Post your library

[Francesca R]

Show us your books :)

I did this using books.google.com, inspired by Geek Goddess's (http://books.google.com/books?as_list=BDfgmBU4Q-M2U8OSQ3LNPGhQMFVJkSFCmrvP6yXiYCUX-oMKpFw) version. There are presumably other networking sites that facilitate something similar

My library (http://books.google.com/books?as_list=BDdYdvgYQ1rv4tYC6qov1ARoUl7LAEdFsHXu eBcVpmKd1SpPKAnk&hl=en) here. This is stuff I've bought and read over the last year or two (I have not read the reference books cover to cover, and many of them I have had for longer anyway). I tend not to buy more than a couple of books ahead of time since I don't trust myself to read them all. I keep a large "save for later" shopping basket on amazon instead.

The book covers on google are (I assume) the US versions, so most of my copies have different covers.

books.google.com You create an account - I used my gmail account - and create your library. You can then search for books by title, author, keyword, and when you find them, click 'add to my library' You can write your own reviews, add your own labels/tags to sort them, etc. I haven't found a way to sort them in alphabetical or any order other than, the most recent added stay at the top. But I added enough tags so that I can sort them pretty well that way. Google Books is in the process of scanning huge numbers of books, so if you search on a phrase in a book, it might pull that page up, out of that book! How cool is that? If you noticed, when you click on the cover pic or title of the book, it takes you over to where Google Books has collected reviews, synopsis, references and referrals, and so on.

[CFLarsen]

I am fairly certain I've managed to list(!) about all of the books/works on skepticism and wooism. 1874 entries (as of today). But there could be pockets of treasure somewhere in the dungeon.

As for the rest, I can only give a rough estimate of shelf space/tonnage.

[Ludo voice]Books...friends.[/Ludo voice]

[Francesca R]

List . . . where?

[CFLarsen]

List . . . where?

List....here....hard disk.

What, you want it?

[Kotatsu]

http://www.librarything.com/catalog/Grijndvar

I use LibraryThing for exactly this purpose. This is very much a nerd's library, as evidenced by the most common keywords.

[Francesca R]

List....here....hard disk.

What, you want it?Yeah, don't be so bunged-up about life. ;)

[Francesca R]

http://www.librarything.com/catalog/Grijndvar

I use LibraryThing for exactly this purpose. This is very much a nerd's library, as evidenced by the most common keywords.Is that link meant to load your own shelf-space? Because I don't think it does.

[Geek Goddess]

You those who don't know, I've got my house for sell in one part of the state, while I'm renting a friend's guest house in another part of the state where my new position is. I discovered the Google Books site a month ago, and have been loading the books I've acquired in the past six months, as well as a number of my science fiction books that I listed from memory. It's not my total library - I mean, it doesn't even have my Lord of the Rings.!!! Whenever I actually get my house sold and my total library unpacked, I'll get this up to speed.

At the recommendation of another person on the forum, I also bought Collectorz.com's software and a cute little scanning tool (to read the bar codes of the books into the software, although I seem to have a large number of books that were printed before bar codes :rolleyes:). I like the features on it, and I'm building up my catalog there as well, but the Google Books is very simple to use and easier to share with people.

ETA: oooh, Francesca, a foodie and travel junkie! My friend! I picked up Not on the Label when I was in London a few years ago. I've not seen it for sale in the U.S. I got some ideas from your book list! Have you read of of Thomas Sowell's books? If not - I think I have most of his listed, so you can look at Google's reviews linked through my list.

[CFLarsen]

Yeah, don't be so bunged-up about life. ;)

"I get high on life".

Let's see what happens. I have a devious plan...

[Kotatsu]

Is that link meant to load your own shelf-space? Because I don't think it does.

It does work for me. It is supposed to show a list of my books, ordered alphabetically. What does it show when you click on it?

[Francesca R]

^^ It does now. Didn't before for some reason. All is good.

[Kotatsu]

Hooray for happy endings!

[Francesca R]

ETA: oooh, Francesca, a foodie and travel junkie! My friend! I picked up Not on the Label when I was in London a few years ago. I've not seen it for sale in the U.S. I got some ideas from your book list! Have you read of of Thomas Sowell's books? If not - I think I have most of his listed, so you can look at Google's reviews linked through my list.LOL Geeky I thought that meant you thought "Not on the label" was a recipe book for a while there. There's been a popular wave of anti-food-technology (tinged with anti-globalisation, anti-business, anti-government, anti anti anti stuff) books recently. I tried to pick out that as one of the more balanced ones. It's still a rant though, and these books probably sell more in anti-GMO Europe.

Travel? Yes my parents infected me with that when they dragged the family around Asia when I was little and lived in New Zealand where I was born. I still love travel, though do more of it with work now than with free time. I think my countries-visited list is the same as my age (33).

No, not read any Sowell books :)

[Professor Yaffle]

Here's mine which I started doing a while ago, then forgot about. I might have a go at getting it more up to date soon.

http://www.librarything.com/catalog/wewillfixit

[Madalch]

So, what is the point of posting one's library on such a website? Or is it just bragging rights?

[Professor Yaffle]

The site will recommend other books to you based on your library. You can talk to other people who like the same books as you. If people ask you what your favourite authors are, you can just give them a link instead of having to list them all.

And even if you haven't posted your library, you can use the Unsuggester:

http://www.librarything.com/unsuggester

[DmKrispin]

At the recommendation of another person on the forum, I also bought Collectorz.com's software and a cute little scanning tool (to read the bar codes of the books into the software, although I seem to have a large number of books that were printed before bar codes :rolleyes:).


Oh, thank Odin -- that's exactly what I need!

*off to Collectorz.com*

[Geek Goddess]

So, what is the point of posting one's library on such a website? Or is it just bragging rights?Bragging? I don't think it's bragging. I like to see what other books people have - it not only gives me ideas for books to read, it gives me an idea about the person!

If no one famous said it, they should have: Show me a man's books, and you've shown me the man.

Oh, thank Odin -- that's exactly what I need!

*off to Collectorz.com* If you haven't made a purchase yet.

After you make a purchase, they send you a coupon for $8 off your next purchase. I didn't have a reason to buy anything except the book software, so the bundled prices didn't hold any appeal for me. When I got the coupon, however, I went back and bought the inexpensive bar code scanner. The expensive one is cordless and holds several books at a time, which you then download to your computer. I bought the cheap one that plugs into the computer, which means that I have to bring the books to the computer.

Also, you can download the software as a trial.

YMMV

[Madalch]

Bragging? I don't think it's bragging. I like to see what other books people have - it not only gives me ideas for books to read, it gives me an idea about the person!

If no one famous said it, they should have: Show me a man's books, and you've shown me the man.
I don't think I'm ready to expose myself in public like that.

[sgf8]

Okay, looks like I am in for this. I am trying to do it from Google like GG. I want to know how to add more than one label to your book. GG has done this, but I can't figure out how. I know how to make the first label, and how to edit the label.

For example, I want my history books listed under "History" & "Civil War"

Susan

[sgf8]

I don't know about it showing you the true person. I have been wanting to do this for years but I doubt that you will get a true picture of me once done. I have my father's Western books, and lots of Christian books. I don't actually read these, but may have and they are in my "collection"

Also I keep all the books I have had to purchase from years of college. They are also part of my library. I wouldn't just list books I like but everything I have. This site can be useful in many ways, just don't judge me on my odd choices.

Susan

[CFLarsen]

If no one famous said it, they should have: Show me a man's books, and you've shown me the man.

Well, I have Marx' "The Communist Manifesto" and "Gee, that's capital" *), Kropotkin's "Mutual Aid", Bakunin's "God and the State", Hitler's "Mein Kampf", Mussolini's "The Doctrine of Fascism", Mao's "Little Red Book", and even Gadaffi's "The Green Book".

And Escoffier's "Le Guide Culinaire".

What does that say about me? ;)

* I might misremember the title...

