our blog
This is a place for Goodreads employees to blog about anything they like: site updates, new features, relevant happenings, or really anything!
Check back here whenever you like to find out what is going on at Goodreads and to learn a little more about us.
Check back here whenever you like to find out what is going on at Goodreads and to learn a little more about us.
blog posts (showing 1- 10 of 88)
What do you want on your homepage?
posted by Otis on May, 08
Now you can get get recent updates from your groups on your Goodreads homepage! While many members love the updates from the friends, many people have mentioned that their groups are updated more frequently, and they'd love a better way to keep tabs on it.
There are now 4 tabs on the homepage, allowing members to see updates from their friends, top friends, groups, or just view books or reviews from thteir friends.
posted by Otis on May, 08
Now you can get get recent updates from your groups on your Goodreads homepage! While many members love the updates from the friends, many people have mentioned that their groups are updated more frequently, and they'd love a better way to keep tabs on it.
There are now 4 tabs on the homepage, allowing members to see updates from their friends, top friends, groups, or just view books or reviews from thteir friends.
One search to rule them all
posted by Otis on May, 08
We launched a great new feature a few weeks ago that hasn't been mentioned yet on this blog. You can now search across all searchable items from the main search page (accessible in the header). Previously the main search page only searched books, and it was up to the user to navigate to the index pages for groups, quotes, events, stories, and people to search them.
Having six different search pages in six different areas just didn't make a lot of sense! It made a lot of the great content basically invisible for lots of members. We really hope hope the new search page leads lots of new members to find all the great content that exists in the various sub-areas of the site.
Here's a screenshot of the new page:
posted by Otis on May, 08
We launched a great new feature a few weeks ago that hasn't been mentioned yet on this blog. You can now search across all searchable items from the main search page (accessible in the header). Previously the main search page only searched books, and it was up to the user to navigate to the index pages for groups, quotes, events, stories, and people to search them.
Having six different search pages in six different areas just didn't make a lot of sense! It made a lot of the great content basically invisible for lots of members. We really hope hope the new search page leads lots of new members to find all the great content that exists in the various sub-areas of the site.
Here's a screenshot of the new page:
Manually ordering your shelves
posted by MICHAEL on April, 29
posted by MICHAEL on April, 29
You can now manually sort your to-read book shelf.
You can also make other shelves (besides the read list) sortable.
Does JK Rowling own Harry Potter?
posted by Otis on April, 16
In a recent article in the New York Times titled Rowling to Testify in Trial Over Potter Lexicon, it was announced that JK Rowling is suing a small publishing house (RDR Books) that was planning to publish a Harry Potter Encyclopedia. The book was to be based on the content from the website The Harry Potter Lexicon, by a Mr. Vander Ark. Now this doesn't sound right at all - has JK lost it?
Fan fiction is a huge genre. I went through a whole phase in middle school of reading dozens of books that continued the Star Wars series. There is even a Star Wars Encyclopedia. Did all those books have to kick back to George Lucas? I don't know - but I wouldn't guess Lucas cared either way - the more fans got into it the more movies he would sell.
So if fan fiction is a huge genre, it appears JK Rowling can't own Harry Potter. She attempts to explain on her website:
"From what I understand, the proposed book is not criticism or review of Harry Potter's world, which would be entirely legitimate – neither I nor anybody connected with Harry Potter has ever tried to prevent such works being published. It is, we believe, a print version of the website, except now the information that was freely available to everybody is to become a commercial enterprise.
It is not reasonable, or legal, for anybody, fan or otherwise, to take an author's hard work, re-organize their characters and plots, and sell them for their own commercial gain. However much an individual claims to love somebody else's work, it does not become theirs to sell."
Ah-ha. The lexicon, claims Rowling, has no original content. So perhaps Rowling *does* own Harry Potter - the Harry Potter described in her books. If fanfic fans want to build on that Harry Potter, and create something original, then there are no problems. So all you fans of Harry Potter that want to write some stories, breathe easy, JK won't be coming for you!
posted by Otis on April, 16
In a recent article in the New York Times titled Rowling to Testify in Trial Over Potter Lexicon, it was announced that JK Rowling is suing a small publishing house (RDR Books) that was planning to publish a Harry Potter Encyclopedia. The book was to be based on the content from the website The Harry Potter Lexicon, by a Mr. Vander Ark. Now this doesn't sound right at all - has JK lost it?
Fan fiction is a huge genre. I went through a whole phase in middle school of reading dozens of books that continued the Star Wars series. There is even a Star Wars Encyclopedia. Did all those books have to kick back to George Lucas? I don't know - but I wouldn't guess Lucas cared either way - the more fans got into it the more movies he would sell.
