Read the local newspaper. Many newspapers offer lists of best-selling books as well as books that are selling well at the local level. Check out these lists and see if any of the titles are appealing. Often, there will be a short synopsis of the book underneath the title. Write down the names of all the titles that appeal to you for further research. You can also read the book review section of the newspaper for new titles that might be of interest to you.
Conduct research on the Internet. You can access online book retailers such as Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and Borders to browse their list of best-sellers, or to further investigate book titles you have written down from your local newspaper. These sites break down their books into a number of subjects such as autobiography, history, cooking, romance, sports, mystery and science fiction. Choose a subject area and browse through the offerings. Read critical reviews and customer reviews to get an idea of what a book might offer.
Visit a book suggestion site. There are several sites such as Bookseer.com and Whichbook.net that make recommendations based on specific criteria. For example, Bookseer asks for the title of the last book you read and the author, and suggests the next book you should read. Whichbook provides a list of contrasting attributes such as "happy" and "sad," or "optimistic" and "bleak," and allows you to choose what degree of those qualities you want in a book. You then click "go," and the site provides a list of books with your selected criteria.
Join a book club. Many different kinds of books are read and discussed in book clubs, and they give you a broad range of subjects, from biographies to thrillers. Your local library or bookstore should have information about joining a book club, and may even a make a recommendation on which club you should join based on your tastes.
Visit your local bookstore. Bookstores are usually well organized, so you can go through sections such as best-sellers, biographies, literature and self-help to see what interests you. Bookstore workers are often knowledgeable about interesting books, so you should ask them for their recommendations and let them know the kinds of subjects that you find compelling. Bookstores also offer sale and bargain items that you may not find anywhere else.
Go to your local library. You can often find a list of recommended books at a library, and you won't have to pay for the privilege of reading them. Libraries also offer reading groups that may meet once a week or once a month and often invite authors to speak and lead discussions about their books. Librarians are trained to help you find good books that match your taste, or to suggest other books that could be of interest. Use them as a resource by telling them what books you have read and enjoyed in the past and ask for their recommendations.