[Francesca R]

Okay, looks like I am in for this. I am trying to do it from Google like GG. I want to know how to add more than one label to your book. GG has done this, but I can't figure out how. I know how to make the first label, and how to edit the label.

For example, I want my history books listed under "History" & "Civil War"Click to edit the label, add a comma and then another label and hey presto. So, . . . where's the books?? :)

[Francesca R]

If no one famous said it, they should have: Show me a man's books, and you've shown me the man.[ . . . ] What does that say about me? ;)Actually that was a typo in what someone famous should've said, and there should have been a llc in "bo . . o . ks" :D

[CFLarsen]

1874 entries (as of today).

Oops. Up to 1913.

That's one of the reason why I don't post the list. It just keeps on growing! :)

[CFLarsen]

Actually that was a typo in what someone famous should've said, and there should have been a llc in "bo . . o . ks" :D

:p

[sgf8]

Click to edit the label, add a comma and then another label and hey presto. So, . . . where's the books??


Thank you. I didn't read that anywhere! A comma...go figure....

I wanted to see how easy it is to use, so I only put in two books. I work ALL day today and maybe I will work on it tomorrow. It should be fun, I noticed that I can note my books, I think I have a bunch autographed, and want that listed. Cool My bookshelves will finally get a really good dusting.

Susan

[bjornart]

http://www.librarything.com/catalog/bjornart

Definitely not for bragging rights. That's what I have my list of fiction I've read for: http://www.tuftin.net/~bjornar/Bjornar/forf.html

[Worm]

I use the Collectorz.com software, very handy :)

My list (http://ccgi.chiles.plus.com/books/)

[gumboot]

This looks like too much effort... :P

My books are divided primarily into four categories:

1. Writing reference material
This is a variety of books mostly things like "The Encyclopedia of Mythology" and "The English Village In History" which helps me with my writing (I write fantasy). Also some generic writing-related reference books such as dictionaries and so forth, books of phrase and fable, and such things.

2. Film reference material
As it suggests, books about films and filmmaking.

3. Fantasy fiction
The majority of my fiction titles.

4. "Other"
A variety of other books I have picked up, some of it classics (Shakespeare, The Old Man And The Sea, Catch-22) others just random things I acquired (A Tom Clancy novel, A Hardy Boys book) and others being particular fields of interest to me that don't fit into the other categories (such as modern-warfare related books).

The biggest section of my two big bookcases is actually taken up by my own work.

[sgf8]

I use the Collectorz.com software, very handy :)

I get Problem Loading Page error.

Please don't tell me there is a better "library" than the Google one, cause I am half way done getting everything in it.

This has been a good exercise for me, I am finding duplicates, and books I CAN live without. I need space badly, so getting rid of any is a good thing. Also it is forcing me to look at each book and think about it.

Susan

[wafonso]

I'm on Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/wafonso
But that is far from complete... I have a full list in my PDA, as a Palm DB file, but I don't think any of these new web services will import a Palm DB...

[-Fran-]

I tried this site out:

http://se.librarything.com/catalog/FrancescaA

I just added the books that happened to be on my desk right now (most of them anyway, a few could not be found). I don't know if I have the strenght to add the rest that are in my shelves :)

ETA:
I am a compulsive listmaker though, and already have several lists of my books on my PC (that are almost complete, but not quite) and many of the older books are also scanned for their beautiful covers and nice (or funny) illustrations. So, even if I think this is a nice idea, I realized when I started that I probably am too lazy to list all of the books again :)

[fuelair]

Can't, my library has a big "No posting" sign on it!!

[fuelair]

OOOPS. double, nevermind!!

[Worm]

I get Problem Loading Page error.

Please don't tell me there is a better "library" than the Google one, cause I am half way done getting everything in it.

Bizarre. Works for me.

I wouldn't say it's better than Google, just different :)

[Kahalachan]

Would take forever to have a list of books I read. Here's an unfinished list of what I own.

http://books.google.com/books?as_list=BDbQtjwYQtNu8tPDY2-mQARoUsuOz8kdBqUjFaGoc8RB3YPJ-tSs

This is kind of fun. I'll add more whenever I feel like. :)

[sgf8]

Your page is working for me now.

I have almost all my books loaded in Google now, but am having problems with the search feature. I want to go back and remove books, but it isn't always letting me find the books that I know are there. I am searching in "my library" and using author and/or title but it says they aren't there. But when I search one at a time I will find them. Crazy!

I have a couple of "labels" that have only one book in them, I click on that label and the one book will not come up. I have searched other ways but it will still not pull up that last book. Frustrating!

I have searched through Google's Help questions but to no avail. I just asked Geek Goddess if she has any suggestions as she has been using it for awhile. Anyone else? can you point out my errors or is this something everyone experiences?

Susan

[Francesca R]

I haven't encountered any such problems, Susan. Maybe if you post the link we may be able to spot something amiss? :)

[sgf8]

Kahalachan - I just saw your Cthulhu book, my kids are always talking about this character and then they wiggle their fingers under their mouth to look like tentacles. We are a strange household, I've never read this book but maybe I should?


Susan

[Kahalachan]

Kahalachan - I just saw your Cthulhu book, my kids are always talking about this character and then they wiggle their fingers under their mouth to look like tentacles. We are a strange household, I've never read this book but maybe I should?


Susan

Yeah Lovecraft is a master of horror. You should.

I noticed Cthulhu seems to be more of a meme now than before. Not sure what revived the public awareness of Lovecraft but he's good.

[sgf8]

how frustrating, I'm trying to review the books and I can't search for most of them. If anyone has time please tell me what I'm doing wrong.

some books pop right up others will not be found.

For example the book "anne boleyn" cannot be searched for, but if I look under the English History label and search for it manually there it is. While looking at the book I tried again to search for it but it pulled up a whole bunch of books besides the one I wanted. I've tried with "quotes" around the phrase and without. tried with only the author, Anthony and without. tired with all kind of combinations.

these can't be searched for...
"Out of the silent planet" C.S. Lewis
Foundation by Asimov
"which way to die?" Queen
Mauve by Garfield
"they turned to stone"

Pops right up....
Quantum Leaps in the wrong direction

http://www.google.com/books?as_list=BDa0kCV8Qrcmk-OW8yKB9GhS9wZZV6R-3AQmr-E8e-eMDD7O2TQ

This link seems long.

[Francesca R]

how frustrating, I'm trying to review the books and I can't search for most of them. If anyone has time please tell me what I'm doing wrong.Whoa--773 books? (In fact I'm sure it changed to 774 while I was browsing!) I'm impressed :)

Susan, I get the same issue trying to search for Anne Boleyn or Evelyn Anthony in your library. No idea why, although I note that it only seems to appear in Google's database as a placeholder. And maybe the database is simply not well built yet. (Google has a habit of releasing all their cool--and free--applications in beta form, as indeed books.google is).

I searched for "Anne Boleyn" on amazon too and could only turn up re-sell copies, although there are a few of those. Is it a rarity?

[Wildy]

Thanks. Thanks a lot.

Now I have to search the house and bug certain people to get the books I have loaned out back.

And then I have to figure out what to do with books like Otto's German Grammar and Vocabulary. Or a collection of British Writers thing.

And now my room has all these books lying around...

[Geek Goddess]

Susan: I typed in Boelyn and found two pages of books, some that just used the word Boelyn somewhere in the book. I tried 'foundation asimov' and just 'foundation' and while many of the books pulled up, even ones that review or referred to Asimov's book, just the original Foundation did not.

I suspect that Google is still in the process of indexing everything and that you happened to find two books that are not done or have errors. In books that have been fully scanned, you can search for words or phrases.

I can't wait until I get unpacked and get my libraby put in.

[Madalch]

Well, I started putting in a few that I could find in Google's list, and which I could remember which edition I had...

http://books.google.com/books?lr=&as_list=BDd9g_tUQ38H5r53kyZ_UARoUNnVpA-wcrCnu5e-0iBshaRG_4E0&sa=N&start=30

[sgf8]

Madalch - so do you own any books that don't have "heraldry" in the title? <<grin>>

I suppose you just haven't gotten to that shelf yet, right?

