Hardcover Live

Summary

In this conversation, Adam and Ste discuss their experiences at the Sundance Film Festival and share their thoughts on the TV series Fargo. They also talk about the Hardcover survey and the upcoming Reading Journey feature. They brainstorm different post types for the reading journal, including notes, quotes, and location. They discuss privacy settings and the possibility of making the reading journal social. Finally, they explore the organization and discovery of reading journals. In this conversation, Ste and Adam discuss the implementation of journals on book pages in the Hardcover app. They explore the idea of replacing the activity tab on book pages with journals and discuss the sorting and filtering options for journals. They also consider linking journals to book pages and implementing universal filters for journals. The conversation covers the addition of context and additional information in journals, as well as the efficient logging of reading notes. They also touch on OCR text from physical books, reposting journal entries to the activity feed, and the importance of validation and prototyping. Finally, they discuss the attribution of quotes in journals.

Takeaways

The Sundance Film Festival is a popular event for independent filmmakers and movie enthusiasts.
The Hardcover survey is an important tool for gathering feedback and insights from users.
The Reading Journey feature in Hardcover will allow users to track their progress, take notes, and share their thoughts on books.
Privacy settings will be available for the reading journal, allowing users to control who can see their entries.
The reading journal can be a social feature, allowing users to share their thoughts and quotes with others. Replace the activity tab on book pages with journals to provide a space for readers to share their thoughts and opinions on books.
Implement sorting and filtering options for journals, such as sorting by date or likes count, to enhance the user experience.
Link journals to book pages to allow readers to access and read other people's journals for the same book.
Consider implementing universal filters for journals, such as filters for tags, spoilers, and reading progress, to provide users with more control over their journal entries.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Sundance Film Festival
03:00 Discussion on Fargo and TV Series
07:51 Overview of the Hardcover Survey
09:20 Brainstorming the Reading Journey Feature
19:55 Different Post Types for the Reading Journal
29:52 Privacy Settings and Account-Level Privacy
38:22 Making the Reading Journal Social
43:08 Discovery and Organization of Reading Journals
45:42 Introducing Journals on Book Pages
46:20 Sorting and Filtering Journals
47:27 Linking Journals to Book Pages
48:18 Universal Filters for Journals
49:05 Adding Context to Journal Entries
50:46 Additional Information in Journals
51:10 Quickly Accessing Reading Journals
52:21 Streamlining Access to Reading Journals
53:24 Efficient Logging of Reading Notes
56:13 OCR Text from Physical Books
57:34 Reposting Journal Entries to Activity Feed
59:20 Validation and Prototyping
01:00:29 Attributing Quotes in Journals

Summary

In this conversation, Adam and Ste discuss the upcoming State of the Hardcover survey and how to prioritize new features based on user feedback. They review the results of previous surveys and identify the most important features requested by users, such as improved book discovery, stats and graphs about reading history, a mobile app, and book discussions. They also discuss the challenges of framing questions to gather meaningful feedback and the importance of understanding user preferences. Additionally, they consider the inclusion of features like more metadata about books, a text-based discussion forum, and a customizable dashboard. The conversation discusses the design of a dashboard for Hardcover and potential features to include. It explores the idea of a dashboard as a jumping off point to other parts of the platform and the option to set it as the homepage. The conversation also highlights the importance of building features that users want, such as discussions and a reading log. The hosts express excitement about putting out a survey to gather feedback and determine the next steps for development.

Takeaways

User feedback is crucial for prioritizing new features and improving the user experience.
Surveys can help identify the most important features requested by users.
Framing questions effectively is important to gather meaningful feedback.
Understanding user preferences and expectations is key to developing successful features. Consider designing a dashboard as a central hub for users to access different parts of the platform.
Provide options for users to choose their homepage, allowing them to customize their experience.
Focus on building features that users want, such as discussions and a reading log.
Use surveys and feedback to gather data and make informed decisions about future features.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Sundance Movies
08:26 State of the Hardcover Survey
25:34 Unsolved Book-Related Problems
30:01 Connecting with Other Readers
31:41 Ranking Features
41:21 Dashboard and Widgets
46:11 Dashboard Design
47:16 Jumping Off Points
48:21 Choosing Homepage
50:00 Desired Features
52:06 Discussions
54:13 Reading Log
56:28 Survey and Future Features
58:45 Conclusion

Adam & Ste discuss the new "Apply to be a Librarian" page, new tools released this week for librarians and more takeaways from last weeks chat with Jeff.

