Keeping Track of My Reading

Michael Kinch
Michael Kinch Member Posts: 1,208 ✭✭✭
edited November 2024 in English Forum

Most of my books are in Logos but I also have print volumes and some in other digital formats. I am looking for a way to keep track of what books I have, what I have  read etc. I have created a note file for this but there might be a better way. What do you suggest? 

Comments

  • Rosie Perera
    Rosie Perera Member Posts: 26,194 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I know this is probably sacrilege for Logos users, but I use Excel to keep track of what books I've read, whether print or Logos or Kindle books.

    Keeping track of what I own involves a combination of methods. Logos books are all kept track of in my Logos library. Kindle books in my Kindle library. And for my print books, I've kept an Excel spreadsheet for years which lists all my dead tree books. I have not sought a way to merge these all into one database. Logos does have the capability of keeping track of a "Print Library" but it seems like too much redundant work to re-enter all my print books into Logos when I already have them listed in Excel.

    I also keep track of which Logos books I've read using a system of tags: TOREAD = I want to read this; READING = I'm in the middle of it; FINISHED = I've read it. (I use FINISHED instead of READ, since searching for the tag READ would find TOREAD and READING too, which I wouldn't want).

    I also keep track of which Kindle books I've read using Kindle collections, using the same naming scheme.

  • Michael Kinch
    Michael Kinch Member Posts: 1,208 ✭✭✭

    Thanks Rosie. I agree Excel is a great option. I have set up an Excel file with column headings for Title, Author, Format, Status, Date Started and Date Finished. I will then be able to sort by any of my columns and keep track of where I am. I can also add notes in a comments column. I like your tagging system for Logos. 

  • JT (alabama24)
    JT (alabama24) MVP Posts: 36,523

    I use GoodReads, which is owned by Amazon. It has social media features, but I do not use those. It has both a website and Apps for smartphones (iPhone, Android). It is great to have a list of "currently reading," "want to read," "read," and "read in 2023" (etc.). 

    macOS, iOS & iPadOS |Logs| Install
    Choose Truth Over Tribe | Become a Joyful Outsider!

  • Michael Kinch
    Michael Kinch Member Posts: 1,208 ✭✭✭

    Thanks JT. I have used GoodReads as well but had some problems with it. It didn't aways recognize my completed books in computing my progress towards my goals for the year. Maybe I will revisit it. Thanks for the reminder.

  • Dave Hooton
    Dave Hooton MVP Posts: 36,143

    For books in Logos, try the Bibliography tool. It has Notes and it can record your read status. It can use Docs Search.

    Dave
    ===

    Windows 11 & Android 13

  • PL
    PL Member Posts: 2,159 ✭✭✭

    Just curious, so far no one relies on Logos' built in tracking?

    In the sidebar of Logos' library window, there are these filters:

    Reading Status
    - Unread
    - Reading
    - Finished

  • Bruce Dunning
    Bruce Dunning MVP Posts: 11,161

    I also keep track of which Logos books I've read using a system of tags: TOREAD = I want to read this; READING = I'm in the middle of it; FINISHED = I've read it. (I use FINISHED instead of READ, since searching for the tag READ would find TOREAD and READING too, which I wouldn't want).

    I also have used tags to keep track of my reading progress within Logos. Of course these do not list the books I've read outside of Logos and must be done some other way.

    Using adventure and community to challenge young people to continually say "yes" to God

  • Michael Kinch
    Michael Kinch Member Posts: 1,208 ✭✭✭

    PL said:

    Just curious, so far no one relies on Logos' built in tracking?

    In the sidebar of Logos' library window, there are these filters:

    Reading Status
    - Unread
    - Reading
    - Finished

    Thanks for the reminder. For me the reading status has not worked well. If I open a book it will think I am reading it and often when I am finishing a book unless I designate it as completed it looks like I am still reading it. Usually it shows about 98% completed. Still It is a good tool to use.

  • PL
    PL Member Posts: 2,159 ✭✭✭

    Another trick:

    • In the library window, click on the top of the first column, where the "Reading Status" green/grey circles are shown.
    • It will sort your books into the same 3 buckets: Reading, Unread, Finished.
    • When you expand the "Reading" bucket, your books are sorted by the % read, according to Logos.
    • You can sort that column in ascending or descending order. So within "Reading," you can choose to see the "most read" books first, or the "least read" books first.

    Logos / Mark Barnes:

    May I suggest Logos refine the 3 reading status buckets into 5 categories:

    • Unread: 0%
    • Just Started: 1-10%
    • Reading: 11-90%
    • Almost Finished: 91-97%
    • Finished: 98-100%
  • JT (alabama24)
    JT (alabama24) MVP Posts: 36,523

    It didn't aways recognize my completed books in computing my progress towards my goals for the year

    I have never had that problem. Of course, if you forget to tell it you are reading a book and then "mark complete," it won't know. 

    macOS, iOS & iPadOS |Logs| Install
    Choose Truth Over Tribe | Become a Joyful Outsider!

  • DMB
    DMB Member Posts: 14,356 ✭✭✭✭

    PL said:

    May I suggest Logos refine the 3 reading status buckets into 5 categories:

    It definitely needs help.  I checked my library.  Over 14 years (Logos4), I finished 16 books!!  My pet turtle reads faster (joking). The remaining thousands of books are in various levels ... mainly because I read until I'm done ... not until the book ends.

    "If myth is ideology in narrative form, then scholarship is myth with footnotes." B. Lincolm 1999.

  • PL
    PL Member Posts: 2,159 ✭✭✭

    Would also be nice if Logos allows us to manually override the reading status (e.g. on the book's Info page)

  • MJ. Smith
    MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 54,945

    PL said:

    Would also be nice if Logos allows us to manually override the reading status (e.g. on the book's Info page)

    I assume you know you can reset it to unread or set it to read.

    Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."

  • Michael Kinch
    Michael Kinch Member Posts: 1,208 ✭✭✭

    Thanks everyone for your helpful comments. 

  • Dave Hooton
    Dave Hooton MVP Posts: 36,143

    Thanks for the reminder. For me the reading status has not worked well.

    It also resets for a fresh/new installation (as are dates Updated/Added).

    Dave
    ===

    Windows 11 & Android 13

  • DMB
    DMB Member Posts: 14,356 ✭✭✭✭

    It also resets for a fresh/new installation

    Well now, that explains why my turtle was reading more than me!

    "If myth is ideology in narrative form, then scholarship is myth with footnotes." B. Lincolm 1999.

  • PL
    PL Member Posts: 2,159 ✭✭✭

    MJ. Smith said:

    I assume you know you can reset it to unread or set it to read.

    No I don't... how do we do that?

  • PL
    PL Member Posts: 2,159 ✭✭✭

    It also resets for a fresh/new installation (as are dates Updated/Added).

    I did not know that either. That's strange. Shouldn't reading status and Updated/Added dates carry forward when one installs Logos on a new computer?

  • MJ. Smith
    MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 54,945

    Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."

  • Dave Hooton
    Dave Hooton MVP Posts: 36,143

    PL said:

    It also resets for a fresh/new installation (as are dates Updated/Added).

    I did not know that either. That's strange. Shouldn't reading status and Updated/Added dates carry forward when one installs Logos on a new computer?

    I stand corrected. With three installations, I had similar figures with two and one (the least used)  was different. But after Updates had settled, they all had the exact same figures for Reading Status. Dates Updated/Added are not carried forward.

    Dave
    ===

    Windows 11 & Android 13