Nobody knows how many books are published each year. Bowker, the agency in the US responsible for issuing ISBNs doesn't have the answer. Other estimates back in 2013 put the number worldwide at ~2.2 million books—almost a decade ago. With indie and digital publishing it has become impossible to count. E-books don't require an ISBN number. Most books don't end up registered with the Copyright Office in the US (protection exists from the moment a book is created).
So how, in this ongoing, never-ending tsunami of books, is anyone able to find the books that they want?
Turns out, it isn't actually that hard.
A whole bunch of factors filter down all the new books and existing books.
Is the book written in a language you read?
Is it available? This goes for existing books too, as many out-of-print books still aren't available digitally either.
Is it the sort of book you're looking to read?
Nonfiction or fiction?
The subject or genre you're interested in?
Going with fiction, is it by an author you've enjoyed before?
Did a friend or loved one recommend the book?
Did someone else—librarian, reviewer, or Oprah—recommend the book?
By the time you've gone through all of those possibilities, the pool of books that offer what you're seeking is much smaller. By that point you might have it on your #tbrpile or are actively searching for it in the search engine of your choice.
Here's the thing that always surprises me—that anyone has trouble figuring out what to read next.
Don't you have more books to read than time? I do!
Still, if you do need help finding your next book, one of the sources listed above is probably your best bet. Given the endless number of books available, we do the only thing possible and go with trusted sources.
It's something I end up pointing out to library staff in my job—it doesn't matter how much space we have, we can't possibly even come close to the number of books potentially available. We do listen to library users and do our best to get books that they'll enjoy. Our selectors scour reviews and trusted sources, consider available data, feedback and requests from library users, and look at holdings at other libraries. It works pretty well at building a dynamic and living collection.
And our interests change from day to day and moment to moment. Like food or movies, it matters what we're in the mood for when we want to read. That's why I typically have multiple books across a variety of formats that I'm reading. I'll have audiobooks I want to listen to, books I'm reading on one of my e-readers, and titles I'm reading in print. I'll have books that I purchased and those that I borrowed from the library. Every day, when I look around, I see books.
Books inspire me. Enrich my life. They've been at the heart of my librarian career and my lifelong desire to write and publish my own stories. It's a readinary life.
Thanks for being a reader and joining me in this adventure. Hope you get to spend the day in a hammock with a good book.
Best wishes, always — Ryan
If you haven't checked out my Dead Things series, all the books and novellas are available on my site right now—pay what you want. Or you can pick them up retail if you prefer.