Kindle : how to access the abstract of a book already downloaded ?

hugoheitz · 01-07-2020, 03:25 AM

Hi,

The question is really simple.
I have two kindles : one for me and one for my kids.

I share books with them.

Sometimes they want to see what a book is about before starting to read it.

But I dont know how to do it ?
Is there a simple way to get the abstract of a book already downloaded on the kindle ?

Thanks for your help,
Hugo

Junket · 01-07-2020, 06:43 AM

I'm not aware of any built-in abstract feature. If you have wifi or 3g access, you could find an abstract on the Amazon sales page for a book.

Or you could perhaps add a brief abstract to the book meta data in advance.

Deskisamess · 01-07-2020, 08:06 AM

The About This Book info for a Kindle book can be read while the book is open on a Kindle.

Tap the top of the screen, then the 3 dots in the upper right corner, then select About This Book.

Junket · 01-07-2020, 08:24 AM

^ Requires a wi-fi connection on some if not all books i.e. on 10/10 random books that I tried.

Deskisamess · 01-07-2020, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Junket

^ Requires a wi-fi connection on some if not all books i.e. on 10/10 random books that I tried.

It works for me with airplane mode on. My Kindle books are normally downloaded over WiFi, so the info is part of the book file itself.

Junket · 01-07-2020, 08:40 AM

Well that tells us that some books save the "about this book" info on Kindle. But it's clearly not all books as the first ten that I tried all had nothing to offer on the device and asked to connect to wifi to continue.

j.p.s · 01-07-2020, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

It works for me with airplane mode on. My Kindle books are normally downloaded over WiFi, so the info is part of the book file itself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Junket

Well that tells us that some books save the "about this book" info on Kindle. But it's clearly not all books as the first ten that I tried all had nothing to offer on the device and asked to connect to wifi to continue.

That's probably a side effect of transferring books over USB, which for me is mostly good, since it ovoids all the start actions and end actions crap, but does have the downside of no X-ray and no page number file. I've never missed the "about this book" because I've never tried to access it.

In any case this is another example of things put in the bookname.sdr directory except downloaded from amazon instead of generated on device like bookmarks, highlights, etc.
The info is not part of the book.

barryem · 01-09-2020, 07:53 PM

The menu on a book offers the option to view it in the store and there you can see a detailed description and reviews.

Barry

BookCat · 01-09-2020, 08:24 PM

A better way to do this, but this needs to be done before you put the book on the kindle, is to use Calibre. Go to Edit Metadata, choose Download Metadata, then select one of the 'blurbs' which appears. You need to make sure you've put the correct book title and author name into their fields for this to work.

When you've done this, you can select a new cover if you want. Then just tick out of the metadata box.

When converting, and this will only work if the book isn't DRM'd, under 'Structure Detection' tick 'Insert Metadata At Start of Book' Then convert, even if it's to the the same format: azw3 is best.

If the book is DRM'd google Apprentice Alf for details about removing it.

Calibre is your friend.

hugoheitz · 01-15-2020, 04:36 AM

Thank you all for your answers, I have tried and I now see that :
it works even when out of connection for the books I have bought directly from Amazon.
it works for some of the books I have from outside (books from public domain) but need a connection.

What I understand is that there is no standard on this subject. Most of the times I convert the books in MOBI (in order to be able to read either on Kindle or on Kobo ereader).
Is there a way to insert the metadata in a MOBI format as described by BookCat or will it work only if it is AZW3 ?

Thanks again for your help,
Hugo

Junket · 01-15-2020, 01:30 PM

Calibre will embed metadata in a mobi book when you convert a book or send to device or save to disk. An easier method probably is to add the tool bar action embed metadata.

ilovejedd · 01-15-2020, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Junket

Calibre will embed metadata in a mobi book when you convert a book or send to device or save to disk. An easier method probably is to add the tool bar action embed metadata.

The Kindle ignores embedded metadata apart from author and title so this one's not all that useful.

Iirc, the Polish Books option may have the ability to insert the metadata at the start of ebook without a full conversion (azw3 and epub only).

Junket · 01-16-2020, 08:55 AM

Can't read epub on a Kindle either. Unless it is jailbroken and then koreader would be a better experience.

Lots of useful advice in the thread. The OP should expect to do some work though to sort out the details and confirm what works well for him.