Susan

[sgf8]

This has been bizarre. Last night the site said I had 32 Asimov books that I had labeled as such. When I clicked on them it gave me 4 pages to look through, and other times it gave me 7 pages to look through (and said I had 67 books listed under Asimov) When I counted the 32 books I came up with 28 books. This morning it shows all 32.


I hope that everything is caught up by now.

Still need to finish reviewing everything tonight.

Susan

[Geek Goddess]

This has been bizarre. Last night the site said I had 32 Asimov books that I had labeled as such. When I clicked on them it gave me 4 pages to look through, and other times it gave me 7 pages to look through (and said I had 67 books listed under Asimov) When I counted the 32 books I came up with 28 books. This morning it shows all 32.


I hope that everything is caught up by now.

Still need to finish reviewing everything tonight.

Susan

I think it depends on what your search is. If you type 'asimov' under 'search my library' it is going to feed back every book in your library that has the word in it (if the book has been scanned into Google's database). So, when a character in a Niven book refers to Asimov by name, that would turn up as well.

If you just search on your own labels, then it would be the ones you tagged with Asimov.

I have only entered one Asimov book (so far :D ) in my own library. when I searched, I got two pages of books back. Four of them were Michael Shermer's books, who apparently has referred to Asimov either by quoting him, or referring to the Three Laws of Robotics; two Niven books, one which has a 'previously published as a short story in Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine; Martin Gardner quoting Asimov in his book "Did Adam and Eve Have Navels?"; three Carl Sagan books; and a Stephen King novel! And, except for the last one, which shows 'content is restricted', they all even tell what page(s) the reference appears on.

I used "Niven" as a tag on any books he authored. When I search on that, it returns all the books I tagged that way, and that same King book. (I don't remember the book well, but King must have had his characters talking about science fiction authors, or discussed them in his intro. ???)


It has some bugs, but it is pretty cool.

ETA: I was playing around some, and found out that any book that has 'no preview available' won't show up on my searches entered into the title bar. When I typed in "Provence" or "toujours" into the search box, the book Toujours Provence doesn't show up in the returned list, although other books mentioning those words do. That particular book shows 'no preview', which I assume means it hasn't been scanned into Google yet. BUT when I click the tag "France' on my personal tag list, on the left side of the page, it does find it.

[sgf8]

Well it is happening in your Geek Goddesses library as well. I found a book that had no preview "how long is my valley" and then went to "my library" typed in "long" and "valley" and it pulled up a bunch of books, but not the one I wanted.

So I'm not sure I understand where they are getting these books from. If they don't have a preview available then.....?

I just want to use this as a database site to search my own books and look at others. I guess what they designed it for is to search inside books?

I wrote to them and here is my response...

Thanks for your message. Our engineering team is currently working to
improve the "My Library" feature, and we appreciate your bringing this to
our attention. I will shortly pass this information along to the rest of
our team for review.

If you have any additional questions or comments at this time, please
don't hesitate to let us know. Thank you for your patience as we continue
to improve our services.

GG I tried your search for "Toujours Provence" in your library and also in your "france" label and it would not pull up your book in either place. I was trying this with my Asimov books, it will not pull them up in "my library" or in under the label "Asimov". I have to search one by one to find the book I am looking for.

Susan

[Michelle Lyon]

http://www.librarything.com/catalog/LyonTamer

[sgf8]

Google said that they didn't want me to "hesitate giving them feedback" on their library site, so I gave them a bit of an earful tonight. I'm sure I'll just get a dear susan letter back, but I feel like I am trying to help.

The loading of the books was frustrating at times also, I mentioned that to them also, but didn't go into detail.

Right now I just want to be able to search for books that I know I have in my library.

Susan

[sgf8]

Lion - I love Oliver Sacks!

But you can't tell it from my library. I think I checked out his books from the library or something. Humm something to add to my wish lists

Susan

[Geek Goddess]

What what I read, Google's main project is to scan tens of thousands of books into their database, and make them searchable. Some authors or other holders of copyrights are objecting, so you have the issue with some books having only a few pages available, or none. The personal library subset of this is, in my humble and uninformed opinion, probably something that has not been fully developed at this time, wasn't their main goal, and isn't going to get resources devoted to the primary goal of the database.


If you don't mind spending $40 (approx), check out the Collectorz.com site - the software is more geared towards being a personal database for your collection.

[sgf8]

Thanks for sharing your continued feedback regarding the "My Library"
feature. I've passed along your message to the rest of my team for review.

As Google Book Search is still a young program, new features are under
consideration, and your feedback is very helpful. We appreciate your
patience as we work to resolve all outstanding issues with this beta
program.

Sincerely,
Greg
The Google Book Search Team

This seems to confirm what Naomi is telling us.

Susan

[Ron_Tomkins]

Show us your books :)




Ohh.. such a kinky invitation.

[Francesca R]

This seems to confirm what Naomi is telling us.

SusanNaomi is . . . ?

(Yes it confirms what I thought too without asking them. I would further suspect that it is not their top priority to fix the bugs, but to progress their greater objective of having critical mass of people satisfied with their book search to be using it, since they make their money with ad placement and the like)

Ohh.. such a kinky invitation.Everyone's seen yours, you can put them away again thanks ;)

[sgf8]

Sorry....Naomi is Geek Goddess IRL

Susan

[Francesca R]

(I thought so. Having just crossed the border into real name use on the forum myself, I'll call her Naomi now. Cheers :))

[Francesca R]

I added some more to my library; just about everything I'm not ashamed to admit I own is in there :). I even added my university textbooks (chemistry) because I still have them.

Francesca R's Library again (http://books.google.com/books?as_list=BDdYdvgYQ1rv4tYC6qov1ARoUl7LAEdFsHXu eBcVpmKd1SpPKAnk&hl=en)

One point of note is that I haven't bothered to look for the exact edition I have with these, or with the travel guides which tend to get updated every year. I'm not sure if the database has an entry for each revision.

[sgf8]

Excellent - just added your library to my list.

I love the hitchhiker books! Isn't May 25th Towel Day? Here is the link for the first one I participated in last year...http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=83007 post 16 (sorry the picture is so big)

You have ONLY 4 books in your "to read" label? I just bought 9 books today!

Actually just got the "God Delusion" today. Now I need to read it and get him to sign it. I am hoping to take a suitcase full to TAM6 to get signed. I want to say I have read the book to the author.

Susan

[Francesca R]

I don't buy books much in advance--I'm afraid I won't read them. So it's kind of hand-to-mouth. I get through about one book a week or maybe less. At the moment I'm part way through "God is not Great". It's more interesting than The God Delusion IMO, which felt a bit "not required" to me (merely because I was brought up atheist and was thinking "Yes of course that's true, etc etc") whereas Hitchens is going for the jugular in saying how evil religion is . . .

I don't know about towel day. My hitchhiker copies are ancient, bought and read in the 1980s when I was a teenager (or not even in my teens). I haven't seen the movie. :)

[sgf8]

Don't see the movie

I thought the British were into Towel Day.

That was the day selected to bring a towel with you everywhere to salute Douglass Adams. I had some great reactions as did my son. I was depressed how many people had no idea what the Hitchhiker's Guide was.

Susan

[Francesca R]

I wasn't planning to see it :). There may still be a big cult hitchhiker following in the UK. The franchise is pretty old now though. It was a radio series in the 1970s before I moved here, and was on TV in the early 1980s, repeated later.

A minor bit of trivia (relevant to the books/radio/TV versions)-- I live in Islington not far from Douglas Adams' house before he emigrated, and my phone number starts with the same numbers as the phone of the flat where Arthur Dent went to a very nice party and met a very nice girl he totally failed to get off with. The number is also the improbability factor of (I think) Dent and Ford Prefect being rescued after they were thrown off the Vogon constructor ship.

