Word count
Word counts range from about 10,000 to over 300,000. This gives you a sense of the work's scope. For example, 'A libell of Spanish lies' is about 10,000 words, while 'Montreal, 1535-1914' is over 328,000.
Compare 2 or 3 books
Search this site's catalog and put books side by side. The tool compares measurable metadata and text statistics so you can see practical differences without turning them into a subjective quality ranking.
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What this comparison can tell you
The Reading Companion lets you compare books side by side. You can look at word count, reading time, sentence length, and structure. This helps you see how different works are put together.
For instance, a book with a high average sentence length may be more formal or dense, while a lower one might be more conversational. Use these details to find a style that suits you.
Reading time
Estimated reading times are based on an average reading speed. They range from 45 minutes to over 24 hours. Use these estimates to plan your reading sessions.
Sentence length
Average sentence length varies widely. Some works use short, direct sentences, while others favor longer, more complex ones. This can affect how easy or challenging the text feels.
Side by Side: What Compare Books Reveals
Compare Books lets you select two or three titles from the archive and view their measurable characteristics in one table. The tool displays word count, estimated reading time, text sections, sentence flow, chapter rhythm, subjects, and page information when available. These are descriptive metrics relative to this catalog; they are not reading-level or quality ratings. Their value lies in making differences concrete.
A word count alone is abstract. Seeing that one book is 202,801 words and another is 103,222 words tells you the first is roughly twice as long, but it does not tell you how that length is distributed. Compare Books adds text sections and sentence flow, which together suggest a pace. Two books of similar length can feel very different if one is broken into many short sections and the other into a few long ones.
Length and Time: A Practical Example
Consider John Brown — Story, Setting & Ideas and The private journal of Judge-Advocate Larpent — Story, Setting & Ideas. The first is 103,222 words with an estimated reading time of 449 minutes. The second is 202,801 words with an estimated 882 minutes. The difference is about 99,579 words, which at 250 words per page translates to roughly 398 pages and about 433 extra minutes of reading. If you have a week of daily reading, the John Brown title might fit comfortably, while the Larpent journal would require a more sustained commitment.
But length is not the only factor. John Brown has 24 text sections and an average sentence of 20.7 words. The Larpent journal has 40 sections and an average sentence of 23.3 words. More sections mean more natural stopping points, which can make a long book feel less daunting. The sentence flow is similar, so the prose density is comparable. The main difference is sheer volume.
Text Sections and Pacing
Text sections are the number of divisions in the book, whether chapters, letters, or dated entries. A book with many sections offers frequent breaks, which can be helpful for readers who like to read in short bursts. For example, A Settler's 35 Years' Experience in Victoria, Australia has only 2 sections despite being 18,677 words, meaning each section is quite long. In contrast, Mary Russell Mitford and her surroundings has 46 sections for 76,056 words, so each section is relatively short.
When you compare two books, look at the ratio of sections to word count. A high ratio suggests a fragmented structure, which might be ideal for dipping in and out. A low ratio suggests a continuous narrative that rewards longer reading sessions. Neither is superior; they simply suit different habits.
Sentence Flow and Subject Overlap
Average sentence length can hint at how much effort each sentence demands. The private journal of Judge-Advocate Larpent has an average of 23.3 words per sentence, while John Brown averages 20.7. That difference is modest, but in a 200,000-word book, it accumulates. Longer sentences often require more concentration to parse, especially if they contain multiple clauses.
Compare Books also lists subjects, which can reveal unexpected connections. John Brown and The private journal of Judge-Advocate Larpent share no subject headings, but both touch on themes of conflict and leadership. If you are studying a particular era or figure, the subject column helps you see whether a book is directly relevant or only tangentially related. Use Compare to decide not just which book to read, but which two books might complement each other.