(no subject)
I bought a used book this weekend called Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas R. Hofstadter. It is, among other things, over 750 9x6 inch pages long. More importantly, however, it gave me the opportunity to observe a feature of amazon.com that had never been brought to my attention. True, it’s actual utility may be somewhat limited for your average book-seeker, but what average person is in search of “a profound and entertaining meditation on human thought and creativity [looking] at the surprising points of contact between the music of Bach, the artwork of Escher, and the mathematics of Gödel?” I, for one, can’t wait to see what those connections might be (especially since I feel like I should know Gödel’s theorem like the back of my hand, and yet I can’t even tell you the general topic).
So, the point is that amazon provides random analyses of certain books, including a “statistically improbable phrases” section that searches for groups of words that appear frequently in this book compared to others of its genre. They also supply all of the following information, which must be provided for the amusement of those building the website, because I can’t imagine anyone making a purchase decision based on the “Flesch Index” of a book. Ok, I can picture Rachel doing that, but only to spite me.
I think we all know what the most important part of this information is. From now on, I’m only buying books that offer me the best possible value.
Concordance ( learn more)
These are the 100 most frequently used words in this book.
achilles always another answer bach between brain call called case come computer course crab different dna does down even example fact figure first form formal get give go however human idea inside instance itself kind know language let level line little look machine may mean meaning message might mind mr music must new now number oh own part people perhaps piece point problem process program property question quite rather record right rules say see seems sense sentence set should something statement string structure symbols system take tell theorem theory things think thought three time tnt tortoise true two words world
Text Stats
Readability ( learn more) Compared with other books ( learn more) Fog Index:
13.0
Easier
This book has a Fog Index of 13.0
A higher Fog Index means a book is more difficult to read
50% of books are easier to read
50% of books are harder to read
This book has a Fog Index of 13.0
A higher Fog Index means a book is more difficult to read
50% of books are easier to read
50% of books are harder to read
Harder Flesch Index:
51.4
Easier
This book has a Flesch Index of 51.4
A higher Flesch Index means a book is easier to read
48% of books are easier to read
52% of books are harder to read
This book has a Flesch Index of 51.4
A higher Flesch Index means a book is easier to read
48% of books are easier to read
52% of books are harder to read
Harder Flesch-Kincaid Index:
10.7
Easier
This book has a Flesch-Kincaid Index of 10.7
A higher Flesch-Kincaid Index means a book is more difficult to read
53% of books are easier to read
47% of books are harder to read
This book has a Flesch-Kincaid Index of 10.7
A higher Flesch-Kincaid Index means a book is more difficult to read
53% of books are easier to read
47% of books are harder to read
Harder Complexity ( learn more) Complex Words:
14%
Fewer
14% of words in this book are complex.
45% of books have a smaller percentage of complex words
55% of books have a larger percentage of complex words
14% of words in this book are complex.
45% of books have a smaller percentage of complex words
55% of books have a larger percentage of complex words
More Syllables per Word:
1.6
Fewer
This book has, on average, 1.6 syllables per word.
47% of books have fewer syllables per word
53% of books have more syllables per word
This book has, on average, 1.6 syllables per word.
47% of books have fewer syllables per word
53% of books have more syllables per word
More Words per Sentence:
18.5
Fewer
This book has, on average, 18.5 words per sentence.
64% of books have fewer words per sentence
36% of books have more words per sentence
This book has, on average, 18.5 words per sentence.
64% of books have fewer words per sentence
36% of books have more words per sentence
More Number of Characters:
1,727,322
Fewer
This book has 1,727,322 characters
97% of books have fewer characters
3% of books have more characters
This book has 1,727,322 characters
97% of books have fewer characters
3% of books have more characters
More Words:
287,174
Fewer
This book has 287,174 words
98% of books have fewer words
2% of books have more words
This book has 287,174 words
98% of books have fewer words
2% of books have more words
More Sentences:
15,498
Fewer
This book has 15,498 sentences
96% of books have fewer sentences
4% of books have more sentences
This book has 15,498 sentences
96% of books have fewer sentences
4% of books have more sentences
More Fun stats Words per Dollar:
20,082 Words per Ounce:
6,527
So, the point is that amazon provides random analyses of certain books, including a “statistically improbable phrases” section that searches for groups of words that appear frequently in this book compared to others of its genre. They also supply all of the following information, which must be provided for the amusement of those building the website, because I can’t imagine anyone making a purchase decision based on the “Flesch Index” of a book. Ok, I can picture Rachel doing that, but only to spite me.
I think we all know what the most important part of this information is. From now on, I’m only buying books that offer me the best possible value.
Concordance ( learn more)
These are the 100 most frequently used words in this book.
achilles always another answer bach between brain call called case come computer course crab different dna does down even example fact figure first form formal get give go however human idea inside instance itself kind know language let level line little look machine may mean meaning message might mind mr music must new now number oh own part people perhaps piece point problem process program property question quite rather record right rules say see seems sense sentence set should something statement string structure symbols system take tell theorem theory things think thought three time tnt tortoise true two words world
Text Stats
Readability ( learn more) Compared with other books ( learn more) Fog Index:
13.0
Easier
This book has a Fog Index of 13.0
A higher Fog Index means a book is more difficult to read
50% of books are easier to read
50% of books are harder to read
This book has a Fog Index of 13.0
A higher Fog Index means a book is more difficult to read
50% of books are easier to read
50% of books are harder to read
Harder Flesch Index:
51.4
Easier
This book has a Flesch Index of 51.4
A higher Flesch Index means a book is easier to read
48% of books are easier to read
52% of books are harder to read
This book has a Flesch Index of 51.4
A higher Flesch Index means a book is easier to read
48% of books are easier to read
52% of books are harder to read
Harder Flesch-Kincaid Index:
10.7
Easier
This book has a Flesch-Kincaid Index of 10.7
A higher Flesch-Kincaid Index means a book is more difficult to read
53% of books are easier to read
47% of books are harder to read
This book has a Flesch-Kincaid Index of 10.7
A higher Flesch-Kincaid Index means a book is more difficult to read
53% of books are easier to read
47% of books are harder to read
Harder Complexity ( learn more) Complex Words:
14%
Fewer
14% of words in this book are complex.
45% of books have a smaller percentage of complex words
55% of books have a larger percentage of complex words
14% of words in this book are complex.
45% of books have a smaller percentage of complex words
55% of books have a larger percentage of complex words
More Syllables per Word:
1.6
Fewer
This book has, on average, 1.6 syllables per word.
47% of books have fewer syllables per word
53% of books have more syllables per word
This book has, on average, 1.6 syllables per word.
47% of books have fewer syllables per word
53% of books have more syllables per word
More Words per Sentence:
18.5
Fewer
This book has, on average, 18.5 words per sentence.
64% of books have fewer words per sentence
36% of books have more words per sentence
This book has, on average, 18.5 words per sentence.
64% of books have fewer words per sentence
36% of books have more words per sentence
More Number of Characters:
1,727,322
Fewer
This book has 1,727,322 characters
97% of books have fewer characters
3% of books have more characters
This book has 1,727,322 characters
97% of books have fewer characters
3% of books have more characters
More Words:
287,174
Fewer
This book has 287,174 words
98% of books have fewer words
2% of books have more words
This book has 287,174 words
98% of books have fewer words
2% of books have more words
More Sentences:
15,498
Fewer
This book has 15,498 sentences
96% of books have fewer sentences
4% of books have more sentences
This book has 15,498 sentences
96% of books have fewer sentences
4% of books have more sentences
More Fun stats Words per Dollar:
20,082 Words per Ounce:
6,527