Harvard Book Store

The Boston area is blessed with several world-class independent bookstores, all of them vibrant proof that the megachains are soulless vampires, slaves to the mass-market title and the Starbucks outlet. And while other local booksellers can match Harvard Book Store for passionate staff, thoughtful featured titles, and entrapping literature sections, it's the Harvard Square institution that wins the nod again this year, buoyed by its extraordinary nonfiction selection and its excellent deals on remainders.