01-07-2020, 03:25 AM	#1
hugoheitz Enthusiast Posts: 33 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Brest, France Device: kobo touch, kindle paperwhite, Asus TF101	Kindle : how to access the abstract of a book already downloaded ? Hi, The question is really simple. I have two kindles : one for me and one for my kids. I share books with them. Sometimes they want to see what a book is about before starting to read it. But I dont know how to do it ? Is there a simple way to get the abstract of a book already downloaded on the kindle ? Thanks for your help, Hugo

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Can't access books downloaded to Kobo glo	mchaggis4708	Kobo Reader	28	01-21-2014 03:30 PM
Downloaded free Kindle book - want to check if my personal info is on the metadata	avid01	Amazon Kindle	1	06-04-2013 09:59 AM
"Access denied" to downloaded news - Windows Error message 5	SunFuLai	Recipes	14	12-02-2011 02:20 AM
New free Kindle Book downloaded....	desertgrandma	Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links)	32	03-12-2009 01:37 PM

01-07-2020, 06:43 AM	#2
Junket Nil adsuetudine maius Posts: 278 Karma: 500000 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: US Device: PW4	I'm not aware of any built-in abstract feature. If you have wifi or 3g access, you could find an abstract on the Amazon sales page for a book. Or you could perhaps add a brief abstract to the book meta data in advance.

01-07-2020, 08:06 AM	#3
Deskisamess Wizard Posts: 2,607 Karma: 42697471 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Ohio Device: iPhone 7+, iPad mini, 2021 iPad Pro 12.9",Paperwhite 6.8"	The About This Book info for a Kindle book can be read while the book is open on a Kindle. Tap the top of the screen, then the 3 dots in the upper right corner, then select About This Book.

01-07-2020, 08:24 AM	#4
Junket Nil adsuetudine maius Posts: 278 Karma: 500000 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: US Device: PW4	^ Requires a wi-fi connection on some if not all books i.e. on 10/10 random books that I tried.

01-07-2020, 08:40 AM	#6
Junket Nil adsuetudine maius Posts: 278 Karma: 500000 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: US Device: PW4	Well that tells us that some books save the "about this book" info on Kindle. But it's clearly not all books as the first ten that I tried all had nothing to offer on the device and asked to connect to wifi to continue.

01-09-2020, 07:53 PM	#8
barryem Wizard Posts: 2,459 Karma: 68781975 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Arkansas Device: Paperwhite 4	The menu on a book offers the option to view it in the store and there you can see a detailed description and reviews. Barry

01-09-2020, 08:24 PM	#9
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	A better way to do this, but this needs to be done before you put the book on the kindle, is to use Calibre. Go to Edit Metadata, choose Download Metadata, then select one of the 'blurbs' which appears. You need to make sure you've put the correct book title and author name into their fields for this to work. When you've done this, you can select a new cover if you want. Then just tick out of the metadata box. When converting, and this will only work if the book isn't DRM'd, under 'Structure Detection' tick 'Insert Metadata At Start of Book' Then convert, even if it's to the the same format: azw3 is best. If the book is DRM'd google Apprentice Alf for details about removing it. Calibre is your friend.

01-15-2020, 04:36 AM	#10
hugoheitz Enthusiast Posts: 33 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Brest, France Device: kobo touch, kindle paperwhite, Asus TF101	Thank you all for your answers, I have tried and I now see that : it works even when out of connection for the books I have bought directly from Amazon. it works for some of the books I have from outside (books from public domain) but need a connection. What I understand is that there is no standard on this subject. Most of the times I convert the books in MOBI (in order to be able to read either on Kindle or on Kobo ereader). Is there a way to insert the metadata in a MOBI format as described by BookCat or will it work only if it is AZW3 ? Thanks again for your help, Hugo

01-15-2020, 01:30 PM	#11
Junket Nil adsuetudine maius Posts: 278 Karma: 500000 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: US Device: PW4	Calibre will embed metadata in a mobi book when you convert a book or send to device or save to disk. An easier method probably is to add the tool bar action embed metadata.

01-16-2020, 08:55 AM	#13
Junket Nil adsuetudine maius Posts: 278 Karma: 500000 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: US Device: PW4	Can't read epub on a Kindle either. Unless it is jailbroken and then koreader would be a better experience. Lots of useful advice in the thread. The OP should expect to do some work though to sort out the details and confirm what works well for him.