[Geek Goddess]

I've been working on this some, and got through one bookcase.

It's a bit fun. Sometimes I can't locate the exact edition I have, in which case I pick something close.

I didn't realize that my copy of Bambi, that my grandmother originally gave my aunt, was a first edition. I wish I had not written my name several times inside the front cover, when I was in first grade. I also need to talk to a certain Sailor about where my very old (1900 +/- a few years) copy of Ben Hur is. I'm pretty sure I told him to go by a cheap paperback copy if he felt the need to read Charlton Heston in the original. :)


GG's books (http://books.google.com/books?as_list=BDfgmBU4Q-M2U8OSQ3LNPGhQMFVJkSFCmrvP6yXiYCUX-oMKpFw)

[Madalch]

Madalch - so do you own any books that don't have "heraldry" in the title? <<grin>>

I suppose you just haven't gotten to that shelf yet, right?
A few.

Last I counted, I had about a hundred heraldry books. Some of them are too old (or too foreign) to have ISBNs, so I haven't put them all in yet.

[sgf8]

It is so interesting to see what we all collect. The last 3 years just about everything is history related. I try to read as much as possible about a period of history before a class, then all through the required readings, then because I'm really interested in the subject I still read more.

Very likely someone could recreate my classes based on when I review them. Still got a long way to get through the reviewing process.


It's a bit fun. Sometimes I can't locate the exact edition I have, in which case I pick something close.

This is frustrating to me as well. I'm an exact type of person when it comes to tangible things. I want to book I select to be the exact one not something kinda right. But what can you do?

Francesca PM'ed me with her frustration on the Google site. One day it says I have 13 books in one label but when you click on it only 5 books will show up. Then the next day you click on the same label and all the books are there.

I still can not find all my books when I search for them.

Personally I think we should all complain. I have sent them two e-mails, the first one said to keep them informed, the second response said something about my continuing feedback, (it sounded like I was annoying them). I did tell them that there was a group of us using this service and discussing the Google site. I told them that we are discussing the different library options out there. So maybe we should make more noise over the Google site? I did get a personal response and not a auto-reply one.

Cool old books, at least this process makes us notice what books are missing. I have a certain son who also is "borrowing" some books. I guess it could be way worse, he could be borrowing my underwear!!!

I did find my mom's geography/history book from when she was in high school (she is 85 now) the book is in bad shape but now a prize for me. She has noted a mid-term date on one page. Most of the books I got from my dad's shelves he has written his name in, I wish he had made notes like I do in the margins.

I love to buy books that have been inscribed by the giver. Very sad that they end up in some used book store. But in the end I have them and enjoy the notes.

I purchased "the idiot" some time ago just because of the inscription in the cover..."could I but love you as he did her... August 20, 1937 Pete" Don't know if this is a quote from the book or what as I have never read the book. But I think it is so sweet.

Susan

[Francesca R]

Francesca PM'ed me with her frustration on the Google site. One day it says I have 13 books in one label but when you click on it only 5 books will show up. Then the next day you click on the same label and all the books are there.

I still can not find all my books when I search for them. Yes this problem seems endemic. I didn't appreciate it fully at first and thought that Susan was simply having trouble locating books. But it persistently under-reports what you've loaded. For example, Geek Goddess has 8 books under "epidemics", but right away I can only get 7 to reveal themselves. That's the first label I looked under--it happens all over the place.

I will e-mail them, but it's a free product, and as such the best tactic is to shop around I suppose. Is Library Thing freer of bugs, I wonder? And is their database as good?

My collection is getting seriously dwarfed here. But according to Umberto Eco, it's the number of books you haven't read that matters. :).

The most recent book I got hold of in the week was the late Mancur Olson's "Rise and Decline of Nations" written in 82. Olson is kind of post-Keynes, post-monetarist political economics and is very lucid and clear (I've read two others by him). I have some plane and train time next week due to a business trip so I will probably read it then.

[jmercer]

Hmm... last count, I had between 1,500 and 2000 books... mostly science and sci-fi. :)

[Geek Goddess]

I can find my older out-of-print books, they just don't always have pictures of the covers.

I think this personal library is not the intended use of the Google Books - it was conceived as a way to search online, for all books. So, I'm not expecting it to be flawless.

I won't ever get ALL my books in, but I also whittled down my library during the past two years. I know, I know, some people think giving away books is a terrible thing to do, but I sent over 300 books to the "Books for Soldiers" during the past three years. (see booksforsoldiers.com) A few of them I bought at the half price stores, but most of them came out of my own library. The soldiers seem to prefer adventure, mysteries, science fiction, so I pretty much depleted those shelves. I also had books like the autobiography of Colin Powell, journalistic accounts of WWII and Vietnam, my dozens of copies of LOTR (why did I keep buying MORE of them???) Blackhawk Down, anything I thought they would enjoy reading. I've been told the books get passed around until they are literally in tatters. They like paperbacks because of the weight, but like hardcover books because they last longer and therefore more soldiers get to read them before they disintegrate.

So yes, my library is a bit wimpy on science fiction, but it's not because I've not read and owned more. I was serving a Higher Purpose.

[sgf8]

My collection is getting seriously dwarfed here. But according to Umberto Eco, it's the number of books you haven't read that matters. :).

Who or what is Umberto Eco?

Hmm... last count, I had between 1,500 and 2000 books... mostly science and sci-fi. :)

I truly thought that I would end up with 1300 once done. But I finished at about 800. This process forced me to get rid of some books which was great. I would highly suggest that you think about a library site as we have. It not only is kinda fun, but a great weeding event.

I think this personal library is not the intended use of the Google Books - it was conceived as a way to search online, for all books. So, I'm not expecting it to be flawless.

It has some great points, the ability to label your own way, the ability to write reviews, the ease of linking to other people's libraries, and I get to see my shining face every time I look at my library. But, come on, the inability to be able to search through our own books? That is something that should be elementary to a library.

I won't ever get ALL my books in, but I also whittled down my library during the past two years. I know, I know, some people think giving away books is a terrible thing to do, but I sent over 300 books to the "Books for Soldiers" during the past three years.

Getting rid of books for me is difficult (kind of like losing a friend you haven't talked to in a long time, but you know they are there) Anything that gets people reading is a good thing. I think I might look into this program, usually I just give my old books to the Goodwill or to our library that sells them. But now that I think about it there are probably lots of places that could use some of my old mysteries that I'm not interested in anymore. Add this to my very long list of things to do.

Susan

[Geek Goddess]

Whenever I have a few minutes, I add a few books, both to the Google site and to the Collector library software. Doing this has triggered memories of the hundreds and hundreds of books I have read - many that I borrowed from friends or libraries, and many more than I owned at one time and gave away or loaned to someone who never returned them, mostly paperbacks.

If anyone 'slightly older' remembers buying books through a little newspaper that you received in school every 2-3 months? This would have been in the late 60s, primarily, into the early 70s. The books were more or less priced according to size. The longest books would cost up to 50 cents each. My mom would really let me splurge and buy 5, 7 or even 10 books at a time! I picked the books based on the length, while many of my classmates got slim books based on current movies or TV shows. I remember reading Shirley Jackson, and William Shirer's shorter The Rise and Fall of Hitler which was taken from his classic work, and all the Lovecraft books, and The Once and Future King. I read a lot of biographies, and most of the science fiction books that were offered.

I also realized how many times I've bought the same book. Not because I forgot I had it, but because I read it to tatters. Tonight I found three sets of LOTRs in various stages from barely held together, to my leather-bound set. I have multiple copies of many of Mark Twain and Louisa May Alcott's novels, ditto. I have three copies of Kidnapped. Two complete sets of William Shakespeare. Three copies of Tale of Two Cites: one paperback, one in a hardbound edition from a book club, one in a leatherbound collection of Dickens. After my sons were born, I would buy the classics in these leatherbound sets so that they would always be available in my "library" as opposed to the piles of books in every nook and cranny.

