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Organization
Kepler's Bookstore
Kepler's was founded in May 1955 by peace activist Roy Kepler. The store soon blossomed into the cultural epicenter it has always remained. It attracted loyal customers from the students and faculty of Stanford University and from other members of the surrounding communities who were interested in serious books and ideas. The Grateful Dead gave live shows there early in their career, and they, along with folk singer Joan Baez, often appeared at Kepler’s sharing ideas at the bookstore with local community leaders.
In 1990 Publishers Weekly named Kepler’s “Bookseller of the Year.” However, by 1996, it was clear that the bookselling business was being completely changed by the emergence of large discount warehouses and Amazon.com. These changing economic conditions affecting independent bookstores nationwide, and the concomitant internal business problems, caused Kepler’s to close its doors on August 31, 2005--briefly. The local community responded with demonstrations. Thousands gathered on the expanse of what is now known as “Kepler’s Plaza” to express support and protest the loss. Weeks later, with community investment, a flourishing Literary Circle Membership Program and a revived sense of Kepler’s place within Silicon Valley, the bookstore re-opened in October of 2005.
Today, Kepler's has once again evolved with it communities and remains a household word in the daily lives of its fiercely loyal customers. It is still a vibrant cultural center, not only offering a vast array of books and continuing its stellar author events but it now also serves a burgeoning population of children and families and has developed a community partner program without equal.
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Contact Info
Kepler's Bookstore
1010 El Camino Real
Menlo Park, CA 94025Phone: 650-324-4321
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Upcoming Events
11/20/09 John Ross - El Monstruo: Dread and Redemption in Mexico
Kepler's Books11/21/09 Special Book Signing with Andre Agassi - OPEN: An Autobiography
Kepler's Books11/22/09 Lights Out Story Time with Susan Gal - Night Lights
Kepler's Books11/29/09 Story Time with Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher - The King's Taster
Kepler's Books12/01/09 An Evening of Poetry - Kim Addonizio: Lucifer at the Starlite & Cheryl Dumesnil: In Praise of Falling
Kepler's Books12/02/09 Jean-Marie Apostolides - The Metamorphoses of Tintin; or Tintin for Adults
Kepler's Books12/11/09 Greg Mortenson - Stones Into Schools
Smithwick Theater - Foothill College -
Member Reviews
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Event Name: Rachel Simmons - The Curse of the Good Girl: Raising Authentic Girls with Courage and Confidence
"Essential book for all women"
Comment posted by: Nancy Mehegan from Montclair, NJ, Aug 11, 2009
My blog, Vaboomer, http://www.Vaboomer.com offers a free copy of this book. This book is a MUST for all women. It's a book about empowerment. It offers alternative strategies to the societal... Expand
My blog, Vaboomer, http://www.Vaboomer.com offers a free copy of this book. This book is a MUST for all women. It's a book about empowerment. It offers alternative strategies to the societal conditioning women receive which drains their strength and innate power. Book Drawing is 8/26/09. Collapse
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Event Name: Guy Kawasaki - Reality Check: The Irreverent Guide to Outsmarting, Outmanaging, and Outmarketing Your Competition
"Feedback"
Comment posted by: despino from USA, Jun 06, 2009
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Event Name: Guy Kawasaki - Reality Check: The Irreverent Guide to Outsmarting, Outmanaging, and Outmarketing Your Competition
"appreciation"
Comment posted by: despino from USA, Jun 06, 2009
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Event Name: Kathryn Stockett - The Help with Special Guest Actress Octavia Spencer
"The Help"
Review posted by: Cathy from Cinti.,OH USA, May 28, 2009
This book is one of the best books I have listened to. The actresses read this book for us superbly. I laughed. I cried. I reminisced. Thank you ladies for pure entertainment.
This book is one of the best books I have listened to. The actresses read this book for us superbly. I laughed. I cried. I reminisced. Thank you ladies for pure entertainment.
