The Book Shop Batavia to close as owner pursues higher education at McHenry County College, beyond

James Joseph opened The Book Shop Batavia eight years ago at 15 N. River St., with a mind towards education – his.

James Joseph opened The Book Shop Batavia eight years ago with a mind towards education – his. “The main focus of my store was good literature, poetry and most important works in Western Civilization,” Joseph said. “It became obvious over the last couple of years, I wasn’t going to find the kind of education I wanted.

... I started thinking there was a different place for me, and I found it.” Joseph, 49, lived in Batavia for a few years, then moved to Crystal Lake five years ago to be with his girlfriend.

He credited Craig Foltos of Foltos Tonsorial Parlor, at 7 E. Wilson St. in Batavia, with urging him to sign up for classes and further his education. Joseph is halfway through an associate degree at McHenry County College , and has decided to close the bookstore, at 15 N. River St., at the end of the year. He announced the closure on his Facebook page.

“We all grow up in our own little world and it’s not until we learn there are other views in the world, that we haven’t had the chance to come across that we realize how ignorant we can be,” Joseph said. “Those books led me to the place I am now.” The goal is a master’s degree in philosophy with a minor in psychology with a focus on epistemology.

“It’s the theory of knowledge,” Joseph said. “That’s what fascinates me. Part of the problem – especially our current age – is that we live in different worlds.

Where it’s almost like there’s two different troops. Where, in fact, there’s only one and we’re convinced the one we live in is right. That’s where philosophy comes in.”

Joseph said he plans to teach at the college level. He works a full-time job as a purchasing agent for a construction lift company when he’s not at the shop – which is open on weekends. “That’s what I do to pay the bills and pay for school,” Joseph said.

“I grew up working class. My family was a lot of truck drivers. ... It was through books that I found out so much more than what I had available to me when I was young.”

Folotos said he was glad to have had a role in Joseph’s decision to pursue higher education. “He’s a nice person and I told him to go to school – he’s not too old to learn,” Foltos said. “I’m proud of him.

He will be a good teacher.”