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Exciting News About Goodreads: We're Joining the Amazon Family!
When Elizabeth and I started Goodreads from my living room seven years ago, we set out to create a better way for people to find and share books they love. It's been a wild ride seeing how the company has grown and watching as more than 16 million readers from across the globe have joined Goodreads and connected over a passion for books.
Today I'm really happy to announce a new milestone for Goodreads: We are joining the Amazon family. We truly could not think of a more perfect partner for Goodreads as we both share a love of books and an appreciation for the authors who write them. We also both love to invent products and services that touch millions of people.
I'm excited about this for three reasons:
1. With the reach and resources of Amazon, Goodreads can introduce more readers to our vibrant community of book lovers and create an even better experience for our members.
2. Our members have been asking us to bring the Goodreads experience to an e-reader for a long time. Now we're looking forward to bringing Goodreads to the most popular e-reader in the world, Kindle, and further reinventing what reading can be.
3. Amazon supports us continuing to grow our vision as an independent entity, under the Goodreads brand and with our unique culture.
It's important to be clear that Goodreads and the awesome team behind it are not going away. Goodreads will continue to be the wonderful community that we all cherish. We plan to continue offering you everything that you love about the site—the ability to track what you read, discover great books, discuss and share them with fellow book lovers, and connect directly with your favorite authors—and your reviews and ratings will remain here on Goodreads. And it's incredibly important to us that we remain a home for all types of readers, no matter if you read on paper, audio, digitally, from scrolls, or even stone tablets.
For all of you Kindle readers, there's obviously an extra bonus in this announcement. You've asked us for a long time to be able to integrate your Kindle and Goodreads experiences. Making that option a reality is one of our top priorities.
Our team gets out of bed every day motivated by the belief that the right book in the right hands can change the world. Now Goodreads can help make that happen in an even bigger and more meaningful way thanks to joining the Amazon family. (And if you want to be part of this, please check out our Jobs page for open positions. We've got a lot of hires to make!)
This is an emotional day for me. Goodreads is more than a company to me – it's something that Elizabeth and I created because we wanted it to exist. Since then it has grown a lot and become a place we love working at, full of incredibly smart and passionate people who also believe in our mission. I feel a little like a college graduate – happy to come to this milestone, nostalgic for the past amazing seven years, and incredibly, incredibly, excited for the future.
Otis
P.S. For the more official version of the announcement, here's the press release that went out today.
P.P.S. Please let us know – what integration with Kindle would you love to see the most?
Today I'm really happy to announce a new milestone for Goodreads: We are joining the Amazon family. We truly could not think of a more perfect partner for Goodreads as we both share a love of books and an appreciation for the authors who write them. We also both love to invent products and services that touch millions of people.
I'm excited about this for three reasons:
1. With the reach and resources of Amazon, Goodreads can introduce more readers to our vibrant community of book lovers and create an even better experience for our members.
2. Our members have been asking us to bring the Goodreads experience to an e-reader for a long time. Now we're looking forward to bringing Goodreads to the most popular e-reader in the world, Kindle, and further reinventing what reading can be.
3. Amazon supports us continuing to grow our vision as an independent entity, under the Goodreads brand and with our unique culture.
It's important to be clear that Goodreads and the awesome team behind it are not going away. Goodreads will continue to be the wonderful community that we all cherish. We plan to continue offering you everything that you love about the site—the ability to track what you read, discover great books, discuss and share them with fellow book lovers, and connect directly with your favorite authors—and your reviews and ratings will remain here on Goodreads. And it's incredibly important to us that we remain a home for all types of readers, no matter if you read on paper, audio, digitally, from scrolls, or even stone tablets.
For all of you Kindle readers, there's obviously an extra bonus in this announcement. You've asked us for a long time to be able to integrate your Kindle and Goodreads experiences. Making that option a reality is one of our top priorities.
Our team gets out of bed every day motivated by the belief that the right book in the right hands can change the world. Now Goodreads can help make that happen in an even bigger and more meaningful way thanks to joining the Amazon family. (And if you want to be part of this, please check out our Jobs page for open positions. We've got a lot of hires to make!)
This is an emotional day for me. Goodreads is more than a company to me – it's something that Elizabeth and I created because we wanted it to exist. Since then it has grown a lot and become a place we love working at, full of incredibly smart and passionate people who also believe in our mission. I feel a little like a college graduate – happy to come to this milestone, nostalgic for the past amazing seven years, and incredibly, incredibly, excited for the future.
