TOP 7 Ways To Read Free Books Online | Audiobook and Ebook Apps | Get Books Without Spending Money

fandomnewbie
5 Apr 202110:26

TLDRThe video script introduces viewers to various legal methods to access books for free, highlighting platforms like Open Library, Google Books, iBooks, Project Gutenberg, Digital Book, Narrative Magazine, Tor.com, Smashwords, and Bookbub. It also mentions an affordable audiobook app, Storytel, popular in India. The presenter emphasizes the ease of finding classics, short stories, essays, and audiobooks, as well as the affordability of such resources, encouraging viewers to explore these options for their reading and listening pleasure.

Takeaways

  • 📚 Open Library offers a vast digital collection of books that can be borrowed for 14 days at no cost.
  • 🎓 Public domain books, including classic literature, are freely accessible on platforms like Google Books and iBooks.
  • 📖 Project Gutenberg (gutenberg.com) is a valuable resource for finding books in the public domain.
  • 🎧 DigitalBook.io provides a selection of public domain audiobooks for those who prefer listening over reading.
  • 🖋 Narrative Magazine (narrativemagazine.com) is a platform for unpublished authors to share their short stories, essays, and poetry.
  • 🌌 Tor.com (tour.com) caters to fantasy and science fiction enthusiasts by offering works from unpublished authors.
  • 📚 Smashwords.com features a collection of free e-books across various genres, including horror, thriller, and graphic novels.
  • 📦 BookBub.com curates a list of free books from multiple online bookstores, making it easier to find and download them.
  • 🎧 Storytel offers an affordable subscription service for audiobook enthusiasts, with a vast library of titles available in India.
  • 👍 The video provides a comprehensive guide to legal and free resources for accessing a wide range of books and audiobooks.
  • 📈 Each resource mentioned in the video has its unique offerings, catering to different reading and listening preferences.

Q & A

  • What is the main goal of Open Library?

    -The main goal of Open Library is to make every single book that has ever been published available on their platform for free to everyone.

  • How does the borrowing system work on Open Library?

    -On Open Library, you can't permanently download and keep the books. Instead, you have to borrow them for a period of 14 days.

  • What are Public Domain books and where can they be accessed?

    -Public Domain books are really old books or books whose copyright has expired. They can be accessed on Google Books for Android users and on iBooks for Apple users.

  • How can you find Public Domain books on iBooks?

    -By going into the bookstore tab of iBooks, you should be able to see every single book that is in the public domain. You can also search for classic titles directly.

  • What happens to books as they enter the Public Domain?

    -Every year, new books have their copyrights expire and are added to the Public Domain. You can find these books on websites like Project Gutenberg (gutenberg.com).

  • What type of content can be found on Digital Book dot io?

    -Digital Book dot io offers audio books that are in the Public Domain, including classics and historical books.

  • How does Narrative Magazine differ from other online resources mentioned in the script?

    -Narrative Magazine is unique because it's a platform for unpublished authors to share their short stories, essays, and poems across different genres.

  • What kind of content can readers expect on Tor.com?

    -Tor.com is a website dedicated to fantasy and science fiction lovers, where unpublished authors can present their works, including short stories, books, and novellas.

  • What does Smashwords.com offer to its users?

    -Smashwords.com offers an extensive collection of books available for free. Users can browse through different genres and find books in formats like horror, thriller, and graphic novels.

  • How does BookBub make finding free books easier?

    -BookBub curates a list of all the books available for free on the internet, mainly from Amazon. It saves users time by compiling these books in one place and providing direct links to Amazon for a hassle-free checkout process.

  • What is Storytel and why is it recommended in the script?

    -Storytel is an app that provides access to a vast library of audio books for a monthly subscription fee. It is recommended because of its affordability and the wide range of books and series it offers.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Discovering Free Reading Resources

This paragraph introduces the video's focus on legal ways to access books for free, including various formats such as short stories, poems, and audiobooks. The first resource discussed is Open Library, an online digital library aiming to make all published books available for free. Users can borrow books for 14 days, which is considered sufficient to complete reading. The video also mentions the availability of public domain books on platforms like Google Books and iBooks, which include classic works whose copyrights have expired.

05:01

📖 Exploring Public Domain and Digital Platforms

The paragraph delves into public domain books, which are accessible on sites like Project Gutenberg and can be updated annually as copyrights expire. It also highlights Digital Book.io for audiobooks in the public domain, offering classics and historical works in audio format. Additionally, the paragraph introduces Narrative Magazine and Tor.com as platforms for unpublished authors to share their short stories, essays, and poems, catering to various genres and interests, particularly in fantasy and science fiction.

