Amazonia

8 April, 2008

I have a little bit of an obsession that I would like to share with you today…

It’s a little bit pathetic really, but I love checking out the books that amazon recommends for me to read.

To enlighten those of you from planet Zog-Alpha, I’m not talking about the big area of trees around the equator in south America.

You may not have realised it but amazon analyses everything you buy, and uses your purchase and browsing history to make recommendations to you.

I don’t have much of a problem with this, it’s usually pretty good with it’s recommendations… Their suggestions program does seem to get a little obsessive sometimes though, and seems to promote certain topics above others.

This is the list of books that amazon currently recommends for me:

CosmosCosmos
by Carl Sagan (Aug 11, 1983)
Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars (14)
In stock

A Personal View of the Search for GodThe Varieties of Scientific Experience: A Personal View of the Search for God
by Carl Sagan (Nov 2, 2006)
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars (3)
In stock

Essential Readings for the Non-believerPortable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Non-Believer: Essential Readings for the Non-believer
by Christopher Hitchens (Nov 15, 2007)
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars (6)
In stock

Catch-22Catch-22
by Joseph Heller (Oct 6, 1994)
Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars (122)
In stock

The Catcher in the RyeThe Catcher in the Rye
by J.D. Salinger (Aug 4, 1994)
Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars (230)
In stock

A Fairy Story (Penguin Modern Classics)Animal Farm: A Fairy Story (Penguin Modern Classics)
by George Orwell (Feb 24, 2000)
Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars (46)
In stock

Religion as a Natural PhenomenonBreaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon
by Daniel C. Dennett (Mar 29, 2007)
Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars (18)
In stock

Science, Delusion and the Appetite for WonderUnweaving the Rainbow: Science, Delusion and the Appetite for Wonder
by Richard Dawkins (April 6, 2006)
Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars (14)
In stock

The Case Against ReligionGod Is Not Great: The Case Against Religion
by Christopher Hitchens (Jun 10, 2007)
Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars (67)
In stock

StardustStardust
by Neil Gaiman (Sep 19, 2005)
Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars (55)
In stock

Griffin's StoryJumper: Griffin’s Story
by Steven Gould (Feb 4, 2008)
Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars (2)
In stock

The Author's Preferred TextNeverwhere: The Author’s Preferred Text
by Neil Gaiman (Sep 19, 2005)
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars (24)
Not in stock

How to be a Good AtheistHow to be a Good Atheist
by Nick Harding (Oct 18, 2007)
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars (2)
In stock

The Selfish GeneThe Selfish Gene
by Richard Dawkins (Mar 16, 2006)
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars (66)
In stock

Religion, Terror, and the Future of ReasonThe End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason
by Sam Harris (Feb 6, 2006)
Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars (53)
In stock

Anyone care to guess which one book seems to have influenced this list more than any other?

At least it’s dropped it’s last obsession… It seemed to get quite excited when it realised I was ordering gay themed books (not smutty stuff). Every book on this list then was gay lit then.

I do wish it would come up with something off the wall sometimes though, and actually make a suggestion based on the multiple books in various different categories that I read… rather than just going through a list of popular books from a theme.

I would love to see it suggest to me a novel about a gay athiest with hints of scifi/scifact, environmentalism and Travel… and best throw in some aliens for good measure too.

Posted by Aaron
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