5 ms·

This acquisition makes so, so much sense. I have a goodreads account, but I never update it, mostly because it's too much time. If it were well-connected (or sy

This acquisition makes so, so much sense. I have a goodreads account, but I never update it, mostly because it's too much time. If it were well-connected (or synced?) with my Kindle, I would use it literally weekly.

jamie_ca 14y ago
Agreed. I don't use a Kindle, but having a (optional, configurable) "Rate this book?" prompt when removing a book from my in-progress shelf would be very handy.
- bmelton 14y ago
  It's even more frustrating than that, currently, because when you finish a Kindle book, it asks if you want to tweet about it or post it on Facebook. I don't, but I very much want to post my rating of it to Goodreads, and that isn't currently an option. This fixes a big hole that a lot of people (at least, a lot of people on Goodreads) have been clamoring for. Definitely an obviously good acquisition.
- mcintyre1994 14y ago
  Considering Amazon already has a review section for each book it sells, this seems like it was already a missed opportunity. It's great they're probably not going to kill the service, but it seems like it'd have made sense to have more tightly integrated their own reviews a long time ago.
krschultz 14y ago
100%. I'm looking forward to auto-syncing my Goodread account to paper books I bought, e books on my Kindle, etc.
radicaldreamer 14y ago
My biggest complaint about Good Reads is it's confusing user interface. I would really use it a lot more if it was a little less clunky to use.
- martinwnet 14y ago
  The mobile app is much simpler to use than the website.
- psweber 14y ago
  Have you found a good alternative? I'm interested in a service like this, but I haven't been able to find anything better.
  - radicaldreamer 14y ago
    No, it really is the best service out there currently, mostly because it has the most number of people on it. I think it would be amazing if Amazon can integrate the Kindle with it and improve on some of the annoyances.
    - DanBC 14y ago
      > I think it would be amazing if Amazon can integrate the Kindle with it and improve on some of the annoyances. Amazon have a terrible reputation when it comes to user interfaces. There are some amazing things about Amazon. I use Amazon often. But the website sucks; search is pretty much broken (it's like web search used to be); Kindle ebooks sometimes have laughably terrible typography.
      - psweber 14y ago
        The new redesign of Amazon's Audible site was pretty good. Their cancellation process made me want to murder them, so I guess it was a mixed bag.
      - alanh 14y ago
        Disagree! While eBook typography is a gimme — can’t disagree there — Amazon.com is one of the most usable sites out there. Sure, Krug’s book Don’t Make Me Think is a bit old, but there’s a reason he kept using Amazon as an example of whom to copy. They have good UI design because they had to in order to win online commerce. Flows like reporting problems with orders are very well thought out and guide you to the proper next action, whether you are starting from the the page of the product you ordered or your account history, for example. Similarly, I don’t know anyone who is very confused by Amazon property IMDB. Amazon.com search may not be as good as Google’s, but it isn’t the worst thing ever. I will agree they still need to work on relatively basic things like spelling correction. But remember A9? Amazon have certainly invested in search. And certainly their book search is worlds better than GoodReads’ is! Basic things like "hitch-hiker's" vs "hitchhickers", IIRC, have tripped up GoodReads search, but don’t make as much a difference on Amazon.
imrehg 14y ago
I have Goodreads account too, and became a librarian to be able to fix information and add books that are missing. I update my progress all the time, when I finish a book, or every evening my current progress on the books I read. Using their Android app is pretty darn quick, and I get a lot value out of it. On the other hand, my Kindle has mostly Project Gutenberg or other out of copyright books, only bought a handful new ones, so I personally don't care much about the syncing with Kindle. Some people also complain about too much noise in their friend feed about progress updates, so I guess some thought needs to be put into the implementation.
return0 14y ago
For me it's the opposite. I regularly update goodreads to keep track and share with people whose recommendations i value. Most people don't read only on kindle and only from amazon. There are two sides to this : goodreads clearly needs a better interface and reviewing system on the one hand, on the other hand, what if amazon decides to restrict it to content bought from amazon? I hope the site stays independent and is not merged into amazon
- tomkarlo 14y ago
  It wouldn't make any sense to restrict what people list only to what Amazon knows they bought. For one thing, a friend could have bought a hardcover from Amazon and gifted it to me in person. Amazon's objective is to sell you more books, not worry about where you bought your last one.

