Many books arranged on a bookshelf

What is Book Management?

Book management is about organizing books you've read, are reading, and want to read, and centrally managing your reading progress and notes.

"How far did I get in that book?" "I can't remember the title of that book I read before" - a book management app solves these problems. When your book information is organized, you can access what you need anytime.

4 Benefits of Book Management

1. Track Your Progress

See at a glance how far you are in each book. No confusion even when reading multiple books at once.

2. Search Past Books

Find "what was in that book" instantly with keyword search.

3. Visualize Reading Volume

Display book count and pages read in graphs. Helps maintain your reading habit.

4. Access Anywhere

Sync across smartphone, tablet, and PC. Manage your books regardless of location.

Book Management Methods

There are three main ways to manage books: "paper notebook," "Excel," and "dedicated app."

Comparison Paper Notebook Excel/Spreadsheet Dedicated App
Book Registration △ Handwritten △ Manual entry ◎ Auto-fill via barcode
Searchability × Time-consuming to find ○ Search function available ○ Search function available
Progress Graphs × None △ Must create yourself ◎ Auto-generated graphs
Multi-Device / Backup × Must carry notebook / Risk of loss ○ Possible with cloud storage ○ Phone/Tablet/PC supported
Ease of Starting ◎ Start immediately △ Need to create template ◎ Use right after signup

We recommend a "dedicated app." Register books via barcode, and progress graphs are generated automatically, so you can keep up book management effortlessly.

Popular Book Management Services

There are various book management services available. Here are some popular options and their features.

Goodreads

World's largest reading community. Track books, write reviews, and connect with other readers. Great for social reading experience.

StoryGraph

Popular alternative to Goodreads. Features mood-based recommendations and detailed reading stats.

Notion

Flexible database tool. Can be customized for book management with templates. High flexibility but requires setup effort.

Reading Forest

Book management app with barcode registration, progress graphs, search, and Markdown export. Google Drive integration for multi-device access.

How to Choose

  • Community-focused: Want to connect with other readers → Goodreads, StoryGraph
  • Customization-focused: Want to build your own system → Notion
  • Feature-focused: Want to retain what you've read → Reading Forest

Streamline Book Management with Reading Forest

"Reading Forest" is an app that streamlines book management (free plan available). See all features

Register Books via Barcode

Just scan the ISBN barcode and title, author, and cover image are auto-filled. No manual entry hassle.

Progress Graphs

Visualize pages read with graphs. Stay motivated for reading.

Keyword Search

Instantly search books you've read by keyword. Notes and thoughts are also searchable.

Multi-Device Support

Manage books from smartphone, tablet, or PC.

Cloud Storage

Safely backup with Google Drive integration. No worry about data loss.

Export Function

Output in various formats including HTML, Markdown, and BibTeX. Compatible with other tools.

Recommended For

Avid Readers

For those who read dozens of books a year. Manage your books in a list and look back anytime.

Those Reading Multiple Books

See at a glance which book you're at and where. No confusion with parallel reading.

Students

Manage progress on textbooks and workbooks. Use for systematic studying.

Learn more →

Business Professionals

Organize and manage key points from business books. Apply what you've read to work.

FAQ

Is the book management app free?

Yes, Reading Forest offers a free plan. You can manage up to 20 books per file, and you can create unlimited files. All basic book management features are included.

What can I do with book management?

You can register books you've read and want to read, track reading progress, save notes and thoughts, display reading volume graphs, and search past records by keyword.

Can I sync between phone and PC?

Yes, by linking with Google Drive, you can share data between smartphones, tablets, and PCs. Manage your books regardless of location.

Is registering books tedious?

No, just scan the ISBN barcode and the title, author, and cover image are auto-filled. This eliminates the hassle of manual entry and makes it easy to register books.

Related Pages

How to Start a Reading Log

Learn how to easily record book notes and thoughts.

Learn more →

How to Create Reading Notes

Effective reading note techniques and review methods.

Learn more →

Building a Reading Habit

Tips for making reading a habit and keys to consistency.

Learn more →

All Features

A detailed introduction to all Reading Forest features.

Learn more →

Start Book Management Today

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Register books with barcode scan, start managing your books immediately.

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