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Event Name: Poetry with Niloufar Talebi - Belonging: New Poetry by Iranians Around the World
"Lemons and Oranges, Light and Water"
Review posted by: Peter Corless from Mountain View, CA, Feb 15, 2009
The poetry of BeLonging is in the trope of Iranian poetry on facing pages with English. The mirror image of typography is reflective of the sense of longing and belonging. That sense of acceptance yet... Expand
The poetry of BeLonging is in the trope of Iranian poetry on facing pages with English. The mirror image of typography is reflective of the sense of longing and belonging. That sense of acceptance yet denial. That cherished memory of what was, and the often stinging reality of what is. BeLonging is a play on words, and on emotions and thoughts. Lovely and loving, bitter and remote. Bitter and sweet. Like the lemons and the oranges. Like the red roses and their thorns. A moving compilation of poetry for any collection, and an incredible gift for anyone who appreciates world literature. Especially timely given the recent 30th anniversary of the Iranian revolution, which began the globl disapora. Collapse
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Event Name: Sumbul Ali-Karamali - The Muslim Next Door: The Qur'an, the Media, and That Veil Thing
"Questions for the author"
Comment posted by: Kamala from http://revuse.wetpaint.com/page/Ten+Questions+for+the+Muslim+Next+Door, Dec 07, 2008
Here are ten questions for the book's author: http://revuse.wetpaint.com/page/Ten+Questions+for+the+Muslim+Next+Door Perhaps someone who attends the talk might be willing to ask her one or more... Expand
Here are ten questions for the book's author: http://revuse.wetpaint.com/page/Ten+Questions+for+the+Muslim+Next+Door Perhaps someone who attends the talk might be willing to ask her one or more of them? Collapse
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Event Name: Diane Johnson - Lulu in Marrakech
"What Marrakech is she talking about?"
Review posted by: DanaS from Marrakech, Oct 18, 2008
I’m an American who has lived in Marrakech for 30 years and I’m wondering what Marrakech the author is talking about? She passes off a mish-mash of foods, traditions, names and clothing from other... Expand
I’m an American who has lived in Marrakech for 30 years and I’m wondering what Marrakech the author is talking about? She passes off a mish-mash of foods, traditions, names and clothing from other parts of the Islamic world that have nothing to do with Morocco. There are so many factual errors—there’s no Moroccan dish called poulet au poivres rouges, no raisins in a pigeon pastilla, and no goats in the trees on the Casablanca road, to name a few—that I couldn’t help wondering if the author was going to set her story in Marrakech, why didn’t she take the trouble to get the details right? There are also many irresponsible inaccuracies in her descriptions of relations between Muslims and Christians that just add to the misunderstandings that already exist between us and the Islamic world. If you want to get an authentic look at life in Marrakech, read another book: “Zohra’s Ladder & other Moroccan Tales.” Collapse
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Event Name: Alice Schroeder - The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life
"Interview"
Comment posted by: Ted Haggen (FM107.1 Producer) from St. Paul, Minnesota, Oct 10, 2008
Hello, my name is Ted Haggen and I am the producer for the Ian and Margery FM107.1 morning show in Minneapolis and St. Paul. They saw your book and would be very interested in an interview with you.... Expand
Hello, my name is Ted Haggen and I am the producer for the Ian and Margery FM107.1 morning show in Minneapolis and St. Paul. They saw your book and would be very interested in an interview with you. Please contact me at your earliest convenience and we can talk more. My email is tedhaggen@yahoo.com or you can contct me on my cell. (612) 214-0147. Thanks in advance and I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Ted Haggen Collapse
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Event Name: Andre Dubus III - The Garden of Last Days
"Could not put this down!"
Review posted by: Reader Mama from NH, USA, Jun 28, 2008
A gripping page turning. Dubus masterfully does it again. I didn't put the book down for two days, both dreading and eager to get through the arc of the story lines. Loved it. Sad it's over
A gripping page turning. Dubus masterfully does it again. I didn't put the book down for two days, both dreading and eager to get through the arc of the story lines. Loved it. Sad it's over
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Event Name: Tobias Wolff - Our Story Begins: New and Selected Stories
"Write Up of Wolff's Talk at Kepler's"
Comment posted by: David R. from Oakland, California, May 05, 2008
There is an interesting write up of Wolff's talk on www.TheBayAreaIntellect.com.
There is an interesting write up of Wolff's talk on www.TheBayAreaIntellect.com.
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