Do You Judge A Book By It's Cover?

https://pixabay.com/en/who-how-what-where-why-when-2985525/
@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
• 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
@HazySue (39269)
• Gouverneur, New York
14 Dec 17
I really do need to work hard on the cover. I suspect that many are book by the cover kind of people.
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
14 Dec 17
@HazySue a lot of non bookaholics are.
1 person likes 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
@HazySue (39269)
• Gouverneur, New York
18 Dec 17
@just4him I do judge the book by the description on the cover. To me it is the most important part of the cover.
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39269)
• Gouverneur, New York
15 Dec 17
What you have said makes perfect sense to me. I am a title and author looker, then cover, then book description reader. They all seem to come together to help me decide if I will be reading the book.
2 people like this
• 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
@HazySue (39269)
• Gouverneur, New York
14 Dec 17
That's the way I do it. I like to have the information
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (454979)
• Switzerland
15 Dec 17
I look at the cover first and then I check inside the cover to read more about the book. A disturbing cover will prevent me to check out more.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (454979)
• Switzerland
15 Dec 17
@HazySue Yes, a cover can dissuade me, because in my opinion if an author choose a cover that I absolutely dislike possibly also wrote something that I do not like.
2 people like this
@HazySue (39269)
• Gouverneur, New York
15 Dec 17
@LadyDuck It makes sense to me.
2 people like this
@HazySue (39269)
• Gouverneur, New York
15 Dec 17
So, you like to know more than just what the cover looks like but a cover can dissuade from taking the book home.
2 people like this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
14 Dec 17
I do the same as you, but a great cover is what makes me read further.
3 people like this
@HazySue (39269)
• Gouverneur, New York
15 Dec 17
I do look at the cover. Some of them do attract me to the boo in the first place.
2 people like this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
16 Dec 17
1 person likes 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
@HazySue (39269)
• Gouverneur, New York
14 Dec 17
I also read inside information. I am finding that many people don't seem to. If they are not draw by it's cover they tend to put it back on the shelf.
@Keyia120 (1134)
• United States
14 Dec 17
@HazySue True which is very sad cause it could turn out to be a good book.
1 person likes this
@Bluedoll (16774)
• Canada
15 Dec 17
Would make a good title. Do you judge? a book by Covered
2 people like this
@Bluedoll (16774)
• Canada
15 Dec 17
@HazySue I want to read the green one in your picture
2 people like this
@HazySue (39269)
• Gouverneur, New York
15 Dec 17
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39269)
• Gouverneur, New York
15 Dec 17
it would for sure.
1 person likes this
@KristenH (33355)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
14 Dec 17
I do check out the back cover and the front, especially to read the blurb inside. If it's from one of my favorite authors, I would automatically pick it up to read.
2 people like this
@KristenH (33355)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
15 Dec 17
@HazySue Maybe someday you'll check out and read my books.
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39269)
• Gouverneur, New York
15 Dec 17
@KristenH I am looking forward to doing so.
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39269)
• Gouverneur, New York
15 Dec 17
I do the same thing.. So, all of it is important.
1 person likes 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
@HazySue (39269)
• Gouverneur, New York
15 Dec 17
Those are all things to consider. I also understand that you cannot have to busy a cover, it needs to be rather simple.
1 person likes 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
@HazySue (39269)
• Gouverneur, New York
15 Dec 17
I like to read the reviews, it gives me an idea of what others are looking for.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129095)
• Israel
15 Dec 17
I check out the back to see what the book is about and if sounds interesting I decide to read it.
2 people like this
@HazySue (39269)
• Gouverneur, New York
15 Dec 17
It's the same thing I do. I want to know what it will be about.
@Hannihar (129095)
• Israel
17 Dec 17
@HazySue Susan, if the summary sounds interesting I will open and read it.
1 person likes this
@Kandae11 (53601)
14 Dec 17
I like books with attractive covers, but I must read the outside and inside information before deciding on whether to buy or not.
3 people like this
@HazySue (39269)
• Gouverneur, New York
14 Dec 17
I like interesting cove4r myself but I do judge by the information.
1 person likes this
14 Dec 17
Not anymore.
2 people like this
@HazySue (39269)
• Gouverneur, New York
14 Dec 17
You don't read anymore? Or you don't judge by the cover?
1 person likes this
15 Dec 17
@HazySue I don't judge. Still reading.
1 person likes this
• 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
@HazySue (39269)
• Gouverneur, New York
15 Dec 17
I used to be a quick chooser too. After ending up with books that were definitely not to my taste I finally started reading all about them.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (168432)
• United States
15 Dec 17
Rarely I am more likely to judge by the jacket.
2 people like this
@HazySue (39269)
• Gouverneur, New York
15 Dec 17
It seems that most people are. That's why I am so careful in picking the cover.
1 person likes this
• 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
@HazySue (39269)
• Gouverneur, New York
15 Dec 17
I try to read past the first three chapters before I make a judgment about a book. It sounds lie you do look fu5rther than the cove4r to find your type of book.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (133760)
• Roseburg, Oregon
16 Dec 17
I look the cocer over and than read the information in the book page by page.
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39269)
• Gouverneur, New York
18 Dec 17
I do believe the cover is important.
@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
@HazySue (39269)
• Gouverneur, New York
15 Dec 17
I find myself trying to finish a book even when I am not interested in it. I keep thinking that it must get better at some point.
1 person likes this
@Scrapper88 (5958)
• United States
14 Dec 17
Most of the time; I read what the book is about.
2 people like this
@HazySue (39269)
• Gouverneur, New York
15 Dec 17
I do want to know if it is something that appeals to me.