Looking for new books and discovering new authors can feel like traveling. Each book opens a door to a different world, letting you visit new places and “meet” new people. But once you’ve finished your favorites, how do you find the next ones you’ll love?
We’ve searched for unique, interactive ways to help you find your next read. Among our preferred ones are a couple of interactive tools for discovering new authors and books, including our very own Map of the Books, which aims to guide you on a visual journey through the real-world locations that inspired them.
The Power of AI in Book Searches
While AI can be controversial, recommendations don’t have to be boring. Yes, you can, of course, ask your friends for book recommendations. Or get some suggestions by using basic AI chat. But where’s the fun in that? AI-powered author discovery tools like Literature Map and GNOD’s Gnooks can offer a much more exciting (and adventurous) way to search for your next best reading material. So let’s dive in.
GNOD: The AI-Powered Network of Discovery
Did you know you could get book recommendations from an AI that learns from thousands of readers like you? That’s what GNOD (Global Network of Discovery) does.
GNOD is a self-learning platform that tracks user preferences and reading habits, then uses this data to recommend fresh authors and books tailored to your unique interests. It adapts over time for more accurate suggestions. Let’s see what it can offer us.
Gnooks: Discover New Books with AI
In this case, we’re searching for new books and authors. So, when you’re on the GNOD website, scroll to the “literature” card and select a project that interests you. You can choose the “discover” option, which will then redirect you to Gnooks.
Once you’re in Gnooks, simply enter up to three authors you love, and Gnooks will suggest others you might enjoy.
For example, type in J.R.R. Tolkien, Ruta Sepetys, and Charlotte Brontë — and you might get Ronald Balson or other recommendations as results. Each click refines your preferences, helping the AI understand what kind of stories move you.
Try it here: gnooks.com
Literature Map: Discover Author Connections Visually
The Literature Map, a part of the GNOD project, interprets your author search in a different way: by turning it into a visual experience.
Type in an author’s name (say Tolkien) and watch as a web of related writers appears — C.S. Lewis, Ray Bradbury, G.R.R. Martin, and others orbit around the center. The closer the names, the more readers overlap between them.
But be warned, it’s an addictive, rabbit-hole kind of tool! All jokes aside, it’s really engaging. Click on any author, and you’ll instantly see new author clusters form.
Try it here: literature-map.com
Whichbook: Find Books by Mood and Emotion
If you like discovering books based on how they feel, then Whichbook could help you. You can move “mood sliders” between happy and sad, or gentle to violent, etc., and their website will recommend some books that match your criteria.
Additionally, you can take a peek at their map, or see their suggestions by character, plot or bestsellers.
Try it here: whichbook
Map of the Books: Explore Stories by Real-World Location
Now, let’s introduce our own project: “Map of the Books” by Planet of the Books. Unlike AI-powered or machine-learning-driven tools, our interactive map connects readers to books by the real-world locations where their stories unfold. This project stands apart from other algorithm-based recommendations as it’s based on our own read locations and recommendations.
So, no, our map is not AI-powered. All selections thus far have been manual, selected, and reviewed.
Click on any place in the world – from France to Canada – and discover books set in that location. It is still a “world in progress”. We are continuing to add the books to their locations as we read and discover new ones. And, good news, you can submit locations and contribute to the growth of this fun project.
Continue Your Discovery Journey
Each of these tools — whether it’s AI-powered prediction, mood-based discovery, or a global literary map – can help you find new authors and new books. Try one, try them all — and let curiosity guide you to your next favorite author or story. Enjoy!
FAQ: Discovering New Authors & Books Online
1. What is the best AI tool for discovering new authors?
GNOD and its projects, like Gnooks and Literature Map, are among the most popular AI-powered author discovery tools.
2. How does the Literature Map work?
The Literature Map visualizes connections between authors. Type in an author’s name, and you’ll see related authors appear. The closer they are, the more readers they share.
3. Is there a way to find books based on mood or emotion?
Yes! The website Whichbook lets you adjust sliders like “happy to sad” or “funny to serious” to discover books that match your mood.
4. What makes Planet of the Books’ Map different?
Unlike AI-based tools, the Map of the Books is not an AI-based map. It shows where stories are set in the real world. Each location is either found by us or submitted by readers.
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