Otis
P.S. For the more official version of the announcement, here's the press release that went out today.
P.P.S. Please let us know – what integration with Kindle would you love to see the most?
Comments Showing 1,251-1,300 of 2,216 (2216 new)
Choice is critical in any market, but that is particularly true in cultural markets like books. The prospect that a single firm would control access to books should give any reader pause. - Senator Chuck Schumer, New YorkCount me on the side of those not very happy. It's not that I don't like Amazon -- I do; I've purchased from them -- but I don't like the monopoly they're getting over the book market. There have got to be other ways to integrate the "GoodReads experience" to the e-reader market (an app open to all Apple and Android tablets/phones...). Not everyone has a Kindle. I guess that means that Nook, iBook, Sony, Kobi, etc. users are out of luck??
Censorship is about subtleties. It's about limiting your options and access to information and ideas; it's about treading on your right to think, judge, and decide for yourself. - Bookman's Entertainment Exchange
While I don't believe Amazon promotes censorship, deals like this one do limit options.
I like my communities on GoodReads and don't want to give them up. I'll stick around to see what comes of this, or until I find Amazon's influence affecting my enjoyment of the site. :o(
As a Kindle author, I'm THRILLED! Thank you for joining the Amazon/Kindle family!
Who wants to bet there will be 'Goodreads Prime' and we're going to have to start paying for GR features?
Sad to hear this. Must cancel my account.
Absolutely agree that a review posted at one site should also post at the other. I do all my reviews at GR but am too lazy to go to Amazon to post them there, too. I'm sure it has nothing to do with GR, but I sure would like to see some functionality added to the Kindle app for iOS. I'm not too lazy to go to iTunes and post that; going there now.
I don't think I'm happy about this I would rather GR stay independent. I may not delete my account immeadiatly but will search for another independent site to rate and keep track of the books that I read. Sad day!!!
I sign in here using my facebook but i don't wish to connect my facebook to my amazon account. Am I going to have to do that now?
I am pleased that this will help to spread the JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB great news to all! let's just make sure to always support ALL writers..Indies to household names...
Ursula wrote: "Like several, am of VERY mixed feelings. If Goodreads still allows me to do reviews, great. Are you going to pull them because I'm an author? Are you going to stay smiple and easy to post reviews, ..."I would like to add that as a reader, reading my favorite authors' reviews and book recommendations is one of the things I enjoy most about Goodreads. I love that I can follow them on Goodreads and find out what they are reading and what they thought of it. I hope this feature doesn't disappear. It would be very disappointing. I've tried out many new authors that I wouldn't have taken a chance on otherwise due to a good recommendation by an author I am following. Please keep this feature!
Laura wrote: "What terrible news. Loss of an independent reader community, now another channel for the faceless machine to leech reader data to withhold from suffering publishers & booksellers. If through this a..."Totally agree.
By the way, I'm sure others have noted that GR five stars ratings is different from Amazon five stars rating. For example:
GR three stars = "liked it"
Amazon three stars = "It's OK"
What a sad day for readers. :-(And I could not disagree more with the folks who want their reviews and/or wishlist/TBR integrated. I do NOT want to have my accounts linked in any way, and I do NOT want Amazon to have any more information about me than they already do. If these things happen, and maybe even if they don't, I will be deleting my Goodreads account. What a shame.
Sorry to hear it. Usually when lovely small efforts like goodreads get sucked into the massive corporate machine, they get ruined. Well, it was good while it lasted.
Bugmenot wrote: "Speak with your feet and speak loudly. Amazon cannot buy community..."Awesome post. Applause for this guy.
Let's not forget bookcrossing.com either.
Now just gotta think about what books I've written lengthy reviews for here on GR and copy them out. The book titles are a snap thanks to the export tool..but the reviews..sheesh..copy first, then wait and see what happens with the Amazon deal..if the deal goes through then I guess I will delete the originals. I don't want my writing on Amazon. No way.
Julia wrote: "I find this very sad news. I hope the information I have entered will not be made available on Amazon. If that is the plan, I trust there will be advance notification to allow removal by those of u..."Yes, I too am very concerned about personal data.
I can't help but say that based on the comments of people leaving, their departure will most likely improve the ratings of books here. Without the snobby and self-righteous people who couldn't enjoy a fun-loving good book to save their lives, those of us who judge based on enjoyment will rate books more accurately. I am feeling better about the merger now knowing the people who hate big corporations are going to depart. Making money isn't a tragedy and it is actually how jobs are created, as GR is proving.
