Judging a book by its cover

United States
October 28, 2007 6:37pm CST
I know the old saying of you should not judge a book by its cover. However, I find that a little hard not to do. First impressions are so important. The way I find the books I am interested in reading is by word of mouth and book reviews. So, I never see the book until I've put it on hold at the library. However, once the books get home and are on the shelf I always have several to choose from. I know that they all sounded good to me for one reason or another. I've noticed lately, though, that even that doesn't stop me from being attracted to one book over the others based on the cover art. How do you choose what books to read? Do you think the cover makes a difference?
4 responses
@danoneism (679)
• Malaysia
29 Oct 07
of course a book cover makes a big difference..!!~ huhu usually it takes a intresting book cover to pull peoples attention to buy it... even if it is a free book people will look on its cover first before taking it..!~
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Oct 07
That's funny, but true. I, for example, wouldn't pick up a free book if it had a horror type cover on it. I just know that I am not interested in reading that type of book.
@luzamper (1357)
• Philippines
29 Oct 07
Book covers are specially chosen to attract people to read it, even what are just on the cover, and then they might be interested and buy it. For me even if the cover is beautiful and attractive, I would see the subject matter and if I like it, then I would buy it. I do not at all base my decision on the cover alone for sometimes it is deceiving.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Oct 07
I definately agree that the subject matter is the most important. I am just amazed at how well one book grabs my attention over the other after I get them home- based on the cover. I think as humans we are very visual and that is a big part of the pull of an attractive book cover.
@goodsign (2287)
• Malaysia
28 Oct 07
Don't judge the book by its cover, actually a proverb. Proverb means a short pithy(terse and vigorously expressive) saying in general use, stating a general truth of piece of advice. It reads that the content of the book should take first. That is why I look for it list of contents before purchasing or buying or reading that particular book. Does it content meets my finding?. The first criteria that I should look for.
@saucer (47)
• India
29 Oct 07
my cal would be if a person is a real reader,you wont find so much problems by seeing da cover and judging wat it would be like..sumtimes it does happens but yes,an attractive cover makes a difference for sure...i prefer to know abt the writer's previous book's reviews and then decide by reading the dust//