ebook preview

venkatesh · 11-16-2010, 02:32 AM

Folks,

I have put together a ebook previewing service.

World is Flat http://nuggetize.com/world-is-flat-235?expand=1
The Selfish Gene http://nuggetize.com/theselfishgene?expand=1

Please let me know if you find such tools useful to read snippets from
a book, either before buying or for researching after reading.

Regards,
-venkatesh

opitzs · 11-16-2010, 07:33 AM

I can't figure out, what you are previewing. The content? Then there is the question of copyright, while unrelated text passages are not truly helpful... and it would be more book related, than ebook related... Also I then prefer a real review.
The layout? I don't think so, it doesn't look like it.

I fear I'm missing something here, but I'm not sure what?

Bye

Doug Huffman · 11-16-2010, 08:07 AM

I do not. My reading is selected by previous received knowledge of the subject, who are the influential authors, and what are the well written influential books. I don't blindly stagger from Author, to Book to Controversy, ... to Omerta (ha ha, not Omega).

DixieGal · 11-16-2010, 08:15 AM

Amazon and Smashwords already allow free samples. What extra value does your service bring to the table?

venkatesh · 11-16-2010, 10:44 AM

This is a small tool that I am experimenting with. I think book buying is a both social (recommendations) and personal (exploration) statement. I am trying to come up with an interface which can extract the concepts the book talks about and lets an user read snippets about those concepts.
There is work to be done in showing more relevant snippets.
If users find this exploration of concepts in a book useful, then it is easy to get the rest of the work done to enhance the usability and quality of the product.

Yes, there are other products which can show preview of the content. But I am not sure if they can show the concepts that the book talks about
For example: What does "The Selfish Gene" talk w.r.t to game theory?

Thanks for your inputs and keep it coming.
Please also suggest if you have any suggestions to what kind of features you would like.

Pomtroll · 11-16-2010, 11:47 AM

Having read both books, I followed what you were writing. BUT if I hadn't I think the way it is put together is confusing & most people would not try to finish reading your review.

Maybe limiting the amount of info on a page would help. To be honest one column of info would have been enough.

TGS · 11-16-2010, 11:58 AM

Is this what it's really about?

stodge · 11-16-2010, 12:59 PM

I have no idea what this site is... And the links are showing as localhost. Confusing, unprofessional, pointless and, well, confusing. Or I'm completely missing the point.

venkatesh · 11-16-2010, 10:32 PM

@PomTroll
Will fix the usability and make it more navigation friendly.

@TGS
Thats a study about user attention on webpages. Not related to this

@stodge
The links point to localhost because I didnt want to expose the entire book. Will put chapter titles instead. The idea is to let people read contents(snippets) of a book around their area of interest before deciding to buy the book. Amazon shows just the first few pages.
Your point is well taken. Will work on how to make it clear to people on what this is about.

AshleyWilis · 11-17-2010, 12:26 AM

hi,
Well I prefer Amazon over everything not only because its popular but also because it provide with huge numbers of ebooks with best quality..

venkatesh · 11-17-2010, 12:33 AM

@AshleyWilis

Agreed. If this feature is useful then I can talk to book sellers/publishers.

So if you like to explore a book around the concepts in the book before you decide on buying, then you are likely to see such a feature on Amazon in near future

venkatesh · 11-18-2010, 10:34 AM

Thanks a lot everyone for the feedback.
I have quickly fixed a few things in the UI based on the feedback.
Please let me know if this makes it easy to explore around the book.

Pomtroll · 11-18-2010, 11:58 AM

I like what you have done. Much easier to follow & if I want more info I can click to continue.

