In order to retrieve information from Amazon, you need to sign up for the “product advertising API”. Make sure to read the license agreement, as it is quite restrictive and long.<\/p>\n
Then, to get at it in Node, you can use this handy library:<\/p>\n
npm install aws-lib --save\n<\/pre>\nYou’ll need to get an access key and ID from the AWS security console. The “associate tag” is your Amazon affiliate ID. Note that you can make as many of these as you want, which is nice for tracking:<\/p>\n
const aws = require(\"aws-lib\");\n\nlet accessKeyId: String = '...';\nlet secretAccessKey: String = '...';\nlet associateTag: String = '...';\n\nconst prodAdv = aws.createProdAdvClient(\n accessKeyId, \n secretAccessKey, \n associateTag\n);\n<\/pre>\nFor this example, I’m going to retrieve the metadata for a book, given the URL to it, because this is the data I’m starting from, but you can use the title, or any ID you have for it (ISBN, the Amazon ID, etc).<\/p>\n
To get the Amazon ID, we’ll just cut up the URL:<\/p>\n
let url = 'http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0781411181\/';\nlet id = url.split('\/product\/')[1].split('\/')[0];\n<\/pre>\nWhen you set up the request, you get a fair amount of options1<\/a><\/sup> subject to Amazon highly restricting what they give you. So in this case, I’m requesting their description (EditorialReview), links to the category (current category, parent, child), pricing\/availability, title\/description, and links to pictures. It’s worth noting that since their database is somewhat large, an item may not be currently available for sale, or may only be available from a merchant, and they expose this to you, as well as whether the item is available through Prime.<\/p>\nconst options = {\n IncludeReviewsSummary: false,\n ItemId: id,\n ResponseGroup: 'EditorialReview,BrowseNodes,OfferSummary,ItemAttributes,Images'\n};\n\nprodAdv.call(\n \"ItemLookup\", options, \n (err, result) => {\n console.log(JSON.stringify(result, null, 2));\n }\n);\n<\/pre>\nThis will return you a massive JSON payload. You should change the “ResponseGroup” to be the items you want1<\/a><\/sup>. Note that you can’t retrieve review information this way, and it looks like they don’t want you to hang onto pricing either.<\/p>\n{\n \"@\": {\n \"xmlns\": \"http:\/\/webservices.amazon.com\/AWSECommerceService\/2011-08-01\"\n },\n \"OperationRequest\": {\n \"RequestId\": \"e9bc9f67-da3a-4b49-9dd2-2d645c8cad0d\",\n \"Arguments\": {\n \"Argument\": [\n {\n \"@\": {\n \"Name\": \"IncludeReviewsSummary\",\n \"Value\": \"false\"\n }\n },\n {\n \"@\": {\n \"Name\": \"ItemId\",\n \"Value\": \"0781411181\"\n }\n },\n {\n \"@\": {\n \"Name\": \"ResponseGroup\",\n \"Value\": \"EditorialReview,BrowseNodes,OfferSummary,ItemAttributes,Im\nages\"\n }\n },\n {\n \"@\": {\n \"Name\": \"Operation\",\n \"Value\": \"ItemLookup\"\n }\n },\n {\n \"@\": {\n \"Name\": \"Service\",\n \"Value\": \"AWSECommerceService\"\n }\n },\n {\n \"@\": {\n \"Name\": \"Version\",\n \"Value\": \"2009-10-01\"\n }\n },\n {\n \"@\": {\n \"Name\": \"Region\",\n \"Value\": \"US\"\n }\n },\n {\n \"@\": {\n \"Name\": \"Timestamp\",\n \"Value\": \"2016-06-04T13:42:30.104Z\"\n }\n }\n ]\n },\n \"RequestProcessingTime\": \"0.0251984530000000\"\n },\n \"Items\": {\n \"Request\": {\n \"IsValid\": \"True\",\n \"ItemLookupRequest\": {\n \"IdType\": \"ASIN\",\n \"ItemId\": \"0781411181\",\n \"ResponseGroup\": [\n \"EditorialReview\",\n \"BrowseNodes\",\n \"OfferSummary\",\n \"ItemAttributes\",\n \"Images\"\n ],\n \"VariationPage\": \"All\",\n \"IncludeReviewsSummary\": \"false\"\n }\n },\n \"Item\": {\n \"ASIN\": \"0781411181\",\n \"DetailPageURL\": \"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Farewell-Mars-Evangelical-Pastors-\nBiblical\/dp\/0781411181%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAIY3QOODXIFFJHLHQ%26tag%3Dlecture-s\nearch-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D078\n1411181\",\n \"ItemLinks\": {\n \"ItemLink\": [\n {\n \"Description\": \"Technical Details\",\n \"URL\": \"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Farewell-Mars-Evangelical-Pastors-Bibl\nical\/dp\/tech-data\/0781411181%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAIY3QOODXIFFJHLHQ%26tag%3Dlec\nture-search-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D386001%26creativeASIN\n%3D0781411181\"\n },\n {\n \"Description\": \"Add To Baby Registry\",\n \"URL\": \"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/registry\/baby\/add-item.html%3Fasin.\n0%3D0781411181%26SubscriptionId%3DAKIAIY3QOODXIFFJHLHQ%26tag%3Dlecture-search-20\n%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D386001%26creativeASIN%3D0781411181\"\n\n },\n {\n \"Description\": \"Add To Wedding Registry\",\n \"URL\": \"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/registry\/wedding\/add-item.html%3Fas\nin.0%3D0781411181%26SubscriptionId%3DAKIAIY3QOODXIFFJHLHQ%26tag%3Dlecture-search\n-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D386001%26creativeASIN%3D07814111\n81\"\n },\n {\n \"Description\": \"Add To Wishlist\",\n \"URL\": \"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/registry\/wishlist\/add-item.html%3Fa\nsin.0%3D0781411181%26SubscriptionId%3DAKIAIY3QOODXIFFJHLHQ%26tag%3Dlecture-searc\nh-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D386001%26creativeASIN%3D0781411\n181\"\n },\n {\n \"Description\": \"Tell A Friend\",\n \"URL\": \"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/pdp\/taf\/0781411181%3FSubscriptionId\n%3DAKIAIY3QOODXIFFJHLHQ%26tag%3Dlecture-search-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025\n%26creative%3D386001%26creativeASIN%3D0781411181\"\n },\n {\n \"Description\": \"All Customer Reviews\",\n \"URL\": \"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/review\/product\/0781411181%3FSubscripti\nonId%3DAKIAIY3QOODXIFFJHLHQ%26tag%3Dlecture-search-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D\n2025%26creative%3D386001%26creativeASIN%3D0781411181\"\n },\n {\n \"Description\": \"All Offers\",\n \"URL\": \"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/offer-listing\/0781411181%3FSubscrip\ntionId%3DAKIAIY3QOODXIFFJHLHQ%26tag%3Dlecture-search-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%\n3D2025%26creative%3D386001%26creativeASIN%3D0781411181\"\n }\n ]\n },\n \"SmallImage\": {\n \"URL\": \"http:\/\/ecx.images-amazon.com\/images\/I\/51yvFfE%2BNPL._SL75_.jpg\",\n\n \"Height\": {\n \"#\": \"75\",\n \"@\": {\n \"Units\": \"pixels\"\n }\n },\n \"Width\": {\n \"#\": \"50\",\n \"@\": {\n \"Units\": \"pixels\"\n }\n }\n },\n \"MediumImage\": {\n \"URL\": \"http:\/\/ecx.images-amazon.com\/images\/I\/51yvFfE%2BNPL._SL160_.jpg\"\n,\n \"Height\": {\n \"#\": \"160\",\n \"@\": {\n \"Units\": \"pixels\"\n }\n },\n \"Width\": {\n \"#\": \"107\",\n \"@\": {\n \"Units\": \"pixels\"\n }\n }\n },\n \"LargeImage\": {\n \"URL\": \"http:\/\/ecx.images-amazon.com\/images\/I\/51yvFfE%2BNPL.jpg\",\n \"Height\": {\n \"#\": \"500\",\n \"@\": {\n \"Units\": \"pixels\"\n }\n },\n \"Width\": {\n \"#\": \"334\",\n \"@\": {\n \"Units\": \"pixels\"\n }\n }\n },\n \"ImageSets\": {\n \"ImageSet\": {\n \"@\": {\n \"Category\": \"primary\"\n },\n \"SwatchImage\": {\n \"URL\": \"http:\/\/ecx.images-amazon.com\/images\/I\/51yvFfE%2BNPL._SL30_.j\npg\",\n \"Height\": {\n \"#\": \"30\",\n \"@\": {\n \"Units\": \"pixels\"\n }\n },\n \"Width\": {\n \"#\": \"20\",\n \"@\": {\n \"Units\": \"pixels\"\n }\n }\n },\n \"SmallImage\": {\n \"URL\": \"http:\/\/ecx.images-amazon.com\/images\/I\/51yvFfE%2BNPL._SL75_.j\npg\",\n \"Height\": {\n \"#\": \"75\",\n \"@\": {\n \"Units\": \"pixels\"\n }\n },\n \"Width\": {\n \"#\": \"50\",\n \"@\": {\n \"Units\": \"pixels\"\n }\n }\n },\n \"ThumbnailImage\": {\n \"URL\": \"http:\/\/ecx.images-amazon.com\/images\/I\/51yvFfE%2BNPL._SL75_.j\npg\",\n \"Height\": {\n \"#\": \"75\",\n \"@\": {\n \"Units\": \"pixels\"\n }\n },\n \"Width\": {\n \"#\": \"50\",\n \"@\": {\n \"Units\": \"pixels\"\n }\n }\n },\n \"TinyImage\": {\n \"URL\": \"http:\/\/ecx.images-amazon.com\/images\/I\/51yvFfE%2BNPL._SL110_.\njpg\",\n \"Height\": {\n \"#\": \"110\",\n \"@\": {\n \"Units\": \"pixels\"\n }\n },\n \"Width\": {\n \"#\": \"73\",\n \"@\": {\n \"Units\": \"pixels\"\n }\n }\n },\n \"MediumImage\": {\n \"URL\": \"http:\/\/ecx.images-amazon.com\/images\/I\/51yvFfE%2BNPL._SL160_.\njpg\",\n \"Height\": {\n \"#\": \"160\",\n \"@\": {\n \"Units\": \"pixels\"\n }\n },\n \"Width\": {\n \"#\": \"107\",\n \"@\": {\n \"Units\": \"pixels\"\n }\n }\n },\n \"LargeImage\": {\n \"URL\": \"http:\/\/ecx.images-amazon.com\/images\/I\/51yvFfE%2BNPL.jpg\",\n \"Height\": {\n \"#\": \"500\",\n \"@\": {\n \"Units\": \"pixels\"\n }\n },\n \"Width\": {\n \"#\": \"334\",\n \"@\": {\n \"Units\": \"pixels\"\n }\n }\n }\n }\n },\n \"ItemAttributes\": {\n \"Author\": \"Brian Zahnd\",\n \"Binding\": \"Paperback\",\n \"Brand\": \"David C. Cook\",\n \"EAN\": \"9780781411189\",\n \"EANList\": {\n \"EANListElement\": [\n \"0884278786428\",\n \"9780781411189\"\n ]\n },\n \"ISBN\": \"0781411181\",\n \"ItemDimensions\": {\n \"Height\": {\n \"#\": \"825\",\n \"@\": {\n \"Units\": \"hundredths-inches\"\n }\n },\n \"Length\": {\n \"#\": \"550\",\n \"@\": {\n \"Units\": \"hundredths-inches\"\n }\n },\n \"Weight\": {\n \"#\": \"54\",\n \"@\": {\n \"Units\": \"hundredths-pounds\"\n }\n },\n \"Width\": {\n \"#\": \"70\",\n \"@\": {\n \"Units\": \"hundredths-inches\"\n }\n }\n },\n \"Label\": \"David C. Cook\",\n \"Languages\": {\n \"Language\": [\n {\n \"Name\": \"English\",\n \"Type\": \"Published\"\n },\n {\n \"Name\": \"English\",\n \"Type\": \"Original Language\"\n },\n {\n \"Name\": \"English\",\n \"Type\": \"Unknown\"\n }\n ]\n },\n \"ListPrice\": {\n \"Amount\": \"1499\",\n \"CurrencyCode\": \"USD\",\n \"FormattedPrice\": \"$14.99\"\n },\n \"Manufacturer\": \"David C. Cook\",\n \"NumberOfItems\": \"1\",\n \"NumberOfPages\": \"208\",\n \"PackageDimensions\": {\n \"Height\": {\n \"#\": \"90\",\n \"@\": {\n \"Units\": \"hundredths-inches\"\n }\n },\n \"Length\": {\n \"#\": \"820\",\n \"@\": {\n \"Units\": \"hundredths-inches\"\n }\n },\n \"Weight\": {\n \"#\": \"50\",\n \"@\": {\n \"Units\": \"hundredths-pounds\"\n }\n },\n \"Width\": {\n \"#\": \"560\",\n \"@\": {\n \"Units\": \"hundredths-inches\"\n }\n }\n },\n \"PackageQuantity\": \"1\",\n \"ProductGroup\": \"Book\",\n \"ProductTypeName\": \"ABIS_BOOK\",\n \"PublicationDate\": \"2014-06-01\",\n \"Publisher\": \"David C. Cook\",\n \"ReleaseDate\": \"2014-06-01\",\n \"Studio\": \"David C. Cook\",\n \"Title\": \"A Farewell to Mars: An Evangelical