So if fan fiction is a huge genre, it appears JK Rowling can't own Harry Potter. She attempts to explain on her website:
"From what I understand, the proposed book is not criticism or review of Harry Potter's world, which would be entirely legitimate – neither I nor anybody connected with Harry Potter has ever tried to prevent such works being published. It is, we believe, a print version of the website, except now the information that was freely available to everybody is to become a commercial enterprise.
It is not reasonable, or legal, for anybody, fan or otherwise, to take an author's hard work, re-organize their characters and plots, and sell them for their own commercial gain. However much an individual claims to love somebody else's work, it does not become theirs to sell."
Ah-ha. The lexicon, claims Rowling, has no original content. So perhaps Rowling *does* own Harry Potter - the Harry Potter described in her books. If fanfic fans want to build on that Harry Potter, and create something original, then there are no problems. So all you fans of Harry Potter that want to write some stories, breathe easy, JK won't be coming for you!
Is reading dead?
posted by Otis on April, 12
A journalist asked me the other day "Do you think reading is dead?". I'm aware people have the perception that people reading less these days. And it doesn't help that the National Endowment for the Arts keeps releasing studies that say so.
Personally I don't think its true for most people - if you like to read you will always read, even if you don't have much time now - you will later.
My favorite answer to that journalists question is to spout off something about reading just needing a social conduit. With mass-media, like American Idol or whatever movies are in theater, we can always find common ground with other people. But the chances that we are reading the same books at the same time is low. But if we were both on Goodreads it might be able to spark a conversation about books.
But I think there is another reason reading isn't dead that I don't get to talk about much, probably because it sounds nerdy. I'm one of those crazy people who likes to *learn*. Learn about new places, people, cultures, ideas - whatever. The things I've learned in books have helped define me as a person. And I'm always able to take away ideas from whatever I'm reading to attack the problems I'm facing in the real world.
Some people wouldn't think that you can learn things from a work of fiction - but learning is an experiential process. That means we remember things by associating them with how we learned them. Conversely, that also means we need to experience things to really learn them. And if you have an active enough imagination, a good book is all you need.
I just read a a very well-written blog posted titled How to Fuel Your Idea Machine that put it's finger on how reading helps us even better - go read it!
A choice quote:
"Reading books, fiction and non-fiction, fuels your idea machine. It gives you fodder to think with. The brain is essentially nothing more than a computer (albeit much more complicated); it takes an input, processes it and produces an output. In other words, you can’t create ideas without inputs."
So is reading dead? Not to me :)
posted by Otis on April, 12
A journalist asked me the other day "Do you think reading is dead?". I'm aware people have the perception that people reading less these days. And it doesn't help that the National Endowment for the Arts keeps releasing studies that say so.
Personally I don't think its true for most people - if you like to read you will always read, even if you don't have much time now - you will later.
My favorite answer to that journalists question is to spout off something about reading just needing a social conduit. With mass-media, like American Idol or whatever movies are in theater, we can always find common ground with other people. But the chances that we are reading the same books at the same time is low. But if we were both on Goodreads it might be able to spark a conversation about books.
But I think there is another reason reading isn't dead that I don't get to talk about much, probably because it sounds nerdy. I'm one of those crazy people who likes to *learn*. Learn about new places, people, cultures, ideas - whatever. The things I've learned in books have helped define me as a person. And I'm always able to take away ideas from whatever I'm reading to attack the problems I'm facing in the real world.
Some people wouldn't think that you can learn things from a work of fiction - but learning is an experiential process. That means we remember things by associating them with how we learned them. Conversely, that also means we need to experience things to really learn them. And if you have an active enough imagination, a good book is all you need.
I just read a a very well-written blog posted titled How to Fuel Your Idea Machine that put it's finger on how reading helps us even better - go read it!
A choice quote:
"Reading books, fiction and non-fiction, fuels your idea machine. It gives you fodder to think with. The brain is essentially nothing more than a computer (albeit much more complicated); it takes an input, processes it and produces an output. In other words, you can’t create ideas without inputs."
So is reading dead? Not to me :)
New unread messages folder
posted by Otis on April, 08
Now it's a snap to see which topics in your favorite groups have new messages since you've last checked!
This is a huge change, as makes it so much easier for members who follow groups regularly to see what they've missed. We only wish we launched this sooner!
posted by Otis on April, 08
Now it's a snap to see which topics in your favorite groups have new messages since you've last checked!
This is a huge change, as makes it so much easier for members who follow groups regularly to see what they've missed. We only wish we launched this sooner!