[sgf8]

Whenever I have a few minutes, I add a few books, both to the Google site and to the Collector library software. Doing this has triggered memories of the hundreds and hundreds of books I have read - many that I borrowed from friends or libraries, and many more than I owned at one time and gave away or loaned to someone who never returned them, mostly paperbacks.

When I have a few minutes I am trying to get the reviews in. Naomi you are so right! I am having memories of all kinds, books were special friends of mine for many years, still are some days. We had a library (very small branch) around the corner, my mom felt comfortable allowing me to go there by myself. So I always felt safe and comfortable there.

The books that I have that are worn to bits are "A Candle in the Dark" "Dune" and the "Chronicles of Narnia" series.

I have been keeping this reading journal since 1998 and am using that to post my reviews. I am so totally shocked to see how many books I read from libraries. Now I never go to the library. Wonder if that is because I am so much better off money wise than I was in 1998? Or if maybe I have just decided to read the large overload of books sitting here?

I am currently reading, the "Diary of Mary Chestnut" who is the wife of a Confederate Colonel during the Civil War. She goes on and on about all the books she is reading, lots of them in French. I am so jealous, I have never heard of many of these books, but she quotes them and shares them with friends. She has read, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" several times already. I was led to believe that southern women were uneducated, in her case that is not true. I really wonder how much the Internet, TV, DVD's and so on has messed up our lives. Yes, we are enriched, but seriously I don't know many people who read these days. It is so nice to have a thread where I feel like I fit in.

Susan

[Francesca R]

Who or what is Umberto Eco?Sorry for the absence/delay. Umberto Eco (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umberto_Eco) is perhaps best known for Foucault's Pendulum. I read in an unrelated book (The Black Swan, Nassim Taleb--in my library if the software lets it be) that Eco has 30,000 books.

But, come on, the inability to be able to search through our own books? That is something that should be elementary to a library. Yes, this is a let down. :(

When I have a few minutes I am trying to get the reviews in.That's great. Since loading them in a few weeks back I haven't written a single review yet, but I linked the library in my sig, following Geek's example. Things-to-do list . . .

Now I never go to the library. Wonder if that is because I am so much better off money wise than I was in 1998?I don't either. I like to buy books new. I only get through one every couple of weeks (and that's if it's no more than 300 pages) so it's not a huge expense.

I really wonder how much the Internet, TV, DVD's and so on has messed up our lives. Yes, we are enriched, but seriously I don't know many people who read these days. It is so nice to have a thread where I feel like I fit in.I spend about the same amount of time on the net as I do reading books and news (well more on the net if you count at work), but my 32inch TV and digital subscription really haven't paid their way . . . TV is way down the priority list except for, erm, "The Apprentice" and "Desperate Housewives", both of which have just started up a new season in the UK :blush: (although the first few episodes are still unwatched on my HDD since I haven't had time yet.)

[Madalch]

Umberto Eco (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umberto_Eco) is perhaps best known for Foucault's Pendulum.
Surely, he's better known for "The Name of the Rose".

[Francesca R]

Yes, you're probably right.

[sgf8]

Since the X-files sank a few years ago, I haven't watched anything on TV with any regularity. If the TV is on when I walk by I might watch a bit.

Getting almost done with the reviews, it has been interesting. I have 10 years of reviews that are more personal (like a blog) than critical of the book. I keep finding entries that say, "I really loved this book, learned a lot" but now a few years later I don't remember much about the book. This happened tonight when I reviewed a history reference book I had read, "Flappers, Bootleggers, Typhoid Mary and the Bomb" I could not remember anything about it, but I loved it. So tonight we went to dinner and I took the book with me and read aloud to my family events/people they shouted out to me. I need to re-read this again.

I am finding this to be true with many of the history books when I knew almost nothing about the era, American Civil War for example. All the books I read in the beginning need to be re-read now that I know what I now know. I want to move on to new books and here I am needing and wanting to re-read the old books.

I rarely purchase new books, used are just fine with me. I don't take all that great care of my books (or car, or furniture or men....) so I don't want to shell out the money for something new when I can just buy a new one later. Besides there is something very rewarding about wandering around a used book store and not thinking about how much you are spending. Then taking them to the counter and adding all the books the kids want and the eyes of the employee/owner get real big. I love that feeling that I am keeping them in business.

The town I live in Salinas, CA has over 150,000 people but we have NO used book stores and only ONE small B. Dalton store in the mall. We just added a Christian book store after the one we had closed. And that is it. When I say I don't see people in my town reading, I am not kidding. We were one of the biggest cities not to have a library (almost) we managed to keep our libraries open very limited hours until we managed to pass a increase in sales tax to keep them open. It was embarrassing, it made the news all over the world. We are home to John Steinbeck, I live within blocks of his home and museum.

So when I say I have almost no one to discuss books with I am not kidding.

Susan

[sgf8]

I did it, I am all done! Thanks Fran R for starting this thread, cause this was something that needed to be done. My boyfriend is going to be so happy that I am finished with this project. I don't think I have ever underestimated a project so badly. Google has a lot to improve on, but hopefully they will get a move on.

My library link is in my signature. At first I was upset because Google has no way of allowing the top rated books to be pulled up, so I fixed that using the labels. Now when people say, what do you like to read, or who are your favorite authors I can just give them the link and that is that. Now if only Google will allow us to be able to search for a specific book.

Susan

[Francesca R]

I've just looked again at your lib Susan--awesome! :) At the rate of a book every two weeks it will only take me another 40 years or so to match you.

[Kotatsu]

For bragging purposes, I'd like to call my library to everyone's attention once more (link provided earlier in this thread). We have recently started clearing out the library here at the zoological institute, and apart from some books which will be kept in the new library, we were allowed to take whatever we wanted. So I spent most of yesterday going through those old books, picking out what I wanted to keep. Today, I have added them to my library, making me go above 1700 book. I still have about 100 to add, but I would like to draw attention to some of the more interesting finds:

- Anthropogenie in two volumes by Ernst Haeckel, including, as I understand it, reproductions of his infamous embryo comparisons. This is the expanded version from 1903, though, which makes it less exciting. Still, it's good to have those books --- in beautiful covers! --- printed while he was still alive. And people were prepared to just throw it away!

- A small book (in Swedish), attempting to put the new "Darwinism" into a proper "rational idealistic world-view" context. The book --- or perhaps pamphlet --- is from 1874, and about 40 pages long.

- Five ENORMOUS books (A3 format!) by Paul Rosenius, containing all kinds of information about Swedish birds and, most importantly, their nests. These books are too heavy for me to carry more than one at a time, but the old photos (the books are from 1929-1942) are quite interesting.

If anyone is interested in either D. L. J. Quickie's "Principles and Techniques of Contemporary Taxonomy" (1993) or Brohmer's "Fauna von Deutschland" (1953), I have several copies. I doubt the latter is of much interest, but the former may still be useful. The alternative is that we'll throw them away, so... There's also quite a lot of old books on histology and similar things, if anyone is interested.

[sgf8]

I've just looked again at your lib Susan--awesome! :) At the rate of a book every two weeks it will only take me another 40 years or so to match you.That's okay, I have at least 20 years on you in age. Eventually you will catch up. I had to get reading glasses this year, so I guess it will be soon.

Susan

[sgf8]

I had a horrible thought today. I hope no one thinks that I have actually read everything I have posted in my library. These are just books in my home library. I have written reviews of 200+ books that I have read in the last 10 years. Only about another 100 books I have read (but outside the 10 years) and many books I use as reference ect... Others are just there...

I have large stacks (virtual stacks) of books to be read next.

Right now I am struggling through Arthur Conan Doyle (before he was a Sir) "The History of Spiritualism" I am having so much trouble getting really interested, this man just believes whatever is told him.

Susan

[Francesca R]

You haven't memorised them all? I'm disappointed :(

Not really :)

[sgf8]

GG you have added a bunch new books to your library haven't you....

