Off-Topic: The Story of an Internet Revolt
Its worth reading this book for people who are active here, but it is a bit repetitive and overblown at times. Fundamentally, we are just discussing a website and it doesn't really matter. So the rhetoric is over the top. However, I have contributed quite a bit of content to Goodreads and Goodreads does not seem to understand its business model.If they continue to tolerate authors behaving badly and all this sock puppet activity by authors, they will get a reputation for unreliability and everyone, will just move elsewhere.
There is not a great deal that is ground shaking about Goodreads and it could be replaced easily and will be, if they don't stop letting themselves be used by unscrupulous authors and side with authors who have readerships measured in the dozens over their top reviewers.
I understand that Goodreads has to protect itself against libel suits, but there is nothing to stop them removing bogus reviews and sock puppets. Otherwise, people will go elsewhere.