10:02

🎧 Audiobooks and Affordable Reading Options

This section discusses the availability of free books on Smashwords.com and the variety of genres available, including horror, thriller, and graphic novels. It then introduces Bookbub.com, a website that curates a list of free books from various online bookstores, simplifying the process of finding free reads. The paragraph also mentions the Storytell app as an affordable option for listening to audiobooks, detailing its subscription cost in India and the extensive library it offers, including popular series and books.

👋 Conclusion and Call to Action

The video concludes with a recap of the various resources shared for accessing free books and encourages viewers to utilize these platforms. It also invites viewers to engage with the content by liking the video, leaving comments, and subscribing for more book-related content. The host expresses hope that the information provided was useful and engaging for the audience.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Open Library

Open Library is an online digital library that aims to make every book ever published available for free to everyone. It operates like a physical library where users can sign up, log in, browse, and borrow books for a limited period, typically 14 days. This service is highlighted in the video as a legal way to access books without cost, emphasizing its value as a resource for reading a wide range of books online.

💡Public Domain Books

Public Domain Books refer to literary works whose copyright has expired or are old enough to no longer be protected by copyright laws. These books are available for the public to access and use without any cost. The video mentions that such books can be found on platforms like Google Books and iBooks, and they include classic literature that is often expensive to purchase. The mention of new books being added to the public domain every year indicates the growing availability of free reading material.

💡Project Gutenberg

Project Gutenberg is a volunteer effort to digitize, archive, and distribute cultural works, including books, that are in the public domain. It is a significant resource for finding free e-books, especially older works. The video suggests visiting gutenberg.com for a vast collection of public domain books, highlighting it as a valuable platform for accessing literature without cost.

💡Digital Book

Digital Book, specifically digitalbook.io mentioned in the video, is a platform for accessing audio books that are in the public domain. This service allows users to listen to classics and historical books for free, providing an alternative to reading by offering an auditory experience of literature. The video emphasizes the platform as a great resource for those who prefer listening to books over reading them.

💡Narrative Magazine

Narrative Magazine is an online platform that features works from unpublished authors, including short stories, essays, and poems. The video highlights this resource as a way to discover new writers and fresh content across various genres. It presents Narrative Magazine as a valuable source of free, diverse, and innovative literary works, offering readers a chance to explore beyond established authors.

💡Tor.com

Tor.com is an online destination for fans of fantasy and science fiction, offering content such as short stories, essays, and novellas from both published and unpublished authors. The video describes it as a 'geeky' and 'nerdy' space on the internet, catering to those interested in fantasy culture and fan culture. It is presented as a fun and engaging platform for readers to explore different stories within these genres.

💡Smashwords

Smashwords is an online platform that offers a wide range of books, including free e-books, across various genres such as horror, thriller, and graphic novels. The video encourages users to utilize the search function on Smashwords to find books available for free, emphasizing the platform's extensive collection and the potential to discover interesting reads without cost.

💡BookBub

BookBub is a website that curates a list of books available for free across the internet, primarily from platforms like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other bookstores. It simplifies the process of finding free books by compiling them in one place, allowing users to search and access these books easily. The video highlights BookBub as a hassle-free resource for discovering free books, with the added benefit of being able to check reviews and ratings from other readers.

💡Storytel

Storytel is a subscription-based app that offers access to a vast library of audio books for a monthly fee. While not free, the video suggests that the cost is affordable and provides significant value given the number of books available. It is particularly recommended for those who enjoy listening to books, offering an extensive selection of both series and standalone titles.

💡Free Books

The central theme of the video is finding and accessing free books through various legal and accessible means. This includes online platforms, apps, and digital libraries that offer books without any cost to the user. The video provides multiple resources and methods for obtaining free books, emphasizing the availability of literature to everyone regardless of financial constraints.

💡Audio Books

Audio books are a format of books presented audibly, allowing individuals to listen to the content rather than read it. The video discusses the benefits of audio books, particularly for classics which can be challenging to read, and recommends platforms like Digital Book and Storytel for accessing them. Audio books provide a different and often more engaging way to experience literature.

Highlights

The introduction of seven legal ways to read books for free.

Open Library's goal to make every book ever published available for free.

Borrowing books from Open Library for a period of 14 days.

Accessing public domain books on Google Books and iBooks.

Public domain books are those with expired copyrights or very old books.

New books being added to the public domain every year.

Project Gutenberg as a resource for public domain books.

DigitalBook.io for listening to public domain audio books.

Narrative Magazine as a platform for unpublished authors to share short stories and essays.

Tor.com as a resource for fantasy and science fiction short stories.

Smashwords.com offers a wide range of free books including horror, thriller, and graphic novels.

BookBub.com curates a list of free books from various online bookstores.

The affordability of Storytel, a subscription-based audio book service.

Storytel's extensive library of books and series.

The recommendation of using Storytel for avid readers due to its cost-effectiveness.

The video provides a variety of resources for accessing books and audio books at no or low cost.

The encouragement for viewers to explore these resources and support the reading community.