For the first time since the Google Books project was launched over two years ago, Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) has released the top picks among global online readers of its Google Books service. So, what are people around the globe reading then? The top of the expected odd list included readers of The Koran, a guide to tropical flowers, a robot-building manual and a text on interest rates. Hmm, that is an eclectic list, yes?

Google released this list during the same time a very large gathering of publishers at the Frankfurt Book Fair was happening -- and for good reason. Although the releasing of book search results was termed an "experiment" by Google, I think the company wanted the publishing world to know what was popular, what was being read.

Can Google finesse its way into advertising using this medium like it has others (web, radio and even some television)? Who knows, maybe publishers will learn something about their audiences in a way never before known.

Sure, publishers and authors can track sales volume and critical comments on Internet bulletins, but the kind of real-time data Google is compiling about what is being read (and most likely, by who at some point) may make the tongues of publishers salivate in anticipation of -- well, something.

The kind of data Google continues to digitally pile up on the habits of web surfers and Google users beyond the search engine is staggering when you stop to think about it -- and it's a marketer's dream. That is, if Google can makes intelligent sense out of the minute-by-minute reams of data being produced on customers.