# Help Me Track Down some Obscure Books **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 30, 2001, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-track-down-some-obscure-books/90537 "2001-10-30T15:45:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![buddy1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@buddy1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddy1)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-track-down-some-obscure-books/90537/1 "2001-10-30T15:45:04Z")
I am attempting to find some old books from the 1950’s, which I read as a child. I can’t remember the author’s name-only that they were a series about technology: they were titled “THERE’S ADVENTURE IN ATOMIC SCIENCE”, “THERE’S ADVENTURE IN ELECTRICAL ENGNEERING”, etc. I think there were around 6 or 7 titles in all. Alas, these have vanished from the library shelves, and I can’t find them in AMAZON. Anybody know how I should search for these? ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-track-down-some-obscure-books/90537/2 "2001-10-30T15:52:07Z")
Try [Half Price Books](http://www.halfpricebooks.com/). Their brick and mortar stores have great selections of used books. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-track-down-some-obscure-books/90537/3 "2001-10-30T15:53:16Z")
There are lots of internet search engines for old books: [Bookfinder.com](http://Bookfinder.com) - searches all the other book search engines; sometimes can’t check some of the more popular engines if they are too busy [abe.com](http://abe.com) - Antiquarian Book Exchange - has listings for most used books [Alibris.com](http://Alibris.com) - if you aren’t looking for collectible books, just used ones, this can be great (I say this because Alibris doesn’t share the name of the dealers selling the books, and if you are going to spend big bucks on a Hemingway first, you should trust the dealer…) [bibliofind.com](http://bibliofind.com) - bought by Amazon, so links you into their zshops, etc…as well as its own database eBay - again, requires more work than its worth for collectible books, but for used books in general it can be great… That should get you started. Be prepared to check regularly - just because the books aren’t there the first time doesn’t mean they won’t be there later… ---
**Author:** ![booklover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@booklover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/booklover)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-track-down-some-obscure-books/90537/4 "2001-10-30T17:51:08Z")
[bookfinder.com](http://bookfinder.com) is definitely my pick—it tells you which sites it’s having trouble searching because they’re too busy. Also, there’s a great bookseller who specializes in finding children’s books at [http://www.logan.com/loganberry](http://www.logan.com/loganberry) . This type of thing sounds right up her alley—I’ve successfully pruchased some obscure titles from her. ---
**Author:** ![OldBroad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@OldBroad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldBroad)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-track-down-some-obscure-books/90537/5 "2001-10-30T17:57:51Z")
I’ve had good luck with T.T. McTeer Books - in locating used and/or out of print books. [http://www.frugalfinder.com](http://www.frugalfinder.com) ---
**Author:** ![OldBroad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@OldBroad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldBroad)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-track-down-some-obscure-books/90537/6 "2001-10-30T17:58:08Z")
I’ve had good luck with T.R. McTeer Books - in locating used and/or out of print books. [http://www.frugalfinder.com](http://www.frugalfinder.com) ---
**Author:** ![half\_a\_person](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8797f3/32.png) [@half\_a\_person](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/half_a_person)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-track-down-some-obscure-books/90537/7 "2001-10-30T19:38:58Z")
[http://www.bookfinder.com/search/?st=sl&ac=sl&qi=5RvK,O1efuf2VJg1YBK.JOQ5RvN0soK.:27:48](http://www.bookfinder.com/search/?st=sl&ac=sl&qi=5RvK,O1efuf2VJg1YBK.JOQ5RvN0soK.:27:48) ---
**Author:** ![half\_a\_person](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8797f3/32.png) [@half\_a\_person](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/half_a_person)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-track-down-some-obscure-books/90537/8 "2001-10-30T19:41:16Z")
[oops, let’s try this.](http://www.bookfinder.com/search/?st=sl&ac=sl&qi=5RvK,O1efuf2VJg1YBK.JOQ5RvN0soK.:27:48) I fixed link. HTML has been turned off. For more information, see [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/index.php?action=bbcode](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/index.php?action=bbcode) [Edited by bibliophage on 10-30-2001 at 08:50 PM]