There are around 400,000 new books published every day, according to an estimate by Tagari . Recently, I wrote a blog post about how sometimes, you might feel like the only reader in Oman. Sometimes, you might feel lonely as a reader, and at others it might be difficult to sift through all the available titles. This is why you need a Goodreads Account!

Here are the top three ways I use Goodreads, and why it’s making reading more rewarding for me.

Reviews

Goodreads is primarily considered a reviewer website and app. You can go on Goodreads to check out reviews of books, or to post your own. This is great because it allows me to find out what other people (including my friends) think about a book before I buy it. For example, one of my favorite reads in 2022 ‘The Cradle Series’ was recommended to me by someone at an event, and then I checked out the reviews before buying it.

I believe in Goodreads reviews so much that I’ve gone and registered all my books into Goodreads. It always makes me happy to see what people think of my books, and the thoughts of my current readers help other people decide whether Sarim, Hazim, or Majan Chronicles is right for them.

Tracker

You ever see someone talking about how they ready 70 books in the past year? Ever wonder how they kept track?

Goodreads.

The website allows you to set reading goals for yourself. Then, you can keep track of how many books you read, what you thought of each, and even how far along you are in each book.

Connector

The real joy of Goodreads is that it’s a real social media site for readers. I like to go on it to check out what my friends are reading. Sometimes I like their reviews and comment. It’s a really nice way to feel motivated and to have a light chat with my friends about what we’re all reading.

All in all, I think Goodreads is flawed (its social media sharing system sucks and I wish it was easier to find people there. Also, conversations aren’t as streamlined as I’d like) but it’s a great way for me to feel less alone in the reading world.

If you decide to create a Goodreads account or download the app, you can find me on Ammar Al Naaimi.