In this world of imperfect reviews, how do you find these books? I do harvest (more like skim) reviews (and look for overlapping reviews from sources I general

In this world of imperfect reviews, how do you find these books? I do harvest (more like skim) reviews (and look for overlapping reviews from sources I generally trust, such as HN). But in particular I weight very highly what my friends (in real life) recommend to me. And on top of that, I just take lots of chances (at bookstores, especially for used ones, and piles people leave out on doorsteps or wherever). Do you read until you ruthlessly quit the book? In most cases not -- the survival rate (in terms of actually finishing) hovers at around 25 percent. This is also part of the strategy -- if I'm not clicking with a book (or not in tha t moment), I put it aside and reach for another. Some I get back to again later, others not. "Is this already beginning to transform me or not?" This is quite subjective and philosophical -- but I prefer to specifically not ask myself if a book is transforming me while I'm reading it, but rather to just let it wash over me and work its magic on me (or lack thereof - great books don't have to be magical). And again, the transformative effect (if any) is generally felt much later in life. These are great questions. Enjoy the hunt, and your reading.