jamie_ca 14y ago

Agreed. I don't use a Kindle, but having a (optional, configurable) "Rate this book?" prompt when removing a book from my in-progress shelf would be very handy.

bmelton 14y ago
It's even more frustrating than that, currently, because when you finish a Kindle book, it asks if you want to tweet about it or post it on Facebook. I don't, but I very much want to post my rating of it to Goodreads, and that isn't currently an option. This fixes a big hole that a lot of people (at least, a lot of people on Goodreads) have been clamoring for. Definitely an obviously good acquisition.
mcintyre1994 14y ago
Considering Amazon already has a review section for each book it sells, this seems like it was already a missed opportunity. It's great they're probably not going to kill the service, but it seems like it'd have made sense to have more tightly integrated their own reviews a long time ago.

krschultz 14y ago

100%. I'm looking forward to auto-syncing my Goodread account to paper books I bought, e books on my Kindle, etc.

radicaldreamer 14y ago

My biggest complaint about Good Reads is it's confusing user interface. I would really use it a lot more if it was a little less clunky to use.

martinwnet 14y ago
The mobile app is much simpler to use than the website.
psweber 14y ago
Have you found a good alternative? I'm interested in a service like this, but I haven't been able to find anything better.
- radicaldreamer 14y ago
  No, it really is the best service out there currently, mostly because it has the most number of people on it. I think it would be amazing if Amazon can integrate the Kindle with it and improve on some of the annoyances.
  - DanBC 14y ago
    > I think it would be amazing if Amazon can integrate the Kindle with it and improve on some of the annoyances. Amazon have a terrible reputation when it comes to user interfaces. There are some amazing things about Amazon. I use Amazon often. But the website sucks; search is pretty much broken (it's like web search used to be); Kindle ebooks sometimes have laughably terrible typography.
    - psweber 14y ago
      The new redesign of Amazon's Audible site was pretty good. Their cancellation process made me want to murder them, so I guess it was a mixed bag.
    - alanh 14y ago
      Disagree! While eBook typography is a gimme — can’t disagree there — Amazon.com is one of the most usable sites out there. Sure, Krug’s book Don’t Make Me Think is a bit old, but there’s a reason he kept using Amazon as an example of whom to copy. They have good UI design because they had to in order to win online commerce. Flows like reporting problems with orders are very well thought out and guide you to the proper next action, whether you are starting from the the page of the product you ordered or your account history, for example. Similarly, I don’t know anyone who is very confused by Amazon property IMDB. Amazon.com search may not be as good as Google’s, but it isn’t the worst thing ever. I will agree they still need to work on relatively basic things like spelling correction. But remember A9? Amazon have certainly invested in search. And certainly their book search is worlds better than GoodReads’ is! Basic things like "hitch-hiker's" vs "hitchhickers", IIRC, have tripped up GoodReads search, but don’t make as much a difference on Amazon.

imrehg 14y ago

I have Goodreads account too, and became a librarian to be able to fix information and add books that are missing. I update my progress all the time, when I finish a book, or every evening my current progress on the books I read. Using their Android app is pretty darn quick, and I get a lot value out of it. On the other hand, my Kindle has mostly Project Gutenberg or other out of copyright books, only bought a handful new ones, so I personally don't care much about the syncing with Kindle. Some people also complain about too much noise in their friend feed about progress updates, so I guess some thought needs to be put into the implementation.

return0 14y ago

For me it's the opposite. I regularly update goodreads to keep track and share with people whose recommendations i value. Most people don't read only on kindle and only from amazon. There are two sides to this : goodreads clearly needs a better interface and reviewing system on the one hand, on the other hand, what if amazon decides to restrict it to content bought from amazon? I hope the site stays independent and is not merged into amazon

tomkarlo 14y ago
It wouldn't make any sense to restrict what people list only to what Amazon knows they bought. For one thing, a friend could have bought a hardcover from Amazon and gifted it to me in person. Amazon's objective is to sell you more books, not worry about where you bought your last one.