Amazon's Kindle Unlimited: Netflix for Books? - Comments Page 1

You've probably already noticed this, but "Hatchette" should be "Hachette." I really enjoy the newsletter.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks, fixed!

Will you pay ten dollars a month for all the ebooks you can read?

No --- instead I prefer a nice IFTTT script that provides me with notices of free Kindle content; e.g., https://ifttt.com/myrecipes/personal/2301772

How many CAN you read in a month?

Since one fine summer day, I read eight books (no, I didn't do much else) .... ;)

I currently have about a two hour commute via public transportation so I'm generally reading about three-four books/week.

i get almost all the e-books i read from my county public library system. there's a short wait sometimes, but i have a huge collection of free classics on my Kindle i'll probably never get to in my lifetime to keep me satisfied until the book i want is available. so no, i don't need to pay a subscription fee for books.

and how is this better than the public library's program where you can use all their books for free??

I publish children's books on Kindle and have (up until now) accepted the "exclusive" Kindle option to maximize my income from that source. It's not a big amount, but it helps pay the bills. I was dismayed to see the changes to KDP, because I think a lot of people will have the "WalMart" attitude toward e books...go for the lowest price, without considering what that does to the entire US economy and it's trickle-down (yeah, Ronnie) effects to everyone, including those "savvy" buyers.

I am also a voracious reader...my count is closer to 8 to 10 volumes per month, plus all the other info sources. But...I really prefer the old bound paper books...there's a sensory satisfaction no e reader can provide, plus it's much better for your eyes than looking directly into a light source (your screen) for long periods of time. Yeah, I know, I publish on KDP but I don't use an e reader? :)

This is an interesting offer from Amazon. I probably don't read enough to warrant making the commitment. I usually crank out 1-2 books a month - so say an average of 1.5. Not sure its worth it for me. When rumors were floating around about this, I was hoping they would offer it at a reduced price to Amazon Prime members - say $4 or $5. Then it would really be tempting. The other question is going to be how many books and from what publishers/authors? In the meantime, the Kindle Lending Library has been a pretty good benefit of Prime membership.

I don't see anything in this article concerning netflix for books? Am i blind?

EDITOR'S NOTE: What I meant to say was that Kindle Unlimited is like Netflix, but for books instead of movies.

Nope. I wouldn't pay $10/month for all-you-can-read. I get it free from the library. To be sure, our library has severe budget constraints, so it doesn't have all the newest e-books, but I can always find something to read. And I don't use a Kindle; I use my tablet.

Using the info you provided I checked out the authors I download and read regularly and most of them are published by Penguin so for the most part Kindle Unlimited is useless. Since Amazon is offering a 30 day free trial I will give it a look, but I doubt I will subscribe going forward.
Since I'm a voracious reader and my eyes appreciate back-lit text eBooks have become the new normal for me. 4 books a month is laughable--for me 4 books a week is more like it.
Oh, and one other note, I will make sure I read at least 10% of any Amazon eBook whether I like it or not.

I get the majority of my e-books for free at my state's downloadable library site. I may have to be on a wait list until a copy becomes available but it doesn't bother me. I often download the free books Amazon offers periodically. I also subscribe to Kobo Books.

I would advise indie authors not to sign up to Kindle Select. If you do, you have to sign away your right to offer your book through any other distributor, in exchange for an unknown share of the global revenue fund, a share which Amazon can alter at any time. Also as stated in the article, authors get nothing if the reader doesn't read at least 10% of the book.

You self-publish to get away from controlling traditional publishers. Don't voluntarily give up your control to the likes of Amazon.

In general, this is a rip-off. Support your local library and go there to get a book. Nothing like the feel of one in your hands. Let the market review the books and sift the best from the ordinary. Then go to the library. Or borrow it. Or put an ad on Freecycle.

Since I retired, I have rediscovered the public library. It's wonderful! I now buy almost no new books. The Kindle Unlimited doesn't appear to offer the books I want anyway.

I am currently in the process of trying Amazon Kindle Unlimited out for 30 days. I am an avid reader and enjoy it. Since I started my trial period I have read books valued at over $50. I am on a fixed income and would not be able to afford to read these books otherwise. I am retired and this is my hobby along with sewing, crocheting, woodworking and crafts. For me it would appear to be a win win situation even at the $9.99 monthly price. thank you

I am retired and I do not average reading 2 books per month. I used to read more. That is, before the age of the Internet

Remember the Motorola Razr and flip phones? Remem ber how well they worked as TELEPHONES? Clear duplex transmission? I love my recent smartphones (e.g. my Samsung Note 3. Have you seen/heard any reviews on current smartphones that are better at duplex, two-way voice than others? Back in "the day" the phones were dependable for conference calls - no longer. The voices are delayed and less clear.
Thanks LOVE YOUR MATERIAL. Keep it comin'.

Kindle Direct Publishing not only protects authors from the obfuscating details from publishing, it also protects them from editors. I don't think I've read a KDP book yet that didn't need some attention --- even blatant punctuation and spelling errors, let alone some good old English teacher constructive criticism.

I'm sorry to hear that authors are paid so little and I agree with Hachette about the Walmart type pressures. I also agree that "unlimited" isn't such a great deal. Even if the only reading I did was on the Kindle, I couldn't do more than 4 books/month --- especially since I like long ones. I'm a voracious reader but I read regular paper books too.

I just subscribed to your newsletter. I wanted to tell you that so far I am enjoying your information and your writing style very much. For my BA I was an English major & I'm 72 next month, and you have already made me Google a word. Thank you.

Have you checked out https://www.bookbub.com/? It's a free service that directs you to free or cheap ebooks based upon the type of ereader you have. Obviously you aren't going to get books on the bestseller list, but you may be able to score books that are newly released or books in the middle of a series when a new one is expected to be released.

This is better for me in many ways because I only read about a book a month.

I am an audible reader & "read" so little that any books to read for $/mo deal is not a good deal.

However, it appears that in another money loosing offer that Amazon has connected with AMEX & if I spend $20 or more on buying books from Amazon usung my AMEX card,I will get a $20 credit on my AMEX statement! We used to call that "A Loss Leader". Amazon??

Some years ago when Amazon notified me that my card info & account info @ Amazon had been hacked, I closed my account & have not put my info back into their system. What I need I can usually get elsewhere like Wal Mart online!