My son Caspian, just finished "Guns of August" he kept telling me what was going on, he really liked the book but felt they ended the book too soon, should have included at least the beginning of the battle of the Marne.

You didn't review any of your nazi books, let me know when you get to those, I am interested in seeing your comments.

Also interested in your take on the Nicholas & Alexandra books you have.

I loved "The Professor and the Madman"

Was totally surprised how few history books we have in common, I guess I'm not surprised, but I had never heard of many of them. I guess I will have to wander through again sometime.

Every library has "Helter Skeltor" in it. I also have "I am Spock"

This Google program really pisses me off, I noticed when I clicked on your 4 skeptic books, only two came up.

Susan

[sgf8]

Francesca & Kahalachan I was hoping to pick out my next book to read. I have a stack of skeptic/religion/history books sitting here and thought maybe I would find a great review from one of you that would force my hand.

Tressure, I don't have a clue what most of your titles are saying. But I do glance at your library from time to time, just in case.

So don't think someone isn't looking at your libraries....

Just finished "Letter to a Christian Nation" and last night "Spook" by Mary Roach. Loved both of these books.

I think I might start "The God Delusion" or maybe "An Anthropologist on Mars" or "The Trouble with Tom" (about Thomas Payne's remains), or "Fads and Fallacies" or......

Susan

[Francesca R]

Hey Susan, my reading of religion/sceptic books is not very broad actually, I have only read the recent "bestsellers" God Delusion and God Isn't Great. To be honest they fail to grab me and that is because I was fortunate to have had an angostic-atheist upbringing from my parents ("No we never had you christened because your dad and I don't really believe that stuff") and always attended non-religious schools. Also British society has always struck me as very secular (except for shops only opening for 6 hours on Sunday--grrr!). So I'm not the best reviewer of these because I think they reach out to those who are coming off some greater degree of attempted indoctrination.

ETA: On the other hand, genetics/evolution books are fantastic. I've read Guns Germs and Steel, Blind Watchmaker and The Journey of Man this year (and that would be my order of preference with the first two considerably ahead of the third)

[arthwollipot]

I've posted pictures of my library before - there are far too many books to put up on a website. I'd be there forever. Unfortunately I can't link to it right now, since my website is blocked by the firewall I sit behind - categorised as blogs/personal pages.

I also have a Shelfari page for things I've read recently. But unfortunately that's also blocked - categorised as social networking.

I'll try to remember to call up this thread when I get home and I'll post the links.

[arthwollipot]

Here are some photos of my library (http://www.arthwollipot.com/photography/books). Notice that there are so many books that we require compactus. And even then they overflow. I think it's pretty safe to say that I have more books than you do.

This is my Shelfari bookshelf (http://www.shelfari.com/arthwollipot/shelf).

[Francesca R]

Whoa. Amaz!ng :)

[arthwollipot]

:)

[sgf8]

I trust one statement you made, you do have more books than God, but then anyone who has more than one book also does.

Amazing collection, you do live in a commune right?

Can you imagine trying to move!

Susan

[sgf8]

Arth I think you have the same book twice on your Steph list, the "I am a strange loop" book.

Francesca - I was just talking to a guy about this same topic, he said he doesn't bother reading Dawkins ect. because the is part of the choir and doesn't need to hear it. Personally that is why I need to hear it, I feel like I need to be reminded of the arguments.

Fran and Arth you have both read Dawkin's "God Delusion" Arth you gave it only 3 stars? Considering I have tons more to read should this be moved up to nearer the top of my list. Note: I haven't read any Dawkin's yet.

I started Oliver Sacks "An Anthropologist on Mars" last night. Reads exactly like his, "Man who Mistook his Wife for a Hat" book and also "Awakenings" In this book Sacks is trying to understand the life his patients adapt to. I think all these patients are outside, not in his clinic. The first patient is a painter (art not houses) and loses his ability to see color (due to a car accident), everything is in shades of gray, he can't even see color when he dreams or closes his eyes. He sees things white as dirty, and shuns most food and physical contact as flesh looks sickly. I'm still on the first chapter and see that he is already learning to live with it, and is adapting though still can't see color. Looks like an interesting book.

Susan

[arthwollipot]

I trust one statement you made, you do have more books than God, but then anyone who has more than one book also does.

Amazing collection, you do live in a commune right?Close. But no. We've just been collecting for a long time. A huge number of those books are out of print. Some are signed.

Can you imagine trying to move!Don't need to imagine it. We did it, a little more than three years ago.

[arthwollipot]

Dawkin's "God Delusion" Arth you gave it only 3 stars? Considering I have tons more to read should this be moved up to nearer the top of my list. Note: I haven't read any Dawkin's yet.3 stars is the default. I usually don't rate the books I read, with a few exceptions. The fact that it has three stars on my shelf just means that I didn't bother rating it. I didn't review it either, from memory.

And yes, I'd say that you should probably move Dawkins up your list, but I wouldn't start with The God Delusion. I'd start with Blind Watchmaker, Selfish Gene and Unweaving the Rainbow, moving on to Ancestor's Tale as soon as you feel comfortable with his style.

[Geek Goddess]

GG you have added a bunch new books to your library haven't you....

My son Caspian, just finished "Guns of August" he kept telling me what was going on, he really liked the book but felt they ended the book too soon, should have included at least the beginning of the battle of the Marne. Ah, a few! I picked up Guns of August a few years ago, and enjoyed it so much that I bought all of Barbara Tuchman's books. She was not trained as a historian, but her father or husband (or maybe both) were heavily involved in the diplomatic corps, and she was well traveled. Guns won a Pulitzer Prize, and at the time she was described as 'a housewife'. Her book A Distant Mirror was about the 14th century, and a chapter on the Black Death lead me to read all those books you see on my list on that topic!

You didn't review any of your nazi books, let me know when you get to those, I am interested in seeing your comments. I haven't reviewed most of my books, I will have to gradually do that in odd hours. I read William Shirer's book twice.

Also interested in your take on the Nicholas & Alexandra books you have. I read Robert Massie's book when it first came out - I think I was in high school, and that got me interested in Russian and early Soviet history. I realized, just now, that there are some books I have that aren't yet on the list. I had a wonderful book that was about the 25 years immediately prior to the 1917 revolution - concerning the art, politics, culture, society, etc. - which I loaned to someone years ago. I never got it back. Richard Pipes' books on Russian and Soviet history are definitive. I especially recommend his Concise History of the Russian Revolution.
I loved "The Professor and the Madman"


Then definitely read his book The Meaning of Everything about the development of the OED!



Every library has "Helter Skeltor" in it. But autographed??? :D Bugliosi spoke at my college, about a different book, but I carried my tattered copy and he signed it for me.

ETA: I added a couple more. I'm moving, and so much of my things are in boxes for the next few weeks.

[sgf8]

And yes, I'd say that you should probably move Dawkins up your list, but I wouldn't start with The God Delusion. I'd start with Blind Watchmaker, Selfish Gene and Unweaving the Rainbow, moving on to Ancestor's Tale as soon as you feel comfortable with his style.

But that would require me purchasing more books. Cool! Actually I am trying to avoid all book stores, just went to Reno and pretended I couldn't see the used book stores. I am way over my head in things to read.

I am waiting for a letter from my university, San Jose State. I am in limbo until I find out if they will accept me in the History Master's Program for Fall. They say they notify by April 30th, I don't think that is a firm date because 2 years ago I had to contact them in May just to find out I had been rejected. I mention this mainly because it is on my mind, and because it is going to completely affect my reading lists. If in school, I have to start buckling down to some serious reading, if not accepted I can just relax and read whatever I want to. So I am not sure what my reaction will be when I find out.

I already own the "God Delusion" so I guess I will move it up a couple books on my stack.

Susan

[sgf8]

. But autographed??? :biggrin: Bugliosi spoke at my college, about a different book, but I carried my tattered copy and he signed it for me.

You snot! I think a battered "Helter Skelter" book is also required for a well read library. My copy of "Dune" is also falling apart.

