SECURITIES & EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                             ----------------------

                                  SCHEDULE 13G*
                                 (Rule 13d-102)

             INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT
           TO RULES 13d-1(b), (c) AND (d) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED
                              PURSUANT TO 13d-2(b)

                              BARNES & NOBLE, INC.
                                (Name of Issuer)

                                  Common Stock
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    067774109
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                                November 13, 2006
             (Date of event which requires filing of this statement)



     Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this
Schedule 13G is filed:


     [x] Rule 13d-1(b)
     [ ] Rule 13d-1(c)
     [ ] Rule 13d-1(d)





                           (Page 1 of 10 Pages)
----------------
     *The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would
alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

     The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the
Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes). **


--------------------
** The Reporting Persons have electing to file this Schedule 13G in advance of
the required filing date.





CUSIP No. 067774109                 13G                    Page 2 of 10 Pages

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (1)    NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
            I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO.
            OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
                                     Pershing Square Capital Management, L.P.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (2)    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP **
                                                                  (a)  [ ]
                                                                  (b)  [X]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (3)    SEC USE ONLY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (4)    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
                            Delaware
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF      (5)  SOLE VOTING POWER
                                                -0-
SHARES         ______________________________________________________________

BENEFICIALLY   (6)  SHARED VOTING POWER
                                                 5,261,651
OWNED BY       ___________________________________________________________

EACH           (7)  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                -0-
REPORTING      ______________________________________________________________

PERSON WITH    (8)  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                 5,261,651
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (9)    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
            BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                                                 5,261,651
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (10)   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT
            IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES **                       [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (11)   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED
            BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
                                                8.0%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (12)   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON **
                                                 IA
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------





CUSIP No. 067774109                 13G                    Page 3 of 10 Pages

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (1)    NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
            I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO.
            OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
                                                        PS Management GP, LLC
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (2)    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP **
                                                                  (a)  [ ]
                                                                  (b)  [X]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (3)    SEC USE ONLY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (4)    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
                            Delaware
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF      (5)  SOLE VOTING POWER
                                                -0-
SHARES         ______________________________________________________________

BENEFICIALLY   (6)  SHARED VOTING POWER
                                                 5,261,651
OWNED BY       ___________________________________________________________

EACH           (7)  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                -0-
REPORTING      ______________________________________________________________

PERSON WITH    (8)  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                 5,261,651
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (9)    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
            BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                                                 5,261,651
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (10)   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT
            IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES **                       [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (11)   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED
            BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
                                                8.0%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (12)   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON **
                                                 OO
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------





CUSIP No. 067774109                 13G                    Page 4 of 10 Pages

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (1)    NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
            I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO.
            OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
                                                      Pershing Square GP, LLC
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (2)    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP **
                                                                  (a)  [ ]
                                                                  (b)  [X]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (3)    SEC USE ONLY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (4)    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
                            United States
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF      (5)  SOLE VOTING POWER
                                                -0-
SHARES         ______________________________________________________________

BENEFICIALLY   (6)  SHARED VOTING POWER
                                                 2,308,119
OWNED BY       ___________________________________________________________

EACH           (7)  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                -0-
REPORTING      ______________________________________________________________

PERSON WITH    (8)  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                 2,308,119
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

     (9)    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
            BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                                                 2,308,119
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (10)   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT
            IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES **                       [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (11)   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED
            BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
                                                3.5%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (12)   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON **
                                                 OO
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------





CUSIP No. 067774109                  13G                   Page 5 of 10 Pages

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (1)    NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
            I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO.
            OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
                                                            William A. Ackman
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (2)    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP **
                                                                  (a)  [ ]
                                                                  (b)  [X]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (3)    SEC USE ONLY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (4)    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
                            United States
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF      (5)  SOLE VOTING POWER
                                                -0-
SHARES         ______________________________________________________________

BENEFICIALLY   (6)  SHARED VOTING POWER
                                                 5,261,651
OWNED BY       ___________________________________________________________

EACH           (7)  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                -0-
REPORTING      ______________________________________________________________

PERSON WITH    (8)  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                 5,261,651
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

     (9)    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
            BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                                                 5,261,651
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (10)   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT
            IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES **                       [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (11)   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED
            BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
                                                8.0%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (12)   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON **
                                                 IN
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------





CUSIP No. 067774109                 13G                    Page 6 of 10 Pages

Item 1(a).     Name of Issuer:

     The name of the issuer is Barnes & Noble, Inc. (the "Company").

Item 1(b).     Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:

     The Company's principal executive offices are located at 122 Fifth Avenue,
New York, New York 10011.

Item 2(a).     Name of Person Filing:

     This statement is filed by:

          (i)  Pershing Square Capital Management, L.P., a Delaware limited
               partnership (the "Investment Manager"), which serves as
               investment advisor to Pershing Square, L.P. ("Pershing
               Square"), a Delaware limited partnership, Pershing Square
               II, L.P. ("Pershing Square II"), a Delaware limited
               partnership, and Pershing Square International, Ltd.
               ("Pershing Square International"), a Cayman Islands exempted
               company, with respect to the shares of Common Stock (as
               defined in Item 2(d) below) directly owned by Pershing
               Square, Pershing Square II and Pershing Square International;
         (ii)  PS Management GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
               ("PS Management"), which serves as the general partner of
               the Investment Manager, with respect to the shares of Common
               Stock directly owned by Pershing Square, Pershing Square II
               and Pershing Square International;
        (iii)  Pershing Square GP, LLC (the "General Partner"), a Delaware
               limited liability company, which serves as the general
               partner of each of Pershing Square and Pershing Square II; and
         (iv)  William A. Ackman, an individual ("Mr. Ackman"), who serves
               as the managing member of each of PS Management and the
               General Partner.