The Goodreads Never-Ending Book Quiz
posted by MICHAEL on April, 03
I'm proud to anounce the brand new
posted by MICHAEL on April, 03
I'm proud to anounce the brand new
Never-ending Book Quiz
You can enter in new trivia, compare results with your friends, and generally have a lot of fun!
reading is the ultimate aphrodisiac
posted by Jessica on April, 01
Admit it. We all do it. Before a first date, a quick Google search of your date's name can be extremely informative. Maybe you'll find his past triathlon times (sexy), criminal record (not sexy), and maybe his entire bookshelf catalogued on Goodreads -- a true mother lode of information.
How do you interpret this information? Are there certain books or writers whose presence would incite your passion? On the flip side, would you cancel the date based on a glowing review of a book you hated?
Currently topping the New York Times most emailed list is an essay by Rachel Donadio about literary dealbreakers for romance, explaining that "listing your favorite books and authors is a crucial, if risky, part of self-branding" on social networking sites. Hundreds of people have posted on her blog to share their personal dealbreakers (Ayn Rand, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Dan Brown are most frequently cited as writers that kill the mood). But plenty of people have also written in to say that dating is hard enough without adding literary snobbery into the mix.
The "compare books" tool on Goodreads allows you to see how similar your bookshelves are to anyone else's. Many Goodreads members send friend requests to readers with similar tastes. But what's the proper threshold? 25% similarity? 50%? 75%? If I find a reader with 100% compatibility, does that mean he's my soulmate?
Good luck interpreting the statistics of love. For now, my only dealbreaker is if he says he doesn't like to read at all.
Have you met someone special on Goodreads? Are your Goodreads bookshelves an archive of a solitary pastime or a public representation of your identity? Tell us your stories in the Goodreads Feedback group!
posted by Jessica on April, 01
Admit it. We all do it. Before a first date, a quick Google search of your date's name can be extremely informative. Maybe you'll find his past triathlon times (sexy), criminal record (not sexy), and maybe his entire bookshelf catalogued on Goodreads -- a true mother lode of information.
How do you interpret this information? Are there certain books or writers whose presence would incite your passion? On the flip side, would you cancel the date based on a glowing review of a book you hated?
Currently topping the New York Times most emailed list is an essay by Rachel Donadio about literary dealbreakers for romance, explaining that "listing your favorite books and authors is a crucial, if risky, part of self-branding" on social networking sites. Hundreds of people have posted on her blog to share their personal dealbreakers (Ayn Rand, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Dan Brown are most frequently cited as writers that kill the mood). But plenty of people have also written in to say that dating is hard enough without adding literary snobbery into the mix.
The "compare books" tool on Goodreads allows you to see how similar your bookshelves are to anyone else's. Many Goodreads members send friend requests to readers with similar tastes. But what's the proper threshold? 25% similarity? 50%? 75%? If I find a reader with 100% compatibility, does that mean he's my soulmate?
Good luck interpreting the statistics of love. For now, my only dealbreaker is if he says he doesn't like to read at all.
Have you met someone special on Goodreads? Are your Goodreads bookshelves an archive of a solitary pastime or a public representation of your identity? Tell us your stories in the Goodreads Feedback group!
top friends
posted by Otis on April, 01
We're happy to announce that we just launched a feature that I personally have been waiting for for a long time - top friends! Top friends let you choose which of your friends are 'top friends', and then you can choose to see updates from just those friends on your Goodreads homepage. Your profile page will also show your top friends first.
One of the biggest problems a social network faces at it matures is that as members use the site and make friends their friend lists grow with lots of people they don't actually know. This is a particular problem for Goodreads, because book recommendations are really best from friends - people you really know (or have come to know).
So we're very excited about top friends, because now you can be a little less picky about accepting friends, without worrying about missing updates from those you really care about!
To start using top friends, click on the 'friends' tab and use the checkboxes to choose your top friends. Then navigate to the homepage and click the 'top friends' toggle at the top! Don't worry - your friends won't know if they are a top friend or not.
posted by Otis on April, 01
We're happy to announce that we just launched a feature that I personally have been waiting for for a long time - top friends! Top friends let you choose which of your friends are 'top friends', and then you can choose to see updates from just those friends on your Goodreads homepage. Your profile page will also show your top friends first.
One of the biggest problems a social network faces at it matures is that as members use the site and make friends their friend lists grow with lots of people they don't actually know. This is a particular problem for Goodreads, because book recommendations are really best from friends - people you really know (or have come to know).
So we're very excited about top friends, because now you can be a little less picky about accepting friends, without worrying about missing updates from those you really care about!
To start using top friends, click on the 'friends' tab and use the checkboxes to choose your top friends. Then navigate to the homepage and click the 'top friends' toggle at the top! Don't worry - your friends won't know if they are a top friend or not.
