diff --git a/src/calibre/customize/ui.py b/src/calibre/customize/ui.py
index 4d0e787040..26aa6169c5 100644
--- a/src/calibre/customize/ui.py
+++ b/src/calibre/customize/ui.py
@@ -446,14 +446,14 @@ def plugin_for_input_format(fmt):
             return plugin
 
 def all_input_formats():
-    formats = set([])
+    formats = set()
     for plugin in input_format_plugins():
         for format in plugin.file_types:
             formats.add(format)
     return formats
 
 def available_input_formats():
-    formats = set([])
+    formats = set()
     for plugin in input_format_plugins():
         if not is_disabled(plugin):
             for format in plugin.file_types:
diff --git a/src/calibre/srv/code.py b/src/calibre/srv/code.py
index 5320353cbe..32d34f486e 100644
--- a/src/calibre/srv/code.py
+++ b/src/calibre/srv/code.py
@@ -10,11 +10,13 @@ from threading import Lock
 from json import load as load_json_file
 
 from calibre import prepare_string_for_xml, as_unicode
+from calibre.customize.ui import available_input_formats
 from calibre.db.view import sanitize_sort_field_name
 from calibre.srv.ajax import get_db, search_result
 from calibre.srv.errors import HTTPNotFound, HTTPBadRequest
 from calibre.srv.metadata import book_as_json, categories_as_json, icon_map
 from calibre.srv.routes import endpoint, json
+from calibre.utils.config import prefs
 from calibre.utils.icu import sort_key
 from calibre.utils.search_query_parser import ParseException
 
@@ -92,7 +94,7 @@ def interface_data(ctx, rd):
     Optional: ?num=50&sort=timestamp.desc&library_id=<default library>
               &search=''&extra_books=''
     '''
-    ans = {'username':rd.username}
+    ans = {'username':rd.username, 'output_format':prefs['output_format'].upper(), 'input_formats':tuple(x.upper() for x in available_input_formats())}
     ans['library_map'], ans['default_library'] = ctx.library_map
     ud = {}
     if rd.username:
diff --git a/src/calibre/srv/content.py b/src/calibre/srv/content.py
index e6e895bcb4..1ba7a94f7a 100644
--- a/src/calibre/srv/content.py
+++ b/src/calibre/srv/content.py
@@ -269,4 +269,4 @@ def get(ctx, rd, what, book_id, library_id):
             try:
                 return book_fmt(ctx, rd, library_id, db, book_id, what.lower())
             except NoSuchFormat:
-                raise HTTPNotFound('No %r format for the book %r' % (what.lower(), book_id))
+                raise HTTPNotFound('No %s format for the book %r' % (what.lower(), book_id))
diff --git a/src/pyj/book_list/book_details.pyj b/src/pyj/book_list/book_details.pyj
index c947c6acf8..cdf38c3fd9 100644
--- a/src/pyj/book_list/book_details.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/book_list/book_details.pyj
@@ -9,10 +9,32 @@ from elementmaker import E
 from gettext import gettext as _
 from book_list.globals import get_boss
 from modals import error_dialog
-from widgets import create_spinner
+from widgets import create_spinner, create_button
 
 bd_counter = 0
 
+FORMAT_PRIORITIES = [
+    'EPUB', 'AZW3', 'DOCX', 'LIT', 'MOBI', 'ODT', 'RTF', 'MD', 'MARKDOWN', 'TXT', 'PDF'
+]
+
+def sort_formats_key(fmt):
+    ans = FORMAT_PRIORITIES.indexOf(fmt)
+    if ans < 0:
+        ans = FORMAT_PRIORITIES.length
+    return ans
+
+def get_preferred_format(metadata, output_format, input_formats):
+    formats = (metadata and metadata.formats) or v'[]'
+    formats = [f.toUpperCase() for f in formats]
+    input_formats = {x.toUpperCase():True for x in input_formats}
+    fmt = output_format
+    if formats.length and formats.indexOf(fmt) == -1:
+        for q in sorted(formats, key=sort_formats_key):
+            if input_formats[q]:
+                fmt = q
+                break
+    return fmt.toUpperCase()
+
 class BookDetailsPanel:
 
     def __init__(self, interface_data, book_list_container):
@@ -26,6 +48,7 @@ class BookDetailsPanel:
         )
         book_list_container.appendChild(div)
         self.interface_data = interface_data
+        self.current_book_id = None
 
     @property
     def container(self):
@@ -40,6 +63,7 @@ class BookDetailsPanel:
         self.container.style.display = 'block' if val else 'none'
 
     def init(self, data):
+        self.current_book_id = None
         c = self.container
         clear(c)
         book_id = get_current_query()['book-id']
@@ -96,6 +120,7 @@ class BookDetailsPanel:
             c.lastChild.lastChild.innerHTML = xhr.error_html
 
     def render_book(self, book_id):
+        self.current_book_id = int(book_id)
         metadata = self.interface_data.metadata[book_id]
         get_boss().ui.set_title(metadata.title)
         cover_url = str.format('get/cover/{}/{}', book_id, self.interface_data['library_id'])
@@ -108,10 +133,29 @@ class BookDetailsPanel:
         c = self.container
         c.appendChild(E.div(
             style='display:block; padding: 1ex 1em',
-        E.div(style='margin-right: 1em; float:left'),
+            E.div(style='margin-right: 1em; float:left', data_book_id='' + book_id),
             img
         ))
+        container = c.lastChild.firstChild
+        read_button = create_button(_('Read'), 'book', self.read_book.bind(self), _('Read this book'))
+        download_button = create_button(_('Download'), 'cloud-download', self.download_book.bind(self), str.format(
+            _('Download this book in the {} format'), self.preferred_format(book_id)))
+        row = E.div(read_button, '\xa0\xa0\xa0', download_button, style='margin-bottom: 1ex')
+        if not metadata.formats or not metadata.formats.length:
+            row.style.display = 'none'
+        container.appendChild(row)
 
     def on_img_err(self, err):
         img = err.target
         img.style.display = 'none'
+
+    def preferred_format(self, book_id):
+        return get_preferred_format(self.interface_data.metadata[book_id], self.interface_data['output_format'], self.interface_data['input_formats'])
+
+    def download_book(self):
+        book_id = self.current_book_id
+        fmt = self.preferred_format(book_id)
+        window.location = str.format('get/{}/{}/{}', fmt, book_id, self.interface_data.library_id)
+
+    def read_book(self):
+        pass
diff --git a/src/pyj/book_list/ui.pyj b/src/pyj/book_list/ui.pyj
index 07116228e6..c83c0f1c4e 100644
--- a/src/pyj/book_list/ui.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/book_list/ui.pyj
@@ -106,6 +106,8 @@ class UI:
 
         self.panel_map['book-details'] = bd = UIState(ClosePanelBar(_('Book Details')), main_panel=self.book_details_panel)
         bd.add_button(icon_name='random', tooltip=_('Pick another random book'), action=self.book_details_panel.show_random.bind(self.book_details_panel))
+        bd.add_button(icon_name='book', tooltip=_('Read this book'), action=self.book_details_panel.read_book.bind(self.book_details_panel))
+        bd.add_button(icon_name='cloud-download', tooltip=_('Download this book'), action=self.book_details_panel.download_book.bind(self.book_details_panel))
 
     def create_prefences_panel(self, title, close_callback=None, panel_data=None):
         ans = UIState(ClosePanelBar(title), close_callback=close_callback, main_panel=self.prefs_panel, panel_data=panel_data)