                  The foregoing persons are hereinafter sometimes collectively
referred to as the "Reporting Persons." Any disclosures herein with respect to
persons other than the Reporting Persons are made on information and belief
after making inquiry to the appropriate party.





CUSIP No. 067774109                 13G                    Page 7 of 10 Pages

Item 2(b).     Address of Principal Business Office or, if None, Residence:

     The address of the business office of each of the Reporting Persons is 888
Seventh Avenue, 29th Floor, New York, New York 10019.

Item 2(c).     Citizenship:

     Investment Manager is a limited partnership organized under the laws of the
State of Delaware. PS Management is a limited liability company organized under
the laws of the State of Delaware. The General Partner is a limited liability
company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. Mr. Ackman is a
United States citizen.

Item 2(d).     Title of Class of Securities:

     Barnes & Noble, Inc., common stock, $0.001 par value (the "Common Stock").

Item 2(e).  CUSIP Number:
     067774109.

Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b) or 13d-2(b) or
(c), check whether the person filing is a:

          (a)  [ ]  Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act,

          (b)  [ ]  Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act,

          (c)  [ ]  Insurance Company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act,

          (d)  [ ]  Investment Company registered under Section 8 of the
                    Investment Company Act of 1940,

          (e)  [x]  Investment Adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1
                    (b)(1)(ii)(E),(1)

          (f)  [ ]  Employee Benefit Plan or Endowment Fund in accordance
                    with 13d-1 (b)(1)(ii)(F),

          (g)  [x]  Parent Holding Company or control person in accordance
                    with Rule 13d-1 (b)(1)(ii)(G),(2)

          (h)  [ ]  Savings Association as defined in Section 3(b) of the
                    Federal Deposit Insurance Act,

          (i)  [ ]  Church Plan that is excluded from the definition of an
                    investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment
                    Company Act of 1940,


--------------------
(1) With respect to the Investment Manager and the General Partner.
(2) With respect to PS Management and Mr. Ackman.




CUSIP No. 067774109                  13G                   Page 8 of 10 Pages

          (j)  [ ]  Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).

     If this statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c), check the box.[ ]

Item 4.   Ownership.

         A. Pershing Square Capital Management, L.P.
              (a) May be deemed to have beneficially owned: 5,261,651 shares of
Common Stock.
              (b) Percent of class: 8.0% The percentages used herein and in the
                  rest of Item 4 are calculated based upon the 65,606,441 shares
                  of Common Stock issued and outstanding as of August 28, 2006
                  as reflected in the Company's Form 10-Q, dated
                  August 31, 2006.
              (c) Number of shares as to which such person may be deemed to
                  have:
                  (i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0-
                 (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 5,261,651
                (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0-
                 (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition:
                      5,261,651

         B. PS Management GP, LLC
              (a) May be deemed to have beneficially owned: 5,261,651 shares of
Common Stock.
              (b) Percent of class: 8.0%
              (c) Number of shares as to which such person may be deemed to
                  have:
                  (i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0-
                 (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 5,261,651
                (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0-
                 (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition:
                      5,261,651

         C. Pershing Square GP, LLC
              (a) May be deemed to have beneficially owned: 2,308,119 shares of
Common Stock.
              (b) Percent of class: 3.5%
              (c) Number of shares as to which such person may be deemed to
                  have:
                  (i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0-
                 (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 2,308,119
                (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0-
                 (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition:
                      2,308,119

         D. William A. Ackman
              (a) May be deemed to have beneficially owned: 5,261,651 shares of
Common Stock.
              (b) Percent of class: 8.0%
              (c) Number of shares as to which such person may be deemed to
                  have:
                (i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0-
               (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 5,261,651
              (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0-
               (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 5,261,651





CUSIP No. 067774109                 13G                    Page 9 of 10 Pages

Item 5.     Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

     Not applicable.

Item 6.     Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

Investment Manager, in its capacity as the investment advisor to Pershing
Square, Pershing Square II and Pershing Square International, has the power to
direct the investment activities of each of Pershing Square, Pershing Square II
and Pershing Square International. PS Management is the general partner of the
Investment Manager. The General Partner, in its capacity as the general partner
to Pershing Square and Pershing Square II, has the power to direct the
investment activities of each of Pershing Square and Pershing Square II. Mr.
Ackman is the managing member of each of PS Management and the General Partner.

Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the
Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company or Control Person.

     Not applicable.

Item 8.  Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.

     See Item 2.

Item 9.  Notice of Dissolution of Group.

     Not applicable.

Item 10.  Certification.

     Each of the Reporting Persons hereby makes the following certification:

          By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and
belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for
the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the
issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection
with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.





CUSIP No. 067774109                13G                    Page 10 of 10 Pages

SIGNATURES

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of our knowledge and belief, the
undersigned certify that the information set forth in this statement is true,
complete and correct.


DATED:  November 13, 2006

                                         PERSHING SQUARE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LP.
                                         By:     PS Management GP, LLC,
                                                 its General Partner


                                         By:     /s/ William A. Ackman
                                                 --------------------------
                                                 William A. Ackman,
                                                 Managing Member

                                         PS MANAGEMENT GP, LLC


                                         By:     /s/ William A. Ackman
                                                 --------------------------
                                                 William A. Ackman,
                                                 Managing Member

                                         PERSHING SQUARE GP, LLC


                                         By:     /s/ William A. Ackman
                                                 --------------------------
                                                 William A. Ackman,
                                                 Managing Member

                                         WILLIAM A. ACKMAN

                                         /s/ William A. Ackman
                                         --------------------------