Goodreads Lets Users Discover, Share, and Review Books with Online Friends

I’ve been an avid reader for more than 20 years, and I am always on the lookout for another good book. Fortunately I no longer have to scan the local library’s shelves in search of a catchy title because Goodreads.com has come to my rescue. Goodreads is a free website for booklovers that allows you to catalog and review what you’ve read and what you’re currently reading while also letting you peruse your friends’ virtual bookshelves.

How it works

Create a new account by clicking here. Enter your name, email address, and create a password. Now you’re all set to start your very own book collection. Search for books that you’ve already read, are currently reading, or would like to read, and add them to “my books.” Any book that you rate on a scale of 1-5 stars will automatically be added to your collection.

Find new books…with a little help from your friends

Goodreads is a social networking site for booklovers. Find your friends by searching for their name or email address, and then search their virtual bookshelves for new and exciting books to read. The site makes it easy to see what your friends are reading because whenever you search for a book Goodreads shows your friends’ reviews first. In addition, every time you log in the homepage will alert you to your friends’ most recent book activity. If you want to get an idea of what the rest of the world is reading, click the “explore” tab to browse more shelves and find both popular and unpopular books.

Extras

Goodreads also lets you join or start discussion groups about the books you’re reading, and if you want to find Goodreads groups discussing something in particular, just click on the book title. Clicking on any title will provide you with a ton of info, including author, ISBN, literary awards, the book’s average Goodreads rating, and the number of Goodreads members who have read and rated the book. If you’re a user of MySpace or Facebook, or if you have your own website be sure to download the Goodreads widget to advertise to your friends what you’re reading.

Wordpress

There is also a third party wordpress plugin which will allow you to display your Goodreads books on your Wordpress blog.

Happy reading! Be sure to add me as your Goodreads friend, and let me know what you’re reading.