From an early age, Mitchell Kaplan was afforded the freedom to go explore life and discover possibilities. For him, finding an exact focal point for his passion for a literary life came in stages. It took from being and English major in Colorado where the Beat movement was experiencing a resurgence in the 1970s to fleeing law school to settle for becoming an English teacher back in his hometown – Miami to realize what he really wanted to do was start an independent bookstore. The rest – as they say is history. As his career as an independent bookseller progressed, Kaplan also became a principal in founding the Miami Book Fair and began bringing books to screens big and small. Today, it is no exaggeration to say that Kaplan has built a legacy that guarantees his place among those who have made Miami the city it is today. I spoke to Mitch Kaplan, not very long ago,  at one of his 5 Books & Books stores in Miami on a busy weekday morning.

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