Shepherd
Consumer and social
book recommendations
SHOW HN2023
149points
76comments
#416of 3,109 in 2023
Top 14%of 2023 by points
How HN took it
MixedNo clear lean
4 positive, 6 neutral or asking, 4 mixed, 6 critical, out of 20 comments about the project. Thread score -0.10.
Design: 2 for, 2 againstIdea: 1 for, 1 againstExecution: 0 for, 1 againstDocs: 0 for, 1 againstPricing: 0 for, 1 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Clean design and good font choices
From 3 comments
This is very cool - I like the layout too (though I couldn't find a way to see a total list of authors surveyed, which I would have liked to see) (As an aside, always happy to…
datenyan on HNAs a web dev I really like your design choices and some great font choices.
qingcharles on HNI love the design and the site. but.. I am not liking the recommendations. I consider The Midnight Library to be one of the worst books I have read this year, but it has highest…
avinassh on HN
Interesting concept and useful author-curated lists
From 2 comments
It's a little sad that 1984 still sits near the top of the list for sci-fi favorite reads of the year in 2023. Not that it's a bad book by any means, but just because the genre…
freetime2 on HNI just signed up for shepherd last week (I still need to fill out the word template and get it back to you). Had no idea you were on Hacker News! Any competition against…
bogrollben on HN
Objections
Book descriptions are publisher marketing blurbs
From 2 comments
The idea is cool, but I have some suggestions. 1. Use links, when there’s a list, I open links in new tabs that I want to check. This is some kind of JS-only app that doesn’t…
Semaphor on HNI like this, thank you for building it. My wish is that the book blurbs were better. For instance I click on Demon Copperhead to learn "What is this book about?" And what I see…
NelsonMinar on HN
Genre miscategorization, fantasy mixed into sci-fi
From 2 comments
A “list of Sci-Fi” books is suspect with fantasy books in its mix. And if it’s meant to be a cross over, it should make that case. What am I to make from: “Award for Best Fantasy…
xtiansimon on HNSome of the books in sci fi are actually fantasy. Also it seems if I filter to 2023 published most of the books have very few people. It might be better to ask for 3 books for…
zeroonetwothree on HN
Links don't open in new tabs; JS-only navigation
From 2 comments
The idea is cool, but I have some suggestions. 1. Use links, when there’s a list, I open links in new tabs that I want to check. This is some kind of JS-only app that doesn’t…
Semaphor on HNNice concept. I don't like that open in new tab is broken though.
zerkten on HN
Recommendations skew toward popular non-sci-fi titles
From 1 comment
I love the design and the site. but.. I am not liking the recommendations. I consider The Midnight Library to be one of the worst books I have read this year, but it has highest…
avinassh on HN
Requests
Use real links for list items
From 1 comment
The idea is cool, but I have some suggestions. 1. Use links, when there’s a list, I open links in new tabs that I want to check. This is some kind of JS-only app that doesn’t…
Semaphor on HN
Better book descriptions
From 2 comments
The idea is cool, but I have some suggestions. 1. Use links, when there’s a list, I open links in new tabs that I want to check. This is some kind of JS-only app that doesn’t…
Semaphor on HNI like this, thank you for building it. My wish is that the book blurbs were better. For instance I click on Demon Copperhead to learn "What is this book about?" And what I see…
NelsonMinar on HN
Show a full list of surveyed authors
From 1 comment
This is very cool - I like the layout too (though I couldn't find a way to see a total list of authors surveyed, which I would have liked to see) (As an aside, always happy to…
datenyan on HN
Support translated and non-English books
From 2 comments
I get that HN is an english-language website from the US, and that I'm not entitled for this website to include me. Don't take this as personal criticism -- if anything I like…
infruset on HNThanks for your answer. I will try to clarify a bit. Of course we all know the books are going to be written in English. I am not trying to ask for an idiot-proof label stating…
infruset on HN
Questions
Whether the list is top 3 or top 5 per author, and whether it is by niche or general
From 1 comment
Nice site! I like the clean design and logical layout, but have some questions. Firstly you say it’s the top 3 books per author, but you ask for the top 5 in the “for authors”…
darajay on HN
Why certain popular books are missing or ranked high
From 2 comments
Surprised Walter isaacson book on musk didn’t show up.. I don’t read many books but that one I couldn’t put down..
uptownfunk on HNI love the design and the site. but.. I am not liking the recommendations. I consider The Midnight Library to be one of the worst books I have read this year, but it has highest…
avinassh on HN
Alternatives named
Goodreads
From 3 comments
The idea is cool, but I have some suggestions. 1. Use links, when there’s a list, I open links in new tabs that I want to check. This is some kind of JS-only app that doesn’t…
Semaphor on HNI like this, thank you for building it. My wish is that the book blurbs were better. For instance I click on Demon Copperhead to learn "What is this book about?" And what I see…
NelsonMinar on HNI just signed up for shepherd last week (I still need to fill out the word template and get it back to you). Had no idea you were on Hacker News! Any competition against…
bogrollben on HN