Social reading?

Matthew Bostock · 06-20-2012, 05:32 AM

Hey there.
First post, woop! Happy to be a member of the community here

So I work for a tech company in Berlin called [deleted]. You can find us here: [deleted]. We're focussing on making reading social and shareable. What's your opinion on such a thing?

Andrew Keen recently said that 'social reading' signifies the end of the world, as we can't enjoy the solidarity that comes with it anymore. However, I view it as a fresh take on reading.

For more context on how 'social' is incorporated, take a look at [deleted].
Thoughts?

Apache · 06-20-2012, 06:14 AM

I am definitely not social, nor do I want to be, when I read. To me that would seem just like going to the movies and having people talking all around you.

Apache

kennyc · 06-20-2012, 06:17 AM

Reading is specifically an individual pursuit. Literature discussion groups are social, (such as this website). I abhor "social media" such as facebook, google+ etc.

kennyc · 06-20-2012, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache

I am definitely not social, nor do I want to be, when I read. To me that would seem just like going to the movies and having people talking all around you.

Apache

Agreed.

hidari · 06-20-2012, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

Reading is specifically an individual pursuit. Literature discussion groups are social, (such as this website). I abhor "social media" such as facebook, google+ etc.

ALways welcome to see another person not drinking the Social Networking Kool Aid.... There is life beyond it...

M...

MikeB1972 · 06-20-2012, 07:17 AM

We don't need no social media, we've got books

Matthew Bostock · 06-20-2012, 08:14 AM

I see where you guys are coming from, but don't you think there's some room for the web and social media to come into play?

When you're reading, granted, you don't want any social. At [deleted] we don't do that. It's just text on a page, as you'd envisage. But when you choose to highlight something, sharing springs into life.

For example, if I'm following someone and what they read, when they make highlights in a book, they are giving me an insight into it way deeper than the cover and summary could ever do. Therefore, exploiting the 'social' is good for book discovery.

Rob Lister · 06-20-2012, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew Bostock

Hey there.
First post, woop! Happy to be a member of the community here

So I work for a tech company in Berlin called [deleted]. You can find us here: [deleted]. We're focussing on making reading social and shareable. What's your opinion on such a thing?

Andrew Keen recently said that 'social reading' signifies the end of the world, as we can't enjoy the solidarity that comes with it anymore. However, I view it as a fresh take on reading.

For more context on how 'social' is incorporated, take a look at [deleted].
Thoughts?

Not a bad direction. If you're into the whole social networking thing (I'm not), I can see value in this. Notes in margins are curious things. When I find them in a second-hand book, they're usually cryptic--esoteric thoughts of the previous reader--but fun to try to decipher. They're distracting, but unless they pollute the whole book, they're not unwelcome.

I give this an official

for novel invention.

DiapDealer · 06-20-2012, 08:49 AM

I find that Social Networking is usually neither... just like Moral Majority.

I guess Social Reading isn't a bad idea, per se... it's just something that wouldn't interest me at all. I already turn off the what-are-other-people-highlighting? "feature" of my Kindle. I'm interested in what other people think about the book I'm reading... I'm just not interested in their input while I'm reading it. It's distracting.

BeccaPrice · 06-20-2012, 09:01 AM

Well, Kobo seems to be doing well with their social reading network, although I don't use it. And Amazon has their shared highlight feature, if someone turns it on, although that doesn't add to discoverability but is only if you also own the book.

Doesn't GoodReads have the ability to posts the cover and title of a book you're reading on FaceBook? (I don't use GoodReads, either)

I'm sure there's a place for a social reading network, but MR here is just about as social as I'm interested in getting.

Catlady · 06-20-2012, 09:06 AM

I'm another one who just doesn't get the social media thing. What's the point?

pidgeon92 · 06-20-2012, 09:22 AM

I like Goodreads to share what I'm reading. They have discussions on the books, but I find them to be fairly vapid. I would think that social media for books would be fine for bookclubs, but I can't think of any other useful purpose.

QuantumIguana · 06-20-2012, 10:23 AM

I use Facebook, I use it to keep up with friends (actual friends that is, people I actually know and associate with) and I use it to point me to interesting articles. I use Goodreads, sometimes there are good discussions there, but other times it is pretty vapid. But actual reading of books, that's solitary. I don't read what my friends read.

RDaneel54 · 06-20-2012, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew Bostock

Hey there.
First post, woop! Happy to be a member of the community here

So I work for a tech company in Berlin called [deleted]. You can find us here: [deleted]. We're focussing on making reading social and shareable. What's your opinion on such a thing?

Andrew Keen recently said that 'social reading' signifies the end of the world, as we can't enjoy the solidarity that comes with it anymore. However, I view it as a fresh take on reading.

For more context on how 'social' is incorporated, take a look at [deleted].
Thoughts?

