Kepler's Books

Kepler's Books has been the intellectual commons of Silicon Valley since 1955, a remarkable tenure that has seen the store evolve from a counterculture bookshop on the peninsula to one of the most important literary spaces in the technology capital of the world. The El Camino Real location has hosted an extraordinary roster of speakers over the decades, from Joan Baez and the Grateful Dead in the folk era to today's tech CEOs and Nobel scientists. The technology and innovation section reflects the neighborhood's DNA, with titles on artificial intelligence, venture capital, and the ethics of technology displayed alongside literary fiction and philosophy. Stanford University's proximity ensures a steady stream of academics and students, and the science section benefits from the region's concentration of research talent. The store nearly closed in 2012 but was saved by a community fundraising campaign that demonstrated just how essential Kepler's is to the cultural fabric of the peninsula. The in-store cafe and events space have been beautifully renovated, creating a modern gathering place rooted in decades of literary tradition.