Guide
How to track your reading without social media
Many reading trackers are built around a public profile: followers, reviews for strangers and recommendations from a store. That suits some readers. Others just want a private record of what they read and what they thought of it. Here is how to do that.
Why keep your reading private
- You read for yourself, not for an audience.
- You can be honest in notes and ratings.
- You avoid comparing your pace with other people.
- Your reading history is not used to sell you things.
What to record
Keep it simple so you actually do it. Useful fields are title, author, format, start date, finish date, status and a rating or a few words. If you like, add favorite quotes and notes, and tags such as genre or where the recommendation came from.
Option 1: A paper notebook
A notebook is private, cheap and pleasant to keep. Use one page per book or one line per book with a longer notes section in the back. The downside is search: finding the book you read three years ago takes time.
Option 2: A spreadsheet
A spreadsheet is free and easy to sort and count. Make columns for the fields above. It is less pleasant on a phone and does not handle quotes and longer notes very well.
Option 3: A private reading app
A tracker app is the fastest way to log a book while you are holding it. If privacy matters, look for one that does not require an account, has no social feed, keeps data on your device and lets you export your history.
Make it a habit
- Log a book when you start it, not only when you finish.
- Write one line when you finish, while it is fresh.
- Review your list at the end of each month or year.
A tool that can help
LoverOfBooks is a private reading tracker with no social feed and no account required. It keeps physical books, e-books and audiobooks in one library, lets you add books by search, barcode or by hand, and supports shelves, tags, goals, notes and quotes. Your data stays on the phone and you can export it.