Welcome to the MobileRead. Interesting topic. I'd have to agree with what Andrew Keen said (understanding that it is an exaggeration).

I'm not into social media, but even if I ever drink that Koolaid, I'd never let it invade my reading space. Reading is very much an individual experience for me.

Pomtroll · 06-20-2012, 10:35 AM

I know some people that like to social read. But I'm not one of them. I'm a member of 2 book clubs but neither is online. We just discuss a book but don't necessarily highlight pages & draw attention to those passages.

06-20-2012, 05:32 AM	#1
Matthew Bostock Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 13606 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Berlin, Germany Device: iPad	Social reading? Hey there. First post, woop! Happy to be a member of the community here So I work for a tech company in Berlin called [deleted]. You can find us here: [deleted]. We're focussing on making reading social and shareable. What's your opinion on such a thing? Andrew Keen recently said that 'social reading' signifies the end of the world, as we can't enjoy the solidarity that comes with it anymore. However, I view it as a fresh take on reading. For more context on how 'social' is incorporated, take a look at [deleted]. Thoughts? Last edited by HarryT; 06-20-2012 at 10:34 AM.

06-20-2012, 08:14 AM	#7
Matthew Bostock Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 13606 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Berlin, Germany Device: iPad	I see where you guys are coming from, but don't you think there's some room for the web and social media to come into play? When you're reading, granted, you don't want any social. At [deleted] we don't do that. It's just text on a page, as you'd envisage. But when you choose to highlight something, sharing springs into life. For example, if I'm following someone and what they read, when they make highlights in a book, they are giving me an insight into it way deeper than the cover and summary could ever do. Therefore, exploiting the 'social' is good for book discovery. Last edited by HarryT; 06-20-2012 at 10:35 AM.

06-20-2012, 08:49 AM	#9
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,880 Karma: 207000000 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	I find that Social Networking is usually neither... just like Moral Majority. I guess Social Reading isn't a bad idea, per se... it's just something that wouldn't interest me at all. I already turn off the what-are-other-people-highlighting? "feature" of my Kindle. I'm interested in what other people think about the book I'm reading... I'm just not interested in their input while I'm reading it. It's distracting. Last edited by DiapDealer; 06-20-2012 at 08:56 AM.

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06-20-2012, 06:14 AM	#2
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,306 Karma: 90981752 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	I am definitely not social, nor do I want to be, when I read. To me that would seem just like going to the movies and having people talking all around you. Apache

06-20-2012, 06:17 AM	#3
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,930 Karma: 119747553 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2 & PW, Onyx Boox Go6	Reading is specifically an individual pursuit. Literature discussion groups are social, (such as this website). I abhor "social media" such as facebook, google+ etc.

06-20-2012, 07:17 AM	#6
MikeB1972 Gnu Posts: 1,222 Karma: 15625359 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: UK Device: BeBook,JetBook Lite,PRS-300-350-505-650,+ran out of space to type	We don't need no social media, we've got books

06-20-2012, 09:01 AM	#10
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	Well, Kobo seems to be doing well with their social reading network, although I don't use it. And Amazon has their shared highlight feature, if someone turns it on, although that doesn't add to discoverability but is only if you also own the book. Doesn't GoodReads have the ability to posts the cover and title of a book you're reading on FaceBook? (I don't use GoodReads, either) I'm sure there's a place for a social reading network, but MR here is just about as social as I'm interested in getting.

06-20-2012, 09:06 AM	#11
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,423 Karma: 52734361 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	I'm another one who just doesn't get the social media thing. What's the point?

06-20-2012, 09:22 AM	#12
pidgeon92 Wizard Posts: 3,144 Karma: 8426142 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Kindle PW2, Kindle Voyage, Kindle DXG, Boox M90, Kobo Aura HD	I like Goodreads to share what I'm reading. They have discussions on the books, but I find them to be fairly vapid. I would think that social media for books would be fine for bookclubs, but I can't think of any other useful purpose.

06-20-2012, 10:23 AM	#13
QuantumIguana Philosopher Posts: 2,034 Karma: 18736532 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2 gen, Kindle Fire 1st Gen, Kindle Touch	I use Facebook, I use it to keep up with friends (actual friends that is, people I actually know and associate with) and I use it to point me to interesting articles. I use Goodreads, sometimes there are good discussions there, but other times it is pretty vapid. But actual reading of books, that's solitary. I don't read what my friends read.

06-20-2012, 10:35 AM	#15
Pomtroll Guru Posts: 822 Karma: 1341819 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Minnesota USA Device: Sony 350, Sony T1, Kindle Touch, Kindle PW1	I know some people that like to social read. But I'm not one of them. I'm a member of 2 book clubs but neither is online. We just discuss a book but don't necessarily highlight pages & draw attention to those passages.