How Did Goodreads Get So Bad?
Culture Study Podcast
Anne Helen Petersen
4.6 • 637 Ratings
🗓️ 1 May 2024
⏱️ 52 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
A platform where you can record what you’re reading and talk to others about what they’re reading doesn’t sound like a recipe for dystopia. But throw in a negligent billionaire conglomerate owner, optimization culture, and a competitive industry in which the line between reader and author is continually blurred… and you have a legitimate book lover’s hellscape. In other words: Goodreads! Today, I’m joined by book lover and book critic Maris Kreizman to talk about the rot at the heart of the platform, what feeds it, and whether there’s any hope of salvaging the entire enterprise. (Plus: a special bonus section where we give advice about dealing with self-imposed pressure to read X number of books a year). Also: it doesn’t matter if you’ve never gone on Goodreads in your life. If you read books, if you’re interested in the way we talk and think about books, you’re going to appreciate this episode.
Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world. If you're already a subscriber-- thank you! Join us in the discussion thread for this episode! Got a question or idea for a future episode? Let us know here.Thanks to Bookshop.org for sponsoring today's episode! Use promo code CULTURE to get 10% off your next purchase.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This episode of the Culture Study podcast is brought to you by bookshop.org. |
| 0:05.2 | Whether you're looking for a buzzing new memoir or a riveting true crime or a fantasy novel |
| 0:10.2 | that absolutely immerses you for your entire week, bookshop.org has just the book you're |
| 0:16.4 | looking for. And when you purchase from bookshop.org, you're supporting local independent bookstores |
| 0:21.6 | so they can continue to foster culture, curiosity, and a love of reading in your community. |
| 0:27.3 | Right now, I'm reading Tommy Orange's Wandering Stars, which you can get on Bookshop.org. |
| 0:32.2 | It was actually a featured read a little while ago. And it's amazing. I also love linking out to bookshop.org for all of the books |
| 0:39.9 | that we feature here on the culture study podcast and in the culture study newsletter, |
| 0:44.1 | because it's a really great way if for some reason you are not in proximity to your local bookstore |
| 0:49.4 | for you to support it because there's money that comes from every sale and goes directly to the |
| 0:54.6 | bookstore of your choice. In just over four years, Bookshop.org has raised over $30 million |
| 1:00.0 | for local bookstores. They're unapologetically anti-Amazon, and they believe local |
| 1:05.0 | bookstores are essential community hubs that foster culture, curiosity, and a love of reading. |
| 1:10.4 | Bookshop.org is committed to helping |
| 1:12.1 | them survive and thrive. They're a certified B-Corp and were named Best for the World by B-Labs. |
| 1:17.4 | So feel good about where you buy books. And right now you can use the code culture to get 10% |
| 1:22.9 | off your next order at bookshop.org. That's promo code culture for 10% off your next favorite book at |
| 1:29.3 | bookshop.org. And thank you so much to bookshop.org for sponsoring this episode. |
| 1:36.8 | Melody was like, oh, what should we do for our cold open? Like, how can we start it? And I was thinking, |
| 1:41.7 | oh, I could go look at some of my goodreads, like, because I never, |
| 1:47.4 | ever look at them. |
| 1:48.8 | And I was like, oh, I'll just go look at the ones from, like the one-star reviews for my first |
... |
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