Summary

In this conversation, Adam and Jeff discuss Jeff's reading habits, including his use of audiobooks and Kindle text-to-speech. They also talk about the challenges of reviewing advanced reader copies and avoiding spoilers. Jeff shares his insights on librarian tools and the importance of adding genres and other book data. They discuss the potential for scaling up librarian roles and the impact on authors and publishers. The conversation concludes with a rapid-fire question segment. In this conversation, Jeff discusses his book recommendations and his ideal reading atmosphere.

Takeaways

Using audiobooks and Kindle text-to-speech can be a convenient way to read while doing other activities.
Reviewing advanced reader copies requires careful consideration of spoilers and the responsibility to add missing book data.
Librarian tools play a crucial role in managing book data and ensuring accuracy.
Adding genres, moods, and tags to books is an important task for librarians to improve book data.
Authors and publishers can have a significant impact on book data by providing accurate information and claiming their profiles. Jeff doesn't have a set book recommendation, but he often recommends author Jeremy Robinson for sci-fi readers.
The Hunger trilogy by Jeremy Robinson is a good entry point for sci-fi readers.
Jeff's ideal reading atmosphere would be on an island in the South Pacific, near the Pacific Ocean.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Introducing Jeff
01:08 Jeff's Reading Habits
03:00 Listening to Audiobooks
04:21 Speed of Audiobook Narration
05:48 Using Kindle Text-to-Speech
07:04 Reading Advanced Reader Copies
09:28 Publishing ARCs and Spoilers
11:50 Avoiding Spoilers in Reviews
13:37 Reviewing Books at Different Speeds
16:21 Librarian Tools and Adding Books
20:59 Librarian Roles and Verifying User-Added Books
23:57 Challenges of User-Added Books and Duplicate Data
26:13 Scaling Up Librarian Tools
28:18 Managing Merging and Splitting Books
30:04 Improving Book Data and Adding Genres
36:27 Impacting Authors and Publishers
39:05 Urgent Needs in Librarian Tools
43:55 Improving Genres, Moods, and Tags
47:08 Authors and Publishers Impacting Book Data
50:44 Rapid Fire Questions
51:53 Book Recommendations
52:49 Recommended Jeremy Robinson Book
54:02 Ideal Reading Atmosphere

Summary

In this episode, Adam and Ste catch up after the holidays and discuss the recent launch of Year in Books. They also brainstorm ideas for the future of Hardcover Live, including bringing on guests from the book community and exploring different formats. They consider the length of each episode and the possibility of having community members join the show. Overall, they aim to make Hardcover Live a platform for insightful discussions about the book industry and a way to connect with authors, book bloggers, and book influencers. In this conversation, Ste and Adam discuss various topics related to the future plans and possibilities for Hardcover. They explore the idea of facilitating author Q&A sessions, targeting different personas in the book industry, engaging with peers in similar projects, and the diverse formats that Hardcover can offer. They also discuss the importance of open source collaboration and the potential challenges of open sourcing data. Additionally, they consider the possibility of creating a blockchain public database for book data and syncing data with OpenLibrary.

Takeaways

The Year in Books launch was a success, with a significant increase in signups and positive feedback from users.
Hardcover Live has the potential to become a platform for insightful discussions about the book industry, connecting with authors, book bloggers, and book influencers.
The format of Hardcover Live can be expanded to include guests from the book community, allowing for deeper conversations and learning from their expertise.
The length of each episode should be around one hour, with a focus on concise and engaging discussions. Hardcover can facilitate author Q&A sessions to engage with readers and provide a platform for interaction.
Targeting different personas in the book industry, such as authors, book influencers, editors, and librarians, can help broaden Hardcover's reach and impact.
Engaging with peers in similar projects can provide valuable insights and opportunities for collaboration.
Open source collaboration is important for Hardcover's growth and development, allowing for community contributions and improvements.
Creating a blockchain public database for book data and syncing data with OpenLibrary can enhance the availability and accessibility of book information.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Holiday Recap
07:37 Year in Books Launch
17:18 Discussion about Hardcover Live
27:06 New Format Ideas
40:06 Episode Length and Guest Ideas
46:01 Facilitating Author Q&A
46:38 Target Personas
47:20 Engaging with Peers
48:04 Diverse Formats for Hardcover
49:23 Open Source Collaboration
50:51 The Value of Open Source
51:28 Challenges of Open Sourcing Data
52:28 Blockchain Public Database
53:28 Open API and Contribution
55:00 Collaborating with OpenLibrary
56:55 Syncing Data with Open Library

Summary

The conversation focuses on improving the navigation and user experience of the list feature on Hardcover. They discuss options for navigation, including using drop-down menus and tabs. They also explore the possibility of adding discussions to the list feature. The conversation then moves on to filtering and sorting options for lists, considering different approaches such as popovers and side drawers. Finally, they discuss the idea of adding stats and custom covers to the list feature, making it more visually appealing and customizable.

