If I were a Blackwell manager, what section would I put that book in?” And that’s no fun. So I left.

Anyway, it’t time for what I came to Oxford for.