Do You Judge A Book By It's Cover?
By Susan
@HazySue (39269)
Gouverneur, New York
December 14, 2017 12:35pm CST
Are you someone who looks at the cover an decides whether or not it will be a book you will like? This morning I stood in the library and watched people choosing books to check out and read.
As I watched I found myself dividing these people into two different categories. Those who quickly look at the cover and those who carefully read all of the information about the book.
It seemed to me that the ones who made snap judgment just looked at the image on the cover and made up their mind about the book. Because I am involved in putting together a cover for my book I am especially sensitive to how people choose to read a particular book.
I, myself, tend to read all the information provided about the book that is contained outside and inside the cover before I decide it is a book I might enjoy.
Now I am trying to find a way to appeal to both type of people.
What type of person are you?
15 people like this
19 responses
@thislittlepennyearns (57983)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
14 Dec 17
Sometimes I do read the back info on the book, sometimes if the cover is eye catching I will still buy it. Of course there have been some hits and misses with doing that.
5 people like this
@just4him (303392)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
15 Dec 17
I look at the titles first. If I like the title I'll take if off the shelf and read the back cover. If I like the back cover, then I read about the author to know a little about him or her. Then I look at the cover, maybe. With all the books I've read, not many covers seem to represent the book, so it has no concern for me. Though I also know how important the cover is, and do my best to make a good representation of the book for my own book covers, of which I bombed badly with my generic covers for the second and third books, but nailed it for the first and fourth.
4 people like this
@just4him (303392)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
16 Dec 17
@HazySue We're writers so we want to know about the essentials first before the cover. The cover has little to do with whether I read it or not, the description of the book is first and if I like that, then I really don't need to look at the cover. You know some books only have cover pictures on the cover jacket if it's a hardcover book. So the fact that those are plain makes no difference to me.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85130)
• Valdosta, Georgia
14 Dec 17
I look at the cover and read the info they give about the book on the back of it. If it looks and sounds good, I will read it. =)
4 people like this
@Keyia120 (1134)
• United States
14 Dec 17
I read the back of the book for information because the cover may not have anything to do with the book and some do that on purpose. You can make a book cover with just the title of the book and go from there depending on what you are trying to do when it comes to your book. I tend to write the title of my book on the cover and I do it on purpose so that people will have to read the information. Choosing a great title will get people into the book sometimes as well. I mean everything is a hit and miss so getting great feedback once you let family, friends and a few strangers read it is the best as well. I always research books on my phone right there in the store at times but even if the reviews were a hit and miss I still may buy the book cause I may like it and someone else didn't. I am an all around researcher and information reader.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (323674)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Dec 17
You certainly need an attractive cover I think. I'd do some research on it as I know there have been studies done. Apparently you shouldn't have stuff low on the spine as it gets covered by library stickers. But there is lots of other stuff too. Best colours, length of title etc.
3 people like this
@rina110383 (24497)
•
15 Dec 17
I do the same thing. If I'm not satisfied, I even check reviews of the book.
3 people like this
@misunderstood_zombie (8143)
• United States
15 Dec 17
At one time, I was the quick chooser, but I've learned a really cool cover does not always make for a good book.
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (168432)
• United States
15 Dec 17
Rarely I am more likely to judge by the jacket.
2 people like this
@AndrewFreyne (6281)
• United Kingdom
14 Dec 17
I generally do not judge a book by its cover, at least I don't think I do! I always go by what is written on the back to see if there is an interesting plot or story line. I suppose you could class this as judging a book by its cover or maybe I am just confusing the two!
I love reading and for me it is very important to choose a gripping story after all, you do want to keep turning those pages. I think to just go for a book by the front cover alone is probably not best practice but then again you may be pleasantly surprised as you start the book but it may be a 50/50 chance!
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
15 Dec 17
I listen to books on CD while I paint, I go through many books every week. I look at the cover and read what is there, usually I have favorite authors and I check them out to see if they have any new books. I came home with three book last week and enjoyed two and the third is going back to the library un-listened too because it bored me...
2 people like this
@Scrapper88 (5958)
• United States
14 Dec 17
Most of the time; I read what the book is about.
2 people like this