Chapters

00:00 Navigation and Bookmarks
46:16 Tabs and Discussions
51:23 Filtering and Sorting
56:10 Stats and Custom Covers

Summary

The conversation covers topics such as Thanksgiving leftovers, the Dragonsteel conference, book release dates, feed customization, the Brandon Sanderson convention, curiosity about book releases, fastest readers and badges, customizing the feed, and reviewing the 2023 year in books. In this conversation, Adam and Ste discuss finalizing the book images and making them mobile-friendly. They also talk about validating the images to ensure they accurately depict scenes from the books. The conversation then moves on to discussing layout changes and addressing design challenges. They explore different options for centering the layout and adding gradients and shadows. They also discuss fixing loading and layout issues, as well as adding additional sections and share buttons. The conversation concludes with anticipation for user experience and reactions to the website.

Takeaways

The Dragonsteel conference is a gathering of dedicated fans of Brandon Sanderson's books.
Book release dates are typically on Tuesdays in the US to take advantage of an entire week of sales and media coverage.
The feed on the platform could be customized to include recommendations and notifications about newly launched books.
The fastest readers could be recognized with badges or stats on their profile.
The 2023 year in books could be reviewed to identify trends and popular titles. Finalize book images and make them mobile-friendly
Validate images to ensure accurate depiction of book scenes
Experiment with layout changes and address design challenges
Add gradients, shadows, and interactive book covers
Fix loading and layout issues and add additional sections
Include share buttons for easy sharing of content
Anticipate user experience and reactions to the website

Chapters

00:00 Thanksgiving leftovers and snow
03:02 Dragonsteel conference
05:08 Spoilers and dedicated fans
08:16 Book release dates and feed customization
10:25 Brandon Sanderson convention
19:29 Curiosity about book releases
22:40 Fastest readers and badges
26:16 Customizing the feed
28:56 Reviewing the 2023 year in books
41:31 Finalizing the Book Images
42:22 Validating the Book Images
43:32 Working on Variations for Yumi and the Nightmare Painter
44:04 Ensuring Accurate Character Representations
44:32 Addressing Design Challenges
45:35 Describing Clothing Based on Fan Art
46:00 Discussing Layout Changes
46:51 Exploring Centered Layouts
47:21 Using Background Images with Padding
48:42 Creating a Slide-like Effect
49:19 Adjusting Container Width for Review and Title
50:19 Balancing Space and Layout
51:26 Styling Sections with Left-Right Layout
52:53 Addressing Styling Issues
55:23 Adding Gradients and Shadows
58:11 Fixing Loading and Layout Issues
59:03 Identifying Unknown Div Issue
01:00:14 Improving Section Layouts
01:01:10 Resolving Loading and Flickering Issues
01:03:08 Investigating Sidebar and Flickering Issues
01:04:15 Adding Additional Sections
01:05:32 Adding Links and Share Buttons
01:08:00 Deciding on Linking to Specific Sections
01:09:25 Appreciating Interactive Book Covers
01:10:42 Finalizing Sections and Sharing with Librarians
01:11:55 Anticipating User Experience and Reactions

Summary

In this conversation, Ste and Adam discuss the design of the book review page for Hardcover. They explore different layouts and arrangements for showcasing the most read books of the year, as well as the top rated books. They also discuss the possibility of featuring a single book at a time to give it more prominence. The conversation concludes with plans for implementing the design and gathering community submissions.

Takeaways

Consider different layouts and arrangements to showcase books effectively.
Highlight the most read books of each month to capture the dynamic nature of book popularity.
Feature a single book at a time to give it more prominence and celebrate its significance.
Engage the community by gathering submissions and feedback for the book review page.

