Wowio is a website that lets you download eBooks from their library for free. They are in Adobe Acrobat format, so don’t need any special software to read them. There’s also no annoying DRM, so you can move them between computers and PDAs with ease.
What’s the catch? Well, the titles are limited, so you’re not going to get the current New York Times bestseller. But they do have a wide selection, from classics to comic books (I mean, graphic novels!). Here are the titles I downloaded today (you get five each day):
- Avant-Guide Las Vegas: Insiders Guide for Urban Adventurers (Travel Guide)
- Critique 01: The Magazine of Graphic Design Thinking
- Guerrilla Data Analysis Using Microsoft Excel
- The Science of Getting Rich (supposedly inspired The Secret)
- Slaughter-House Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Basically, check it out, and if nothing catches your eye, don’t join. Can’t beat free. I think they also make money by putting ads in the books, but they must be spaced pretty far apart. I’m about 50 pages into Slaughter-House Five and haven’t seen one yet.
To join, you must verify your identity. It’s relatively painless, you only need one of the following:
- A non-anonymous e-mail address (no yahoo, hotmail, or gmail). A work or school e-mail should work fine, and they also accepted my @mymoneyblog.com e-mail.
- Credit card – will not be charged
- Scan of ID (Driver’s License or Student ID) – I’d probably avoid this. At least with the credit card you have built-in fraud protection.
- Friends and Family code – Each new member can “vouch” for 3 others who don’t want to or can’t do one of the above.
Right now, they are also having a promotion that if you refer 10 of your friends, they will send you a free iPod shuffle. This is actually a pretty easy deal, as it’s absolutely free to join and you don’t even need a credit card number. When you sign up, at the end they will ask you for the e-mail of the person who referred you.
Please don’t use my e-mail, I already have enough referrals. Below is a script that will return a random e-mail that you should use as your referrer in order help a fellow reader out. Then, I will ask them who used their e-mails as a referral, so you’ll have a chance to be listed.
I’ll make it an image scramble it to avoid spam, but you can also let me know if you don’t want me to put your e-mail up. Thanks!
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Thanks for putting this up, and for your referral. Unfortunately, I’m already registered and can’t refer anyone, but I still need about 4 referrals to complete my set, so I’d really appreciate your putting up my address after you get your referrals. Thanks again!
I listed you as a referrer
Pretty cool. Just referred you, hope it works. Just went through a book, it seems the only ads are in the beginning and the end of the book. But they are only ads for Wowio.
I just signed up and referred you Jonathan. My MSN address seemed to work just fine.
I just signed up and am looking forward to the graphic novels! I also used the email address you posted as the friend reference.
Hey Jonathan, I listed you as a referrer.
You continue to astound me. Thanks for doing that.
I signed up and i leave Jonathan as referral.
Okay, I signed up and said I was referred by the person in your random generator (Jake Moffatt)… now what do I do to get referral? 🙂
Referral used.
Jonathan, you are always on top things. demku I used you as a referral.
Wow, that site is amazing.
I used the posted e-mail as my referrer – any chance I can get added to the rotation?
I just used the email addie above as a referral to sign up. Can you add me to the list?
Done. Please refer me
Thanks
I figured out to see who used my e-mail as a referral according to the Wowio site – those 12 people were put “into rotation”. When those first 12 are done, I will be asking themwho used their e-mails. So please use the e-mail listed above, not mine. I feel this is the most sure way.
Also, be sure to try and ask your own friends and family. The requirements are quite easy to fulfill, and the service is both free and useful.
Some other books I got today:
Art of War by Sun Tzu
The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli
Starship Troopers 01 – Graphic Novel
I want in
Thanks, just referred.
Can I geit in the rotation? Thanks again for your blog.
Cool! I used the SFSU address posted as my referral.
On any other blog or ad this would have automatically screamed “SCAM”, but I trust you and your blog. Thanks!
Hey I signed up and referred. Now I would love to get involved in this classic pyramid scheme 😉
Referred, and would love to get into the rotation. Thanks, you find the best deals!
Add me to the referall list as well
Well I am interested in “The Science of Getting Rich”… may be everyone want it…
Please add me to the referral list. I also signed up and referred a person on your list.
This sounds awesome. Free books… yey! Thanks for sharing the info, just signed up using the your generated referral addy. Would appreciate mine added to the list 🙂
Great! I just signed up under the email address listed. Please add me to the referral list.
Thanks!
I used the random email produced by the script as my referrer. Please add me to the rotation when my turn comes around. I’d love a free iPod Shuffle. Thanks Jonathan.
I signed up using the currenty listed referral e-mail address. Thanks!
Hello, I listed you as a referrer.
I also signed up last night using the listed referrer above. Please add me to the referral list
Awesome. You should charge for this conga line service! It would easily be worth $10 to me. 🙂
i’m still trying to figure it out.
Thanx for the post, Jonathan. I joined also and would like to be added to the list for referals.
I started to sign up but did not see a spot to enter a referrer’s email. Can someone please direct me? Thanks.
Hi everyone, thanks for making this work smoothly. Again, I am asking the people on the script above themselves who used them as referrals, as the website shows it clearly. There is no need to leave your e-mail or tell me who you used, because they will tell me themselves. 🙂
To answer some questions:
– The “hendea…” e-mail isn’t me, it’s a person who used me as a referral early-on (and already qualified for their Shuffle too). 🙂
– You should be asked for a referrer’s e-mail at the very end of the sign-up process. Please use the one you see in the post above.
– I will be updating the list regularly.
Anyhow, I’m closing comments as it’s getting messy. Please e-mail me if you have specific questions. Thanks!
list updated 4/6/07