Books I Read
A file, not a service.
Your reading year in a plain-text file. No database, no server, no account. The app is a text editor. The file is yours.
Download for iPhone and iPad
The .books format
Each book is a line. Add tags for context. Write notes underneath. One file per year, stored in your Documents folder, visible in Files.app. Open it in any text editor on any device.
Books I Read 2026:
January:
- Why the Jews? @done(2026-01) @tag(history) @from(Maria)
Deeply affecting. Changed how I think about scapegoating.
- The Return @done(2026-01) @tag(fiction)
February:
- Going Infinite @done(2026-02) @tag(business) @from(Carlos)
Wild ride. The FTX saga reads like fiction.
Reading:
- Cahokia Jazz @started(2026-04-08) @tag(fiction)
Incidental:
- What Are Children For @tag(philosophy)What the app adds
The file works without the app. The app makes it better.
Syntax highlighting
Section headers, titles, tags, and notes each get their own visual weight. Your reading log becomes easy to scan.
Keyboard toolbar
One-tap buttons for every tag. No need to remember the syntax.
Section navigator
Jump to any month. See how many books are in each section.
Year switcher
One file per year. Switch between them from the toolbar.
Auto-save
Changes save as you type. No save button needed.
Dark mode and VoiceOver
Reads well at night. Works with assistive technology.
Your file. Full stop.
The .books file lives in your Documents folder. It is UTF-8 plain text. You can open it in any text editor on any device. There is no database, no server, no account. Every file stays on your device, in a format that will outlast this app.
What this is not
No social features. No reading goals. No streaks. No notifications. No analytics. No account. Just what you've read.
Free on the App Store