Chapters

00:00 Designing the Book Review Page
49:05 Highlighting Books of Each Month
52:36 Showcasing Top Rated Books
59:12 Finalizing the Design
01:00:11 Planning for Implementation

Summary

The conversation covers various topics including time zones, a quiet week, working on the discussions prototype, feedback on the prototype, redesigning the feed, future plans for discussions, starting the urine review design, adding navigation and logo, designing the header section, designing the section cards, designing the most read books section, and exploring section title placement. In this conversation, Ste and Adam methodically review different layout options for displaying book covers and related information. They explore various arrangements and consider the best approach for book lists. They discuss the placement of book covers, titles, reviews, and buttons, aiming for a visually appealing and user-friendly design. They experiment with different layouts and discuss the pros and cons of each. They also plan to share their design options with others for feedback and make final adjustments before implementing the design.

Takeaways

Time zones can be confusing, especially when scheduling meetings across different regions.
Designing the discussions prototype is progressing well, with positive feedback received.
The feed on Hardcover may be redesigned to include a discover feed, showcasing hot lists, prompts, and discussion topics.
Discussions on Hardcover will be owned by the book rather than individual readers or groups, allowing for broader participation.
The urine review design is underway, with considerations for navigation and section layout. Consider different layout options when displaying book covers and related information.
Balance visual appeal with user-friendliness in the design.
Experiment with different arrangements and gather feedback from others.
Make final adjustments before implementing the design.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Time Zones
01:17 Quiet Week and Cat Adventure
03:00 Working on Discussions Prototype
05:05 Feedback on Discussions Prototype
08:49 Redesigning the Feed
11:43 Future Plans for Discussions
16:19 Starting the Urine Review Design
19:00 Adding Navigation and Logo
21:09 Designing the Header Section
25:32 Designing the Section Cards
34:32 Designing the Most Read Books Section
41:53 Exploring Section Title Placement
45:15 Exploring Different Layouts
51:05 Considerations for Book Lists
56:33 Arranging Book Covers
01:03:27 Finalizing the Design
01:11:14 Reviewing the Design Options
01:13:03 Wrapping Up the Session

Summary

The conversation covers fall activities, hiking in Salt Lake City, playing Baldur's Gate 3, updates on the discussions feature, privacy settings, sorting and filtering options, and improving the filter icon. The conversation covers various topics related to the design and functionality of a book discussion platform. They discuss using SVGs, exploring fun elements to show, prioritizing post types and tags, arranging the layout of posts, adding book updates and mentions, sorting posts by priority, refining the design of post cards, removing the 'read the book' feature, discussing the purpose of post updates, choosing the format for book progress, considering different formats and options, brainstorming different ways to display progress, exploring different UI options for progress, focusing on the discussion progress, choosing between listening and reading progress, considering different labels for progress, exploring toggle options for progress, discussing the design of the progress toggle, finalizing the design for the progress toggle, and wrapping up the discussion.

Takeaways

Fall activities like hiking and enjoying the changing colors of the leaves are popular.
Salt Lake City offers beautiful hiking trails with different levels of difficulty.
Baldur's Gate 3 is a highly rated game with impressive character customization.
The discussions feature is being developed with options for privacy settings, sorting, and filtering. Using SVGs can be a quick and efficient way to design elements.
Prioritizing post types and tags can help organize discussions.
The design of post cards should be visually appealing and informative.
Book progress can be displayed in different formats depending on the user's preference.
The progress toggle should be intuitive and easy to use.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Fall Activities
03:30 Hiking in Salt Lake City
08:00 Playing Baldur's Gate 3
12:45 Updates on Discussions Feature
14:34 Privacy Settings for Discussions
17:08 Sorting and Filtering Options
32:03 Improving Filter Icon
44:10 Discussion about using SVGs
45:01 Exploring fun elements to show
46:07 Prioritizing post types and tags
47:24 Arranging the layout of posts
48:41 Adding book updates and mentions
50:57 Sorting posts by priority
51:12 Refining the design of post cards
51:19 Removing the 'read the book' feature
52:08 Discussing the purpose of post updates
53:05 Choosing the format for book progress
54:23 Considering different formats and options
55:38 Brainstorming different ways to display progress
58:17 Exploring different UI options for progress
59:23 Focusing on the discussion progress
01:01:41 Choosing between listening and reading progress
01:03:12 Considering different labels for progress
01:06:31 Exploring toggle options for progress
01:08:04 Discussing the design of the progress toggle
01:09:20 Finalizing the design for the progress toggle
01:10:50 Wrapping up the discussion