View Poll Results: Do you find it useful
yes	14	51.85%
no	8	29.63%
not sure	4	14.81%
more options -- please specify	1	3.70%
Voters: 27. You may not vote on this poll

11-16-2010, 02:32 AM	#1
venkatesh Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: sony reader prs 700	ebook preview Folks, I have put together a ebook previewing service. World is Flat http://nuggetize.com/world-is-flat-235?expand=1 The Selfish Gene http://nuggetize.com/theselfishgene?expand=1 Please let me know if you find such tools useful to read snippets from a book, either before buying or for researching after reading. Regards, -venkatesh

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11-16-2010, 07:33 AM	#2
opitzs Avid Reader Posts: 161 Karma: 36472 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Look for rain, hail and snow... Device: PRS-505, PRS-600, PRS T1, Kobo Glo	I can't figure out, what you are previewing. The content? Then there is the question of copyright, while unrelated text passages are not truly helpful... and it would be more book related, than ebook related... Also I then prefer a real review. The layout? I don't think so, it doesn't look like it. I fear I'm missing something here, but I'm not sure what? Bye

11-16-2010, 08:07 AM	#3
Doug Huffman Banned Posts: 102 Karma: 7860 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Washington Island, across Death's Door, Wisconsin, USA Device: KINDLE 3 WiFi	I do not. My reading is selected by previous received knowledge of the subject, who are the influential authors, and what are the well written influential books. I don't blindly stagger from Author, to Book to Controversy, ... to Omerta (ha ha, not Omega).

11-16-2010, 08:15 AM	#4
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	Amazon and Smashwords already allow free samples. What extra value does your service bring to the table?

11-16-2010, 10:44 AM	#5
venkatesh Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: sony reader prs 700	This is a small tool that I am experimenting with. I think book buying is a both social (recommendations) and personal (exploration) statement. I am trying to come up with an interface which can extract the concepts the book talks about and lets an user read snippets about those concepts. There is work to be done in showing more relevant snippets. If users find this exploration of concepts in a book useful, then it is easy to get the rest of the work done to enhance the usability and quality of the product. Yes, there are other products which can show preview of the content. But I am not sure if they can show the concepts that the book talks about For example: What does "The Selfish Gene" talk w.r.t to game theory? Thanks for your inputs and keep it coming. Please also suggest if you have any suggestions to what kind of features you would like.

11-16-2010, 11:47 AM	#6
Pomtroll Guru Posts: 822 Karma: 1341819 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Minnesota USA Device: Sony 350, Sony T1, Kindle Touch, Kindle PW1	Having read both books, I followed what you were writing. BUT if I hadn't I think the way it is put together is confusing & most people would not try to finish reading your review. Maybe limiting the amount of info on a page would help. To be honest one column of info would have been enough.

11-16-2010, 11:58 AM	#7
TGS Country Member Posts: 9,058 Karma: 7676767 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Denmark Device: Liseuse: Irex DR800. PRS 505 in the house, and the missus has an iPad.	Is this what it's really about?

11-16-2010, 12:59 PM	#8
stodge Groupie Posts: 155 Karma: 1008328 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Sony PRS-650SC	I have no idea what this site is... And the links are showing as localhost. Confusing, unprofessional, pointless and, well, confusing. Or I'm completely missing the point.

11-16-2010, 10:32 PM	#9
venkatesh Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: sony reader prs 700	@PomTroll Will fix the usability and make it more navigation friendly. @TGS Thats a study about user attention on webpages. Not related to this @stodge The links point to localhost because I didnt want to expose the entire book. Will put chapter titles instead. The idea is to let people read contents(snippets) of a book around their area of interest before deciding to buy the book. Amazon shows just the first few pages. Your point is well taken. Will work on how to make it clear to people on what this is about.

11-17-2010, 12:26 AM	#10
AshleyWilis Textbook Reader Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: none	hi, Well I prefer Amazon over everything not only because its popular but also because it provide with huge numbers of ebooks with best quality..

11-17-2010, 12:33 AM	#11
venkatesh Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: sony reader prs 700	@AshleyWilis Agreed. If this feature is useful then I can talk to book sellers/publishers. So if you like to explore a book around the concepts in the book before you decide on buying, then you are likely to see such a feature on Amazon in near future

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11-18-2010, 10:34 AM	#12
venkatesh Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: sony reader prs 700	Thanks a lot everyone for the feedback. I have quickly fixed a few things in the UI based on the feedback. Please let me know if this makes it easy to explore around the book.

11-18-2010, 11:58 AM	#13
Pomtroll Guru Posts: 822 Karma: 1341819 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Minnesota USA Device: Sony 350, Sony T1, Kindle Touch, Kindle PW1	I like what you have done. Much easier to follow & if I want more info I can click to continue.