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Now You Can Preview Books on Goodreads! (U.S. Members)
Don’t judge a book by its cover…judge it by what’s inside with our new Preview feature, which launches today! With Preview, you can sample the story before committing to the whole book. Now our U.S. members can get a taste of their next amazing read right on the Goodreads website.
Preview is easy to use. You’ll find the "Open Preview" button on the book page of any of the millions of titles that have a Kindle edition.
Click on the “Open Preview” button and a sample of the book will open up inside Goodreads, using the Kindle Cloud Reader. If you like what you see, you can add the title to your Goodreads “Want to Read” shelf. If you’re ready to buy, there’s a link to purchase it on Amazon, or you can use the links on the book page to other online retailers.
Preview is only available on the Goodreads.com website for members in the U.S. (You will need to be using Goodreads on your computer/laptop. It is not yet accessible in other countries, via mobile web, or our apps.)
Want to check out our new Preview feature? Read samples of our Best Books of August, a list of the best books of the month that Goodreads members are reading and loving.
Happy Previewing!
Preview is easy to use. You’ll find the "Open Preview" button on the book page of any of the millions of titles that have a Kindle edition.
Click on the “Open Preview” button and a sample of the book will open up inside Goodreads, using the Kindle Cloud Reader. If you like what you see, you can add the title to your Goodreads “Want to Read” shelf. If you’re ready to buy, there’s a link to purchase it on Amazon, or you can use the links on the book page to other online retailers.
Preview is only available on the Goodreads.com website for members in the U.S. (You will need to be using Goodreads on your computer/laptop. It is not yet accessible in other countries, via mobile web, or our apps.)
Want to check out our new Preview feature? Read samples of our Best Books of August, a list of the best books of the month that Goodreads members are reading and loving.
Happy Previewing!
Comments Showing 51-100 of 101 (101 new)
Tina wrote: "Let the first step of the Amazon take over begin. If I wanted to look at a book page in Amazon, I'd go to Amazon. *sigh* Does anyone know of someone trying to make a non-Amazon owned Goodreads? ..."There are a few out there--
http://www.fictfact.com is small, but has some decent features. It's very small.
Does anyone know if Kobobooks has previews? I've never used that feature for the books there.
But honestly I'm sure Amazon will get around to doing the other countries if they legally can do so. They want to sell products all over the world so there is no reason to NOT do it if they can.
This isn't really something that Goodreads should gloat about, we've been able to do this for years on Amazon. Making this US only too, just ridiculous.
Why is Goodreads wasting time on this when they could be doing something useful like improving the site?
Why is Goodreads wasting time on this when they could be doing something useful like improving the site?
Vickie wrote: "Why is Goodreads wasting time on this when they could be doing something useful like improving the site? ..."I think this is useful and is improving the site. I like it. Now I don't need to go to amazon so much.
The preview function is a selling tool. I imagine that as soon as Amazon can hammer out copyright agreements with other countries for Goodreads (which is still, ostensibly, a non-purchase site), it will become available internationally. I'm sure they'd like to sell everyone as many books as they can as soon as humanly possible. And that certainly includes non-American markets.
Hey all! We definitely understand that our members outside the US would like to try this feature too. We'd love to roll this out in future releases, and we will let you know if we're able to do this.
OMG people this is no different than any other technology stuff where products, video games, movies, and even books often release to the US before other countries (or in some cases AFTER other countries). There are clearly issues with a full global release be it just wanting to fully test stuff first or copyright issues. You will get it eventually. You aren't being excluded because the US is "so special". And since Amazon was originally a US company it makes sense that they would release new stuff that may have bugs and needs tested to the US first. Stop the fits you WILL get the feature eventually and until then you lasted this long without it....
Eda** # Deacon Bruce's kitten # wrote: "Why the hell is it just for US members? I really would like to hear the reason o.O"I find that very unfair right?!
I can't wait till it hits UK though!
I’d love it if it was everywhere not just in the US. Sadly :)!
Why not simply release the feature when all issues have been ironed out so that it can be rolled out globally from the very start. Personally I still dont see the point of being able to preview it here. If I was of a mind to purchase it I would be previewing on the store website I was going to purchase it unless suddenly Goodreads is going to have Amazon buy now buttons as well?
There is a simple answer - if you can't preview here, you can still preview on Amazon whatever the country. :)
Incredible! Thank you Goodreads for continuing to make this site better and better every day.
Such whining!I am Canadian and will simply open another tab, go to Amazon.com, and look at the preview pages there. Whew!
It's a couple of extra key strokes. Just make sure you have a good breakfast for the needed exertion. Godspeed, folks.
I don't know why is so damn difficult to read an eBook from another country, or read previews etc..not just in US but sometimes i want to buy an ebook that is not from US and is IMPOSSIBLE to read/buy.
Daydream Books wrote: " Personally I still dont see the point of being able to preview it here. If I was of a mind to purchase it I would be previewing on the store website I was going to purchase it..."I use it (and amazon's feature) to get a feel of the writing style to decide I want to read the book at all...or if it is something I am in the mood for at the time. Or to look at the table of contents or something. I may get it from the library and not buy it at all!