I love getting my books autographed, also that means I will never get rid of them. I have some copies autographed to me, and when I tried to read them I didn't like the book. How sad, now they just collect dust. I guess I could someday give them another try?

Susan

[sgf8]

Complained to someone new at Google books today. I am so sick of not being able to search for a book I know is in my library. Just finished Oliver Sacks "An Anthropologist on Mars" (gave it 4 stars) and the book is sitting as the first entry in Google books, I try to search for the word Anthropologist and it pulls up 5 other books but not the one with that title. Agggg!

My science label says 53 books, but only 34 come up when you click on the label. My slavery label says 20 books but only 13 appear when you go to them.

So what are the downfalls of the other library sites? I really want this to work, but I only want to move my books once (actually I don't want to move them at all, I want Google to work) because it will take me many many hours to get them moved. Help anyone?

Susan

[sgf8]

Okay, I'm done. Things did not transfer like they say they will. But it is done and I'm now using Library Thing. They have a lot of cool features and it is totally searchable.

Funny things is that under Google I had over 800 books, but with Library Thing I have 631 books. Google was crazy, their numbers never made sense.

Susan's Library (http://www.librarything.com/catalog/sgerbic)

[Geek Goddess]

I have added a number of books in the past few weeks. I bought a Kindle and went a little crazy at Amazon.

I bought six books at TAM this past week, and have already read two of them: Matthew Chapman's Trials of the Monkey Boy, and 40 Days and 40 Nights, which is his story of the Dover creationism trial. The first book I mentioned was a book he started that originally was going to be about the annual re-enactments of the Scopes trial held in Tennessee every year, but ended up being a more autobiographical/travelogue missive. Let's just say he is extremely candid and open about his life!

He spoke at TAM, so I was able get them autographed. For those who don't know, he's the great-great-grandson of Charles Darwin, and spent most of his life seriously underachieving.

[sgf8]

Geek I saw you with the Kindle during the Saturday meeting, I kept meaning to come over during the breaks and ask to see it. But I guess I forgot.

I got way too many books from TAM6 (well not exactly too many) Just more than I can read at this moment.

I also got the two books you got Geek. So you liked them? They are way down in the "to read" stack.

Susan

[Geek Goddess]

Geek I saw you with the Kindle during the Saturday meeting, I kept meaning to come over during the breaks and ask to see it. But I guess I forgot.

I got way too many books from TAM6 (well not exactly too many) Just more than I can read at this moment.

I also got the two books you got Geek. So you liked them? They are way down in the "to read" stack.

Susan

I bought so many books, I had to carry some of them separately because they made my suitcase over limit on weight. I finished both Chapman books, and yes, I liked them. I recommend you read them in the order that he wrote them, because he quotes several pages from the first book into the second book.

My Kindle rocks....

[sgf8]

I bought so many books, I had to carry some of them separately because they made my suitcase over limit on weight. I finished both Chapman books, and yes, I liked them. I recommend you read them in the order that he wrote them, because he quotes several pages from the first book into the second book.

My Kindle rocks....

I started "The Mask of Nostradamus" on the plane ride home, but since we were only in the air for an hour, and I was horribly sleep deprived, I read very little. So now when I have a chance that will be the book I need to finish next. I guess the Chapman books need to move closer to the top of the book list.

Problem is that I start Grad school in August, I already have 4 books that I want to finish before class starts, (and five more yet to purchase). Two of the 4 books I am struggling to get started with, the theme is Nationalism and both authors are just not doing it for me.

So the TAM books are looking so tempting right now. BACK OFF TAM BOOKS.

To make it worse in early August I hope to head up to the Skeptic Toolbox in Eugene OR, they have the bestest of the best used book stores up there. How can I resist?

Susan

[Francesca R]

Okay, I'm done. Things did not transfer like they say they will. But it is done and I'm now using Library Thing. They have a lot of cool features and it is totally searchable.I also switched to Library Thing (when I got around to it) so my signature link (http://www.librarything.com/catalog/Francesca-Rizzi) now points to that (although my sig doesn't seem to post if I use the mobile version of the JREF forum). It says we share only 6 books in common :) (two HHGTG books, Jane Eyre, Guns Germs and Steel, God Delusion and Brave New World). So far I have rated most of what I've read but not had time/inclination to review anything.

[albion]

I saw this thread a while ago and thought 'oooh that looks cool' but typical me by the time I got round to doing my own, nobody is using Google any more.:o

Still, here's mine:

http://books.google.co.uk/books?uid=3303132232603456074&hl=en

I'd estimate that as about 2/3 of my total stuff, eventually I'll add the rest.

[I Ratant]

For reading while abed...

[sgf8]

I also switched to Library Thing (when I got around to it) so my signature link (http://www.librarything.com/catalog/Francesca-Rizzi) now points to that (although my sig doesn't seem to post if I use the mobile version of the JREF forum). It says we share only 6 books in common :) (two HHGTG books, Jane Eyre, Guns Germs and Steel, God Delusion and Brave New World). So far I have rated most of what I've read but not had time/inclination to review anything.

I had been reviewing books since 1998, so I just had to type it in post it. I'm really glad I did because I was always worried that I might loose my reading journals and then all that work would be gone.

I've added you to my library list.

I also have a few more JREF people on my interesting libraries list. I wish there was a way to make a note of who is who.

Susan

[sgf8]

I saw this thread a while ago and thought 'oooh that looks cool' but typical me by the time I got round to doing my own, nobody is using Google any more.:o

Still, here's mine:

http://books.google.co.uk/books?uid=...03456074&hl=en (http://books.google.co.uk/books?uid=3303132232603456074&hl=en)

I'd estimate that as about 2/3 of my total stuff, eventually I'll add the rest.

Before you post anymore albion, switch over to Library Thing. You won't regret it. You can use the ISBN search feature to do it, it took me several hours to transfer it over, but not like reentering it all over again.

Susan

[sgf8]

For reading while abed...

Aaaaaaah

[albion]

Before you post anymore albion, switch over to Library Thing. You won't regret it. You can use the ISBN search feature to do it, it took me several hours to transfer it over, but not like reentering it all over again.

Susan

I decided to take your advice, and it is importing from the google xml. You're right, Library thing looks far more interesting and interactive. It is a veritable geek heaven :D

[sgf8]

I decided to take your advice, and it is importing from the google xml. You're right, Library thing looks far more interesting and interactive. It is a veritable geek heaven :biggrin:

I prefer detail oriented & tech savvy over "geek" Unless we are talking about our Geek Goddess, Naomi and then it is okay.

On Google books I felt all alone. Like I had written all my books and reviews in a spiral notebook and showing it off to others riding the "book lovers bus" just seeing one person at a time, never really reaching and discussing with all the readers I could.

Make sure you link with me when you get there. SGerbic or you could just click on "mybooks" here on my post.

Susan

[albion]

I prefer detail oriented & tech savvy over "geek" Unless we are talking about our Geek Goddess, Naomi and then it is okay.

On Google books I felt all alone. Like I had written all my books and reviews in a spiral notebook and showing it off to others riding the "book lovers bus" just seeing one person at a time, never really reaching and discussing with all the readers I could.

Make sure you link with me when you get there. SGerbic or you could just click on "mybooks" here on my post.

Susan

Mine seems to have finished uploading.

http://www.librarything.com/catalog/albion25

I'm not sure what you mean by "link with" though, sorry. How do I go about doing that?

Yes, that is what I meant by interactivity, it feels more like a community, with each book having related discussions etc. It is rather like a worldwide bookclub compared to the google model, which seems to be more geared to cataloging your books for reference.

[arthwollipot]

Here's mine: http://www.librarything.com/catalog/Arthwollipot

I add books as I read them, so it's a long way from containing my entire library (http://www.arthwollipot.com/photography/books). :p

[sgf8]

Albion, I added you to my interesting libraries page. Here is the books we share in common....