I am definitely looking forward to the changes now.
Social networking sites like Goodreads may often start out as one individual's idea, but they become what they are because of the community building it. Amazon cannot create community, so they are "buying" it to strengthen their sales. Now my reviews support a corporation, not a community. I am not happy that Goodreads sold out to them.
We need nonprofits to support truly independent communities where our contributions don't serve corporate needs. I will now post directly on WorldCat.org as a non-profit back-up. Keep that library connection and keep the community interaction without Amazon as the strange bedfellow. We may buy from them, but we don't love them.
Amy wrote: "I can't help but say that based on the comments of people leaving, their departure will most likely improve the ratings of books here. Without the snobby and self-righteous people who couldn't enjo..."^ Funniest thing I've read all day.
Amy wrote: " I can't help but say that based on the comments of people leaving, their departure will most likely improve the ratings of books here. Without the snobby and self-righteous people who couldn't enjoy a fun-loving good book to save their lives, those of us who judge based on enjoyment will rate books more accurately. . ..."Be aware that some of us thinking of leaving here are actually authors, who write some of those books, and for example, my average book rating is 4.12 with 500 reviews written. People are upset for a whole host of reasons - it would pay not to generalize.
Amy wrote: "I can't help but say that based on the comments of people leaving, their departure will most likely improve the ratings of books here. Without the snobby and self-righteous people who couldn't enjo..."I don't think that's the case at all. Many people who write critical, honest, and complete reviews that are helpful to many users may leave the site, leaving the ones that may not be very helpful at all on either end of the scale. It could go either way with the amount of reaction to this.
I'm waiting on my hands to see what changes (if any) the site undergoes. While I have accounts on multiple book sites (LT, Shelfari, etc.), Goodreads has always been my mainstay space for the community, for my reviews, book tracking, as well as galley reviews. It would be sad to see if the site imposed restrictions in the way that Amazon has.
On another note, I guess that means I won't have to consider cross posting my reviews to Amazon anymore.
Bad idea. All these big companies are buying out the smaller ones. It doesn't seem fair. Not a good move.
Amy wrote: "I can't help but say that based on the comments of people leaving, their departure will most likely improve the ratings of books here. Without the snobby and self-righteous people who couldn't enjo..."From Amy's own page:
Books with a lot of "adult" content are not of interest to me at this point in my life.
Nuf said.
Yeah, Shelfari was a fantastic site for a long time - when did it become crap? When Amazon bought it.
Asia wrote: "Whatever happens, I am certain Readmill will remain my favorite in this space, and I encourage Goodreads members to check it out! "Readmill appears to be only for iPhone/iPad users.
Really, that's an element of why I think so many of us are heartbroken by this announcement. Many of us don't like being in the walled gardens that Amazon, Google, Apple, Barnes & Noble, etc. try to use to contain us. Goodreads provided common ground for readers regardless of platform, and many of us feel that is a great loss. I know I do.
I'm a kindle fire user and I'm not happy about this. Not at all :(
Amy wrote: "I can't help but say that based on the comments of people leaving, their departure will most likely improve the ratings of books here. Without the snobby and self-righteous people who couldn't enjo..."Ha ha! Nice one!
Amy wrote: "I can't help but say that based on the comments of people leaving, their departure will most likely improve the ratings of books here. Without the snobby and self-righteous people who couldn't enjo..."Wow. That sure showed me.
Dan wrote: "it seems to me there's a huge opportunity for GR to continue to add value, both for users and for Amazon"Excellent comments ... I hope your expectations come true.
Sherri wrote: "For those who want the info -- you can download all your GOodreads books and reviews into a file you can open in Excel. Go to the help and type in Export Books. It's simple, one click. I've already done mine and will be keeping my book records there. I won't close my GR account as yet -- will wait and see -- but I am quite literally feeling sick about this news. Is there no escape from Amazon? It's as pervasive and awful as Facebook. "Just reposting this in case you haven't seen it. Thanks Sherri for this information.
Katharine wrote: "Asia wrote: "Whatever happens, I am certain Readmill will remain my favorite in this space, and I encourage Goodreads members to check it out! "Readmill appears to be only for iPhone/iPad users.
..."
Well said, Katharine.