Guys, just look up the previews on Google, or Amazon, or ANYWHERE ELSE. Why do you people keep asking why this is only for the US? One moderator has already said they can't have it anywhere else right now and hope it spreads soon. You guys act like this can be done in minutes when it CAN'T. There are other places to look up previews of books. Go there if you can't use this feature here on Goodreads. Geez, I don't even know why there's an argument about this here...
AmandaEmma (little miss reader) wrote: "Sandee (The Whimsical Reader) wrote: "Oh come on!! Be fair to all the readers all around the world!! *pretty please...* :)"You can always just receive a sample from amazon of a certain book?"
I actually didn't know that, so thanks for the tip. :)
Joseleinne wrote: "Why only US? >.< South America exist too"Goodreads+US=Screwed up
Princess wrote: "Guys, just look up the previews on Google, or Amazon, or ANYWHERE ELSE. Why do you people keep asking why this is only for the US? One moderator has already said they can't have it anywhere else ri..."Umm.... well, i guess you are true, sort of actually
but i won't make my new point and click advenrture game availble for US.
Is the feature being rolled out in batches? Many books don't have it yet. Is there a completion date for the update?
Chris, that's what I thought at first too--but I see you are an author. If you go to the book via your author page, it doesn't show the preview button. If you just go to the book by searching on it, you'll find that it has the preview button:Countermeasure
Whoops. I tried it and your book didn't have the preview! Okay, I was wrong. Perhaps soon!!!!
Maybe it has to do with whether or not the kindle version is entered a certain way in Goodreads. I can see you have a kindle version, but I can't tell if the ASIN is being picked up from one of the editions...
Apparently, for the button to show, the Kindle edition has to be set as the primary edition. That can be a problem for those titles with new cover editions set as primary.
Chris wrote: "Apparently, for the button to show, the Kindle edition has to be set as the primary edition. That can be a problem for those titles with new cover editions set as primary."I wondered that when I saw your book because it didn't look like Kindle was the edition I was seeing. Hmm. That's a bit of a problem.
This is a very good feature! but I would also like to be able to access it through mobile, as most of the time I'm usually on my phone.
i wanna read this book .. i just joined this app && i love, love it .. now i get to read all my books from college here without purchasing it. please add me people because i need friends and help to understand this new book im reading for college . it's impotant . it's called OEDIPUS THE KING ---> check it out . by the way im from TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
Clearly, the United States is the only country in the world worthy of seeing previews of books.I am really, really rolling my eyes over here in Canada. Next time, filter this so it only goes out to US "readers" or don't announce it until you can open it to all countries.
Well, the US is obviously not the only country in the world, but they'd have to start with one, and why not their home country? The computer geek squad has a lot to do... It's not just adding a button, and yes, I'm sure there are legal issues too.Please note that although I live in the US, I don't like readine electronically, so I'll prob never use the button, but I see it as a good thing.
My hubs works on big companies' websites, and the traffic issues are HUGE. They're going to have to buy LOTS AND LOTS of servers to handle the load, and prob more people to handle those. All for a FREE site (so far).
Be patient. :) it'll get to everyone, I'm sure.
omi wrote: "i wanna read this book .. i just joined this app && i love, love it .. now i get to read all my books from college here without purchasing it. please add me people because i need friends and help t..."
You might want to Google PREVIEW, they're not allowing users to read for free.
You might want to Google PREVIEW, they're not allowing users to read for free.
Obviously it's only in US because there's only freaking country in the whole wide world. Ergh!
Ari wrote: "the site needs a new design asap."
I think this right
I think this right
Mody wrote: "Why Only usa ?"
because the site from usa
because the site from usa
Only in the USA because... this is an American based company, so they started in the country of origin. Copyright releases, etc. have to be signed by each nation and the process is different (and expensive? not sure) for each nation.
Honestly, I'm mostly annoyed at this because it seems like time wasted when they could be updating the design, which has barely changed since this site started a good ten years ago.
Maria wrote: "Kristy wrote: "Maria wrote: "Hmm. I'm in the US, looking at the kindle version of this book: Under Witch Moon I don't see a preview button?"I do. It says "Open Preview" in a col..."
I don't see anything either. I wonder why.
Why only US? I mean, this is a global feature. If it's still in beta or something I could understand, but really, somewhat (Kindle unlimited anyone?) this whole US only affair is getting annoying, especially when there are no clear copyright or logistic issues at hand. Well, if you really have to make many people feel unjustly left out, why not "only Europe" for a change?
Too bad it's only for Kindle owners atm. I use a REAL computer.
To all the people complaining about it being only available in America: get a VPN...or a proxy.
I hope this isn't just a click that sends me to the Amazon preview page, because that crap isn't up to par a lot of times. I hate when you click it and all you get is copyright pages and the table of contents.
y its only america can`t other members also read?
Alenka wrote: "Yup, it's obvious. There is no "preview" button here."
What the hell is these if it's not available in africa tell us that. Than we will not spend our money.
Useless app uninstalled
Lately it seems too be the case... well I would suggest amazon to simply block entire world and give services only to U.S.
Thanks."
It was purchased by Amazon. That's why.