goodreads

I really love using Goodreads, and I just noticed they have these cool widgets to display your books. Pretty cool.

In the past I’ve blogged about the books I’ve read, and listed my most recommended books in my custom Amazon Store, but now I really only use Goodreads to manage/record/share this information.

I’ve actually liked that Goodreads has been a friends only service – meaning only friends could see what I’ve read and am reading – but the more I thought about it, I really do enjoy sharing my reading list publicly (obviously). It just made me realize how/why I have liked the privacy. A reading list can actually be quite revealing, so I can understand how some wouldn’t want to share that information.

Note: These are in Flash, so if you’re reading via an RSS feed (Facebook included), or on an iPhone, these might not display. You can, however, go view my public profile page on Goodreads.

I also realized today that I’m reading six (6!) books right now. Not very fast, mind you… I used to devour books so much faster! Maybe commuting to work on the bus more will help.

Have you read any of these… or read any other good books lately I should put on my (long) to-read list?

4 Responses to goodreads

Benry says:

January 18, 2010 at 9:08 am

You know how I feel about Goodreads. Perhaps a solution would be to select the audience of the book one adds so it can be used for reasons other than a social book reading website. It’s hard to keep Goodreads up to date with all of the books I buy and borrow and sometimes I don’t want to waste the time or reveal to anyone that I’ve read something. However, it would be nice to have a historical record of the things I’ve read. I’m sure you feel the same way. Something like Art Garfunkel has done: http://www.artgarfunkel.com/library.html

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Willo O'Brien says:

January 18, 2010 at 4:12 pm

Wow, Art’s is impressive!

Ya, you’re a great reviewer… love it. But ya, it’d be good if there was a setting that allowed you to choose which ones you want to publicize. Then again, maybe nobody would & then the whole thing wouldn’t work.

I love seeing each & every one of yours though, FWIW (that is on the emails I actually have a chance to skim).

Regardless, it’s definitely providing us an archive. Wonder if we’ll be able to export the data at some point.

Where do you read the most? Commuting or at home?

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Ben says:

January 19, 2010 at 11:59 am

Thank you! That means a lot. I’m glad at least someone enjoys what I write! It’s motivation to keep it up.

Archival is surely important. I have a friend who after every review of mine sends me an email that says “you need to put these on your blog and Amazon profile. Batch the work one day, but keep it in mind.” I think it’s important to journal progress in a few key things in life: reading/experience, experimenting and personal/professional growth.

I read almost all of the books I’ve reviewed on BART, MUNI and airplanes. It’s impossible for me to get work done in those places, but reading is something I can do in spurts. On good days, I can read 50 pages to and from on a commute. It’s always nice to see what other people are reading on the bus, too. Maybe the Bernel buses don’t have that as much ;).

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Willo O'Brien says:

January 20, 2010 at 2:58 pm

Ya, you could be very prolific in the book reviewing community if you cross posted. Great way to get hits to a blog, too, I’d imagine. And maybe even start your own Amazon store around it.

I’m trying to take the bus more, and being able to read more is a definite motivator.

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