5 Social Media Sources to Fire Up Your Summer Reading

Summer reading is a time-honored tradition for both students who have to adhere to school lists and adults who just want a great beach read. These days, social media can help you get excited about reading in the season that was made for it.

Twitter

Tweets are meant to provide snapshots of information — perfect for readers who wouldn’t want anyone to give away the whole plot. Some book lovers have also taken the initiative to launch book reviews on Twitter, like Book_Blog which connects you to her blog with direct links to Amazon to make book purchasing easy.

Another way to get enthusiastic about books through Twitter is to follow the various bookstores that tweet not only about books, but the events that they are offering. The Harvard Book Store account is a good example, regularly updating followers on special events at the store. They recently tweeted “Carl Hiaasen tonight! Tickets still available!” Readers will want to devour his books just so that they can attend these events and meet other well-read people.

Facebook

For many, Facebook is a site that takes time away from reading. But this social network is king for connecting over any shared interest, books included. On Facebook, you can search for books and immediately get a page with the Wikipedia entry, related posts by friends and related global posts.

You can also tell how popular a book is by seeing how many people like it. Search for Stieg Larsson’s The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, for instance, and you can find out that 57,144 people currently like it — a good sign that this title would make a worthy addition to your summer bookshelf.

iPhone apps

The Classics app for the iPhone makes those old dusty classics — the staple of most school reading lists — come alive again for your summer enjoyment. The app was launched last summer, and has been adding more and more titles to its library.

For $2.99, iPhone users can download the app to read classics like Pride and Prejudice and Robinson Crusoe, complete with fun illustrations. Even though these classics may not be the mindless pageturners that some summer readers are looking for, this app makes them feel fresh again by blending timeless authors with new technology.

Foursquare

Foursquare serves as the perfect reminder that books are everywhere. Sometimes reading in the summer requires a little motivation — no matter how fluffy the title you intend to devour is.

A great way to get excited about books is to check out library locations on Foursquare. The New York Public Library, for example, has had 3,202 check-ins to date. And by checking in at your local library, which is more likely to have fewer Foursquare users, you can become the mayor of that location after just a few visits — the perfect reason to keep returning and checking out more books (for free!)

YouTube

Again, a site that allows you to watch anything from broken up television shows to kids doing stunts at skateboard parks might seem the antithesis of reading. But YouTube can help you get inspired to read, give you great analysis of books and provide teaser videos that offer ideas for what to read next.

The Borders Book Club, for example, is part of the book store’s media center. Their interviews with authors — such as their interview with Twilight author Stephanie Meyer — are easy to find on YouTube. Watching authors talk about their books in their own words can make you more curious about their work and foster that personal connection with your paperback. Summer is the time of year when you might have more time to delve into a book; YouTube can help you learn more about authors to create a more fulfilling literary experience.

Join Baratunde Thurston (left), The Onion’s Director of Digital and author of How to Be Black, for an entertaining look at creative social media campaigns in our Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting February 16. Other speakers include Morin Oluwole (Facebook), Tim Devane (bitly), and SocialTimes' writer Devon Glenn.   Register now.