The folks at Three Lives say it best: "Three Lives is our living room, and a living place. It is a work in progress. We (the store and our customers) have grown up and evolved together. People come here to see and buy what we consider to be some of the best books available today. They also come to discuss books, culture, and events of the moment. They meet for a sense of community in times of national tragedy and personal celebration. Intrinsically, books extend a graciousness that provokes discourse.

"In 1991, the Greenwich Village Historical Society cited us for being "a pocket of civility." With the advent of the big chains and more recently the internet, there is little room to be competitive by having more or costing less. Our survival has been due to our commitment to being that "pocket" - and embracing our client's wish, for a bookstore that they have helped create.

"A knowledgeable staff that reads prodigiously has been a key to our success, as has a theatrical and artistic display of the books we carry. Special orders remain a significant area of service, and we are meticulous about our follow through. We thrive on discovering literary books that might otherwise be overlooked, and thrill to give them to our customers."