Carrie wrote: "Chandler and Elizabeth -- I'm the executive director of the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association, which represents 200 indie bookstores across the Midwest. Every bookseller I've talked to is..."You are fighting a losing and unnecessary battle. I think it would be more productive to develop strategies for the future instead of bemoaning the past.
Amy wrote: "What about us Nookies?"yeah, I agree!
NOT HAPPY about this in any way, shape or form. You've bought into the Amazon collective and readers will be the ones to suffer. I don't buy from Amazon for a reason! Sad day for Goodreads in my opinion.
Can the American courts prevent someone from selling a community? How is this sale even legal? This is a website whose ENTIRE content is written by volunteers one way or the other. I am not sure about the legality of this move in your country, but it is definitely unethical.
I'm really disappointed. I mean really. I will be leaving this site if it changes in any way to resemble Amazon's exclusive, money-grabbing ways. I own a Kobo, and I can't help but feel like this site will be less and less for people like me.
Congratulations to you as entrepreneurs but from where I'm sitting I think it's a real shame that such a great independent website is being affiliated with a single mass corporation. :( I agree with the 5 posts above.
I understand why GR is taking this step, but I'm not willing to have my (and my 7 yo's) reading life accessible to Amazon. I do not purchase books from Amazon as a conscious choice and therefore do not support their having even the slightest window into my reading habits. I have purchased a lifetime account with Librarything and am importing all of my books to this independent site, at which point I will be phasing out my GR account. I am sad to go, because GR has been an invaluable tool to manage my own reading lists and to build a homeschool portfolio for my son.
"I'm so very sorry you've made this decision. I understand the motivation, but I cannot but dread the inevitable changes that will come. Goodreads has long been one of the best places for books and book discussions, but Amazon has demonstrated their own dedication to profit uber alles. I hate that they have their hands on this site, too." I totally agree. I would have paid a monthly fee for Goodreads to stay independent. I think millions of us would have done the same.
Angela wrote: "Not sure how I feel about this and I am an Amazon Customer. What I lOVE about GR is that it's truly crowd-sourced. Amazon is not a family- it's a profit making machine. Quoting Anne (message 33) "..."Totally agree. Not sure how I see the future here.
I'd like it if things just didn't focus on the Kindle Fire - some of us who have the older versions would like to use Goodreads too!!
Great for your bank balance. I do fell that you have sacrificed your child in the process though.
What is sad is all these people on here talking about money talks and all that. I am happy for you guys and am sure you will make Goodreads even better! Sorry you have all the negative
Sarah wrote: "This curious since Amazon already owns and neglects Shelfari.I would say nothing needs to be done for readers except include more of the website features in to the existing app for Nook and Kindl..."
Jacquie wrote: "for me, I would like to be able to post one review and have it go to both sites"
I'm tempted to pull all my stuff off Goodreads asap before Amazon gets its greedy hands on it. I notice you don't say anything about all the data-trolling that Amazon no doubt will be conducting on the Goodreads site. I'm an author with an Amazon author page - it's obviously necessary, - but I'm on Goodreads because it was not greedy or market-driven. Sad, sad, sad. As someone said above, the internet will soon be owned by Amazon and Facebook. Period.
I agree totally. Don't ignore B&N Nook users. The Simple Touch is recognised as the better E-book reader.
As a kindle lover, this is interesting news, but it remains to be seen how this will change GR, so I'll reserve my judgement.As someone else said, if things change for the worse, I can always revive my old Library Thing account,or: WWW.moreofit.com/similar_to/WWW.good reads.com/Top_10_Sites_Like_Goodreads/
for me, I would like to be able to post one review and have it go to both sites.."
Integration of reviews across sites is CRAZY. Stop thinking about 'convenience' for one second. First, who is going to manage the policies on all those reviews? Amazon, right? Yecch. We've seen how well a job they do, right? I assume most of you are aware of the vicious legal battles between authors and readers that Amazon's reviews have spawned? The legal aspect alone --implicit in a move like that--is enough to make one shudder.
As for 'integrated Kindle services'..Kindle users need to consider the greater community of book enthusiasts and let go of the natural assumption that enhancements to their little toy are top priority for everyone. When it comes to books, its the lowest rung on the ladder which is the most important. There should be no privileges fast-tracked to users of some luxury product, which might be detrimental to readers as a whole. When it comes to books, the main goal is accessibility for all and paper books are still #1 in that regard. Think of others!