KCMidwest Books

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Books Worth Discovering. Ideas Worth Preserving.

An independent Kansas City bookseller specializing in antiquarian, rare, vintage, and scholarly books. Exploring the intersections of science, medicine, literature, history, and art—one remarkable volume at a time.

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Notable volumes

From Our Shelves

Studies of Abnormal Behavior in the Rat by Norman R. F. Maier, first edition

Studies of Abnormal Behavior in the Rat

Norman R. F. Maier · 1939 · First edition

A psychologist builds a jumping stand, sets problems with no right answer, and watches his rats break down. The book that put "experimental neurosis" on the shelf.

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Physiognomy and Expression by Paolo Mantegazza, Walter Scott edition

Physiognomy and Expression

Paolo Mantegazza · 1890 · First edition in English

An Italian physiologist sets out to read character in the human face, with all the confidence of the 1890s. Part of the Contemporary Science Series.

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The Eunuch and the Virgin: A Study of Curious Customs by Peter Tompkins, first edition

The Eunuch and the Virgin

Peter Tompkins · 1962 · First edition

"A Study of Curious Customs," says the subtitle, which is putting it mildly. A tour of the stranger corners of human behaviour, written with evident enjoyment.

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Psychology from the Standpoint of a Behaviorist by John B. Watson, first edition

Psychology from the Standpoint of a Behaviorist

John B. Watson · 1919 · First edition

John B. Watson makes the case for a psychology of what people do, not what they report feeling. Behaviorism, set out at book length.

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Browse by Subject

Medicine & Medical History

Anatomy, surgery and the long argument over what ails us.

Psychology & Psychiatry

Freud, his critics, and the rats in Norman Maier's lab.

Science & Natural History

Foundational texts, field guides and the occasional wrong theory.

Literature & First Editions

Novels, poetry and books caught at their first printing.

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About the shop

About 10,000 books, with more than 1,500 listed online

A family-run bookseller in the Kansas City area, with 20 to 100 titles and one or two rare finds added every week.

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Elsewhere in the Stacks

Odd covers, curious titles and what turned up in this week's boxes. We post them on Instagram.

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