Amazon.com recently launched a new feature called Search Inside the Book. i almost wet myself in excitement the first time i tried this functionality. i love it so much i decided to join the contest. unfortunately, i failed to read the contest rules first so i think that i will have no chance of winning. the essay should be 100 words or less. my entry was 298 words. drats!!! the Segway Human transporter will remain in my dreams…
anyway, i’m posting my entry here as an example of how NOT to join the contest. however regardless of the contest results, i think that this new functionality rocks to the bone.
checkout the Wired feature story: The Great Library of Amazonia
and some not-so Good News from Author’s Guild: Amazon’s New Database Likely to Help Sales of Some Works, May Undermine Others
in the meantime, happy navigation… and don’t get lost in the jungle.
—————
(my contest enty that SUCK.)
Dear Amazon.com
i’ve been a loyal Amazon customer eversince your early incarnation. for me you are one of the best commercial sites that is driven not only by profit but moreso by innovation and customer satisfaction. adding the Search Inside the Book feature not only enhances the shopping experience, but it also gives customers the power to do research!!!
first i was doubtful when i tested this new search engine, but lo and behold, this stuff kicks ass!!! i tried the following searches and my jaw just dropped:
search phrase: “pluralistic relativism”
it immediately displayed Ken Wilber books that use this phrase. i explored each page and continued to be amazed by the efforts that were put into this feature.
search phrase: “opening new channels not of trade but of thought”
i tried this lengthy phrase with a bit of skepticism, but still the results were amazing. although it didn’t display the book Walden by Henry David Thoreau, it took me to a book that attributed this classic quote to Thoreau and his Walden book. unfortunately, it didn’t display the Walden book itself. maybe because it was not scanned. but still the search results informed me from what book the classic quote came from. and i can buy that book anytime.
search phrase: “fuck it or kill it”
i thought that amazon would censor this search but it did return the relevant book i was looking for “A Brief History of Everything” where this phrase was used to describe the testosterone drive.
search phrase: “kusari-gama”
finally, i searched for foreign japanese weapon, just to see what the search engine would fetch me. i continue to be amazed…
kudos to this new feature and more power to your innovation and dedication to customer satisfaction.
a satisfied customer,
Rommel