How I Choose Books
(In case anyone happens to be curious.)
Step 1: Learn that a given book exists. I usually do this via one of the dozen or so book related podcasts I listen to, or one of the several dozen book related blogs/websites I follow.
Step 2: Find the book on Amazon. If the original source didn't give me enough information about the story, read the description on the Amazon page.
Step 3a: If the book is not available for the Kindle, add it to my Amazon wishlist. Try to remember to check back on a regular basis to see if it has been released as an ebook.
Step 3b: If the book is available for the Kindle, get the free sample chapter(s).
Step 4: Choose what looks most interesting from the last page of my Kindle contents. (When it's sorted by acquisition date the stuff I haven't looked at in longest is at the end of the list.) Read it.
Step 5: If the title from step 4 was just the sample content, make a decision.
Step 5a: "Oh, God. That was awful." Delete the sample content, and try to remember the title so I don't accidentally get it again. Repeat Step 4, hoping for better results.
Step 5b: "Not bad, but not what I'm in the mood for right now." Repeat Step 4, deferring a decision until later.
Step 5c: "I must find out what happens!" Turn on my Kindle's internet connection and buy the book. While it's downloading delete the sample. Read the entire book.
Of course, if I'm in the mood for something specific I just open it up and start reading. Steps 4 & 5 are only for when I'm not sure what I feel like reading next.
Step 1: Learn that a given book exists. I usually do this via one of the dozen or so book related podcasts I listen to, or one of the several dozen book related blogs/websites I follow.
Step 2: Find the book on Amazon. If the original source didn't give me enough information about the story, read the description on the Amazon page.
Step 3a: If the book is not available for the Kindle, add it to my Amazon wishlist. Try to remember to check back on a regular basis to see if it has been released as an ebook.
Step 3b: If the book is available for the Kindle, get the free sample chapter(s).
Step 4: Choose what looks most interesting from the last page of my Kindle contents. (When it's sorted by acquisition date the stuff I haven't looked at in longest is at the end of the list.) Read it.
Step 5: If the title from step 4 was just the sample content, make a decision.
Step 5a: "Oh, God. That was awful." Delete the sample content, and try to remember the title so I don't accidentally get it again. Repeat Step 4, hoping for better results.
Step 5b: "Not bad, but not what I'm in the mood for right now." Repeat Step 4, deferring a decision until later.
Step 5c: "I must find out what happens!" Turn on my Kindle's internet connection and buy the book. While it's downloading delete the sample. Read the entire book.
Of course, if I'm in the mood for something specific I just open it up and start reading. Steps 4 & 5 are only for when I'm not sure what I feel like reading next.