Books you share (10)

See in library (http://www.librarything.com/catalog/albion25&compare=sgerbic)
As I Lay Dying (http://www.librarything.com/work/3360/36537092) by William Faulkner
Brave New World (http://www.librarything.com/work/1977/36536899) by 1899-1963 Aldous Huxley
Common Sense (Penguin Classics) (http://www.librarything.com/work/17411/36536929) by Thomas Paine
God Delusion, The (http://www.librarything.com/work/1429542/36537080) by Richard Dawkins
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat: And Other Clinical Tales (http://www.librarything.com/work/6012/36537087) by Oliver W. Sacks
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Penguin Classics) (http://www.librarything.com/work/2122/36536858) by Ken Kesey
One Hundred Years of Solitude (Everyman's Library (Cloth)) (http://www.librarything.com/work/5864/36536820) by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Othello (Penguin Popular Classics) (http://www.librarything.com/work/10264/36536849) by William Shakespeare
The Scarlet Letter (Modern Library Classics) (http://www.librarything.com/work/2264/36536964) by Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Sound and the Fury (http://www.librarything.com/work/3423/36537095) by William Faulkner


Is this cool yet or what?


Susan

[Gurdur]

My own LibraryThing book account (http://www.librarything.com/catalog/Gurdur). And also my LibraryThing profile (http://www.librarything.com/profile/Gurdur).

I still have about 3,800 books to enter in and index; at the moment, those 3,800 are cluttering up the floor in my loungeroom and attic; while I did get almost 1,300 indexed in LibraryThing and then up on shelves (I hadn't done shelving really before, since I had been working on renovating the house after moving into it), a visit to the DiscWorld convention and then life & work prevented me from entering more in the meantime, but I will get cracking onto it soon.

[Francesca R]

My own LibraryThing book account (http://www.librarything.com/catalog/Gurdur). And also my LibraryThing profile (http://www.librarything.com/profile/Gurdur).Yeah I saw you there already. We have an 8 book overlap (looks like 9 but you seem to have the Blind Watchmaker twice)

[Francesca R]

Here's mine: http://www.librarything.com/catalog/Arthwollipot

I add books as I read them, so it's a long way from containing my entire library (http://www.arthwollipot.com/photography/books). :p6 book overlap, which includes "Sources of Power" and "Blink" which is interesting. I think Gary Klein's book is very much better (more rigorous analysis, better development of decision-making theory) than the more casual Malcolm Gladwell one, though you rated them both the same.

[Francesca R]

Mine seems to have finished uploading.

http://www.librarything.com/catalog/albion257 books in common, and I agree with your rather mediocre rating of The God Delusion and God is Not Great, which I mentioned earlier in the thread.

[albion]

Albion, I added you to my interesting libraries page. Here is the books we share in common....

Books you share (10)

See in library (http://www.librarything.com/catalog/albion25&compare=sgerbic)
As I Lay Dying (http://www.librarything.com/work/3360/36537092) by William Faulkner
Brave New World (http://www.librarything.com/work/1977/36536899) by 1899-1963 Aldous Huxley
Common Sense (Penguin Classics) (http://www.librarything.com/work/17411/36536929) by Thomas Paine
God Delusion, The (http://www.librarything.com/work/1429542/36537080) by Richard Dawkins
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat: And Other Clinical Tales (http://www.librarything.com/work/6012/36537087) by Oliver W. Sacks
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Penguin Classics) (http://www.librarything.com/work/2122/36536858) by Ken Kesey
One Hundred Years of Solitude (Everyman's Library (Cloth)) (http://www.librarything.com/work/5864/36536820) by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Othello (Penguin Popular Classics) (http://www.librarything.com/work/10264/36536849) by William Shakespeare
The Scarlet Letter (Modern Library Classics) (http://www.librarything.com/work/2264/36536964) by Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Sound and the Fury (http://www.librarything.com/work/3423/36537095) by William Faulkner


Is this cool yet or what?


Susan

It is very cool indeed.

I added all of you to my interesting libraries list also.

[albion]

7 books in common, and I agree with your rather mediocre rating of The God Delusion and God is Not Great, which I mentioned earlier in the thread.

I think you hit the nail on the head in regards to TGD. I'm sure it would be much more impressive if I came from a religious background but as the atheist son of two atheist parents it's pretty much "yep, tell me something I don't know". I also find him rather shockingly politically naive. Hitchens on the other hand has always rubbed the wrong way, he is just far too dogmatic.

[arthwollipot]

6 book overlap, which includes "Sources of Power" and "Blink" which is interesting. I think Gary Klein's book is very much better (more rigorous analysis, better development of decision-making theory) than the more casual Malcolm Gladwell one, though you rated them both the same.Yes, I think the "stars" rating system tends to gloss over details a fair bit - I like the two books for different reasons. This equates to the same number of stars, but my appreciation of both is different.

I rate books based on the blink, rather than on a detailed analysis. :p

[Geek Goddess]

I've not read this area in a few months, and noticed everyone talking about Library Thing. I thought I would give it a whirl. I still will use my Book Colletorz software (hey, I paid for it), but this seems much better way to share than Google.

My library, when I get it posted, will be under GeekGoddess.

:D

[arthwollipot]

LibraryThing seems to work pretty well for me. There's a whole community/social networking thing going there that I don't have much time to join in on.

[sgf8]

LibraryThing seems to work pretty well for me. There's a whole community/social networking thing going there that I don't have much time to join in on.

That's what I thought at first, there are a lot of clubs for all kinds of things. I had one woman approach me to join her club she was just starting with the American Girl Diary books. I was flattered and joined in the discussion with two other people. We had about 5 total posts and no one has said a word in months.

That's what seems to be happening, very few of the groups seem to "talk" much. There are a couple that are like the ones here, "what are you reading at the moment" kind of threads, and they generate a lot like the ones here do.

But for the most part, I'm not seeing a lot of conversations going on. They have a few things they could do to improve discussions but mostly of the place it is good. For example, I have all of you added to my favorite library list over there. I also have a few people that I found there that have libraries I am very interested in, plus a few others. I would like to group these groups into some kind of sub-group and be able to "watch" what you review and are currently reading or adding. And then the same thing with other people but for different reasons. Also I want to be able to remember who is who. You all don't use the same name here as you do there, (I am sgerbic there) so I wish I could have a "remember" tag.

Anyway, nothing is perfect. It is still a lot better than Google

Susan

[arthwollipot]

You all don't use the same name here as you do thereI do :D

I'm Arthwollipot everywhere except on Facebook, where I use my real name.

[Geek Goddess]

I exported my Google Books over to Library thing yesterday, but last night noticed that it didn't pick up about 30 books. But, I don't know which ones, so I have to go through it manually at some point.

I debate whether to enter books I've read, but no longer own.

[Francesca R]

Hmmm . . . I thought one had to do it all manually anyway. Thanks for that too-late bit of information. My signature is wont not to show up in my posts but my name's Francesca-Rizzi on LT.

ETA--*dredges up sig*

I'm waiting on delivery of these two books I recently bought:

http://www.librarything.com/work/569336/book/37712828

http://www.librarything.com/work/2974515/book/37712877

[Gurdur]

All us LibraryThing people should all append "Super-Geek" to prefix our usernames.

Probably "Super-Geek-who-reads-very-fast" is too long as a prefix.

[sgf8]

All us LibraryThing people should all append "Super-Geek" to prefix our usernames.

Probably "Super-Geek-who-reads-very-fast" is too long as a prefix.

You know what, this is a good idea. Trust me once you start looking at some of the other cool libraries you aren't going to remember who was who.

I like the idea of writing JREF or something like that somewhere where it can be seen. Maybe we should just make a JREF group there not for discussion (we can do that here) but that way we can see at a glance who is there as far as grouping goes?

Susan

[sgf8]

I debate whether to enter books I've read, but no longer own.

I thought about this, but finally decided not to. I only have books I could go pull off a bookcase. Or tell one of my kids "I want it back now"

Susan

[Geek Goddess]

I'll comply with whatever you guys come up with