Pastor's Journey Toward the\n Biblical Gospel of Peace\",\n \"UPC\": \"884278786428\",\n \"UPCList\": {\n \"UPCListElement\": \"884278786428\"\n }\n },\n \"OfferSummary\": {\n \"LowestNewPrice\": {\n \"Amount\": \"223\",\n \"CurrencyCode\": \"USD\",\n \"FormattedPrice\": \"$2.23\"\n },\n \"LowestUsedPrice\": {\n \"Amount\": \"490\",\n \"CurrencyCode\": \"USD\",\n \"FormattedPrice\": \"$4.90\"\n },\n \"TotalNew\": \"35\",\n \"TotalUsed\": \"25\",\n \"TotalCollectible\": \"0\",\n \"TotalRefurbished\": \"0\"\n },\n \"EditorialReviews\": {\n \"EditorialReview\": {\n \"Source\": \"Product Description\",\n \"Content\": \"\nWe know Jesus the Savior, but have we met Jesus, Prin\nce of Peace?<\/div>\n <\/div>\nWhen did we accept vengeance as an acceptable\n part of the Christian life? How did violence and power seep into our understand\ning of faith and grace? For those troubled by this trend toward the sword, perha\nps there is a better way.<\/div>\n <\/div>\nWhat if the message of Jesus dif\nfers radically from the drumbeats of war we hear all around us?<\/div>\n <\/div>\nUsing his own journey from war crier to peacemaker and his in-depth study\nof peace in the scriptures, author and pastor Brian Zahnd reintroduces us to the\n gospel of Peace.<\/div>\n\n\",\n \"IsLinkSuppressed\": \"0\"\n }\n },\n \"BrowseNodes\": {\n \"BrowseNode\": [\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"12333\",\n \"Name\": \"Christian Living\",\n \"Children\": {\n \"BrowseNode\": [\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"297488\",\n \"Name\": \"Business & Professional Growth\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"12376\",\n \"Name\": \"Counseling\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"69721\",\n \"Name\": \"Dating & Relationships\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"7259412011\",\n \"Name\": \"Death & Grief\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"7259413011\",\n \"Name\": \"Devotionals\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"12339\",\n \"Name\": \"Faith\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"7259415011\",\n \"Name\": \"Family\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"12391\",\n \"Name\": \"Holidays\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"12343\",\n \"Name\": \"Leadership\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"69722\",\n \"Name\": \"Marriage\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"7259417011\",\n \"Name\": \"Men's Issues\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"15755421\",\n \"Name\": \"Music\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"7288680011\",\n \"Name\": \"Self Help\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"7259419011\",\n \"Name\": \"Personal Growth\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"7259420011\",\n \"Name\": \"Social Issues\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"7259421011\",\n \"Name\": \"Spiritual Growth\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"7259422011\",\n \"Name\": \"Spiritual Warfare\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"12345\",\n \"Name\": \"Stewardship\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"3043241\",\n \"Name\": \"Women's Issues\"\n }\n ]\n },\n \"Ancestors\": {\n \"BrowseNode\": {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"12290\",\n \"Name\": \"Christian Books & Bibles\",\n \"Ancestors\": {\n \"BrowseNode\": {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"1000\",\n \"Name\": \"Subjects\",\n \"IsCategoryRoot\": \"1\",\n \"Ancestors\": {\n \"BrowseNode\": {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"283155\",\n \"Name\": \"Books\"\n }\n }\n }\n }\n }\n }\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"22\",\n \"Name\": \"Religion & Spirituality\",\n \"Children\": {\n \"BrowseNode\": [\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"12762\",\n \"Name\": \"Agnosticism\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"12764\",\n \"Name\": \"Atheism\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"12279\",\n \"Name\": \"Buddhism\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"12290\",\n \"Name\": \"Christian Books & Bibles\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"12506\",\n \"Name\": \"Hinduism\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"12522\",\n \"Name\": \"Islam\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"12540\",\n \"Name\": \"Judaism\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"12489\",\n \"Name\": \"Literature & Fiction\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"12621\",\n \"Name\": \"New Age & Spirituality\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"12689\",\n \"Name\": \"Occult & Paranormal\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"12735\",\n \"Name\": \"Other Eastern Religions & Sacred Texts\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"12761\",\n \"Name\": \"Other Religions, Practices & Sacred Texts\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"1873\",\n \"Name\": \"Religious Art\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"12779\",\n \"Name\": \"Religious Studies\"\n },\n {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"12809\",\n \"Name\": \"Worship & Devotion\"\n }\n ]\n },\n \"Ancestors\": {\n \"BrowseNode\": {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"1000\",\n \"Name\": \"Subjects\",\n \"IsCategoryRoot\": \"1\",\n \"Ancestors\": {\n \"BrowseNode\": {\n \"BrowseNodeId\": \"283155\",\n \"Name\": \"Books\"\n }\n }\n }\n }\n }\n ]\n }\n }\n }\n}\n<\/pre>\n- http:\/\/docs.aws.amazon.com\/AWSECommerceService\/latest\/DG\/ItemLookup.html [↩<\/a>] [↩<\/a>]<\/span><\/li><\/ol>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Retrieving book metadata from Amazon<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,6],"tags":[46,53,387,388,495],"aioseo_notices":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garysieling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4355"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garysieling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garysieling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garysieling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garysieling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4355"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.garysieling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4355\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6465,"href":"https:\/\/www.garysieling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4355\/revisions\/6465"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garysieling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4355"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garysieling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4355"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garysieling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4355"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}