Have you been looking for a particular book but missed the title? Maybe someone you’ve only met once recommended it, or you heard a short clip about it on TV or the radio and it piqued your interest.
No matter the reason, there are several ways to track down and find that book, even if you remember very little about it, including the author’s name.
In this article, we’ll look at several search engines built specifically for book searchers and some suggestions if they’re not getting the job done.
Details are the key
You may not remember the title of the book, but you obviously remember something about it. So the first step is to delve into your memory and remember as many details as possible.
Write down everything you can remember about the book. Things like the genre and the approximate year it was published can help you during your search. If it’s a fiction book, try to remember the name of one of the characters, or perhaps the plot, something that makes this book unique. Any details you can remember will help you select the right keywords or phrases to use when searching online.
google books
Everyone is familiar with the Google search engine. It is so popular that “Google it” has become part of our vernacular. But do you know that there is a deeper level to the Google search engine? Created especially for book lovers, google books is a good place to start your search.
Just as you would with any Google search, write down as many details as you can remember about the book. Google will allow you to use 32 keywords, so feel free to include as many details as you can remember. Your Google Books search will only return books, thus eliminating many unnecessary search results.
You can also delve deeper into Google Books with a Advanced search. Here you will find more specific search parameters. It is highly doubtful that you will remember the intended standard book number (ISBN) of a book, but you can perform a search using this identifying information. The impressive thing is that not only can you search for a book by the author’s name or publisher, but you can also search by a phrase you remember from the book.
book finder
Google is not the only search engine available, especially if you are trying to locate a specific book without knowing its title. It is best to use all the resources at your disposal and book finder is another tool that could help you with your search. Simply type in all the keywords and phrases related to the book that you remember and click the search button.
Amazon
This global giant of online retail services is a very popular company that sells everything. Most people looking for an online purchase or information about a product know how to search on Amazon. But did you know that it has a powerful search engine dedicated to books?
He Amazon Advanced Book Search is a powerful tool for finding a book whose title you don’t remember. You can search by author or publisher and narrow your search by selecting a topic such as history or romance. Using a keyword search, you can use descriptive words or phrases that best describe the title of the book. If you can’t locate the book here, it’s probably long out of print. That doesn’t mean it’s not available to buy used, but it could make your search difficult.
Big Book Search
Another way to find that elusive book is to use a pretty interesting search engine called Big Book Search. What sets it apart from most others is that your search results will be images of book covers that match your search parameters. This unique online tool could help you if you remember what the cover of the book looks like. Although this search engine is geared toward searching by author or book title, try searching with keywords or phrases that describe the book you are looking for.
Library of Congress
He Library of Congress It is the largest library on the planet with literally millions of books cataloged. Although it is primarily used by researchers searching for obscure information, anyone can use its online search engine.
As with all search engines, simply type in as many details as you can about the book, press Enter, and cross your fingers. An interesting service that the Library of Congress offers is the “Ask a librarian” feature. You can email them with as many details as you remember about the book and maybe they can help you find the title.
LibraryThing
To tap into the hive mind of the avid book reading community, you can try posting your question on LibraryThing. This unique website could be the key that opens the door to the book you are looking for. Simply create a free account and post a post asking if anyone knows about the book. Unlike using a search engine and limiting yourself to keywords, here you can give all the details of the book that you remember.
FictionDB
Built specifically to locate books, FictionDB It is a search engine that can find the book you don’t remember. You can start with a basic search using the search window at the top of the page. But if you scroll down a little, you will see an advanced search section. Here you can search by the usual criteria, but you will also have the option to search with a summary or description of the plot or content of the book.
Ask in online communities and groups
If after trying several different search engines you haven’t found the book, there are other resources you can try. Social media can be a great source of information and a great place to ask questions and gather information. If you use Facebook or Reddit, look for groups that focus on books or reading. Join these groups and post your question there. If the book you’re trying to find is about a murder, mystery, or science fiction, look for groups that focus on those types of books.
Libraries and bookstores
If all else fails and you’ve run out, you can always go to your local public library and ask there. Libraries generally employ avid readers and there is a chance that someone knows the book he is looking for. If not, they may know someone who does.
Small, independent bookstores are also another great source of information. Unlike large bookstore chains, small bookstores often have passionate staff whose literary tastes can run the gamut. Try visiting one and talking to him about the book whose title you don’t remember. Someone there may know exactly what you’re looking for.
Some details can be of great help
With so many search engines available, it makes sense to try them all, especially those designed for searching for books. Amazon has a great search engine for finding books, as does Google. Social media groups dedicated to reading or a particular genre of books could also provide you with that title you’ve forgotten. Libraries and independent bookstores are also good places to ask.
