I don’t live in the USA either @ziggy .
There is a sequel to A Promised Land coming but no release date yet.
No, I know you don’t 
He has worldwide appeal that’s for sure. I look forward to reading his new book. I also find him - hot (I’m a cougar) 
Which book? He’s written a few
A Promised Land @Smiley , a very thick book!! I also downloaded Michelle Obama’s book which was good also.
His first book was ‘Dreams from my Father’ which I enjoyed but I haven’t read any of his others. I did read his wife’s book but prefer his writing. I do love a thick book!
I can highly recommend
We Are The Change We Seek: The Speeches of Barack Obama.
I actually enjoy knowing a little about the HO’s and I don’t think it does any disservice to have a little bio.
Those who are uninterested can skip it while the curious ones will read it. I, too, like to look for commonality because it can resonate right away which may influence the sense of “trust” or at last a rapport.
I certainly don’t need to know someone’s political leanings and if that is mentioned in their bio I’d be less inclined to apply - regardless of which side they lean - because that tells me it is important for them to tell strangers this and I’m not interested in engaging in this polarized climate.
But if they spend 2 months a year in Africa or volunteer with refugees, or if they speak 5 languages, used to live in France working on a vineyard, or make historical documentaries, used to travel with a musical theatre company…I don’t know, these things are very interesting to me and I am by nature a very inquisitive person. Those who wish to be private can do so, but those who wish to share about who they are should also do so. IMO
I have found like-minded people via THS and kept in touch with many. Because of this we have been asked back by a number of our past hosts.
I definitely want to know who I’m helping out… If I don’t, I don’t apply, simple as that
Me too, except that I do live in the US. As a side note, he was the keynote speaker at one of my university graduations, back when he was a senator. Such an inspirational speaker!
@systaran he is an amazing speaker, I am in awe of him. He was in Australia not that long ago on a speaking tour and what just rolls off his tongue, his knowledge and intelligence is just incredible. Michelle is due here in Oz soon as a keynote speaker, another wonderful and literate woman, what a match she and Barack.
(Edited in line with the Forum Guidelines)
Which all goes to show we are all very different both as sitters and HOs. Which is good. I’m make my initial decisions based on the photos they present, more than the text. I’ve yet to come across one that looks AI generated, so with the written info it is less about the content and more about the tone.
Horses for courses lol
As you say, horses for courses.
The photos aren’t very important for me unless there’s some relevant info there which is not included in the wording. Usually to drive me away from the listing. For example, clutter or a picture that is contradictory to the written description. I have seen pictures of pets in places they are said not to be allowed. I don’t want to deal with such inconsistency.
I saw some listings where the hosts said absolutely nothing about themselves, and they had 0 applicants, don’t know if there’s something to do with that.
Hi travel. I avoid house sits where the owners say nothing at all. I really do like to read an interesting profile telling me a bit about the family and their interests etc. I have also been offered sits by owners who have stated, they chose me because I had a very interesting profile and they mentioned that they had applicants who had written the bare minimum and just one line. I really do think it helps to know as much as possible about each other. I also enjoy reading many of the write ups that owners have written. NIce to get a feeling for the people you will be sitting for and their home and pets.
Exactly, HOs don’t have profiles, if they say nothing about themselves, how are we supposed to find out anything about them? I think they need to introduce themselves, that’s politeness, those who are not interested to know can just skip it, but we do need to know something about themselves
I love to read details on owners. I always enlarge pictures to see if i can read the titles of their books ( when there are books in the house), to see what they like. What kind if press they read
i like to learn owners have restored an old house, because we’ve done the same. It means many tthings.we shall have interesting discussions during a dinner, pets are not the only topic.
I always appreciate to meet 1 day, even 2, before the owner(s), i feel much better to share moments, meals, walks. Even if we are very different, if we never become friends. If we’ll never meet again.
On this forum, we are all different, many don’t want to share an evening, a night in the owner’s home. I’m the opposite. More i know before the sit, more confortable i feel. I guess the owner is open.
During the sit, i can tell a lot about the owner(s) : his/her taste ( in music, painting, decoration, litterature), the choice of breeds of animals.
Every detail is meaninfull. I know more than (s)he will know about me.
I had great discussions about littérature with some owners who read a lot, i sent books to a few to make them discover an author they iignored.i assumed they would like ( Erri de Luca is translated in english)
I’m always anxious when i don’t see any book on the pictures of the listing…
Nowadays, with ebooks, someone could be a reader and not have books visible. I have many books at home now, but expect to downsize as I age. At one point, I will get rid of all print books and just have ebooks, especially if I move overseas.
Also, some people have more than one home, so their books might not appear in a pied-à-terre, for instance.
You can find out an awful lot about hosts by reading their reviews; both the ones written by sitters as well as those they’ve left on a sitter’s profile
@Maggie8K yep, lots of ebooks here, no longer acquiring physical books. The sad thing about an ebook is I can’t lend it to anyone, but boy I love the convenience of an e reader.
I’ve not done it, but some platforms allow lending. Terms vary. For example, Barnes & Noble has a version: