How to read metadata (book description) from ipad or kindle?

[robrah]

How can I read the "book description" contained in the book metadata when using my ipad or kindle?

If you observe how people select books in a bookstore or library, you notice that they look at the front cover, then the cover flaps, and finally (maybe) the back cover. I know the book metadata contains a "book description" (which is kind of the equivalent of the flaps and back cover), but how can I access that info from my ipad or kindle?

I tend to load dozens of books at a time on my devices and decide later which I want to read. But, alas, no flaps or back covers.

[susan_cassidy]

Most books (I have never seen a commercially produced one) do not have the book description in the metadata. Kindle does not support the use of it, and I don't believe iBooks does either (nor the Kindle app for iPad).

All you can do is look at the description on the Kindle store. I often create a small .txt file with book descriptions when I buy books that I am not going to read right away, then load it onto my Kindle for reference.

[robrah]

You can see the "book description" in the metadata in Calibre.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by robrah

How can I read the "book description" contained in the book metadata when using my ipad or kindle?

The Kobo reader app for iOS and Android supports reading ebook description metadata. Just tap and hold the cover for the ebook and it'll display the metadata.

[robrah]

Thanks for the Kobo tip. I'll try it.

[susan_cassidy]

Originally Posted by robrah

You can see the "book description" in the metadata in Calibre.

I wasn't saying that the field doesn't exist, just that most publishers don't populate it, at least as far as I've seen. It isn't required, so they don't bother with it. And, of course, most ereader devices don't support the use of it, as far as I know. I believe that Calibre can populate it from Amazon, at least.

[robrah]

I just discovered that I can include the book description by default as the first page in any book I convert in Calibre. This will be shown in any eReader. (Preferences-->Conversion-->Common Options-->Structure Detection-->Insert Metadata as page at start of book)
The formatting is sometimes a little off but the information is entirely readable, and since I convert or re-convert nearly every free book, this solves my problem.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by robrah

I just discovered that I can include the book description by default as the first page in any book I convert in Calibre. This will be shown in any eReader. (Preferences-->Conversion-->Common Options-->Structure Detection-->Insert Metadata as page at start of book)
The formatting is sometimes a little off but the information is entirely readable, and since I convert or re-convert nearly every free book, this solves my problem.

But that is just turning it into another page.

The metadata is already in the OPF file (if the publisher bothered to fill in the blanks )
ADE (on my PEz) shows you the Basic fields (not the Description/Comments)
The K4 wants to go online

[bloodynibbler]

The Kindle's "book description" feature is pretty useless. It only reads Amazon's website, so descriptions provided with the ebook file get ignored. Much of my collection is personal documents converted to ebooks (.mobi) or random ebooks of fanfiction and the like. They often lack an Amazon listing, but do have a concientiously filled summary/description easily viewable in Calibre. None of this shows in Kindle's listing. Calling it "Book Description" is really misleading; it should really be "Go to Amazon".

[caleb72]

Originally Posted by robrah

I just discovered that I can include the book description by default as the first page in any book I convert in Calibre. This will be shown in any eReader. (Preferences-->Conversion-->Common Options-->Structure Detection-->Insert Metadata as page at start of book)
The formatting is sometimes a little off but the information is entirely readable, and since I convert or re-convert nearly every free book, this solves my problem.

Nice. Never noticed that one.