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					Originally Posted by  tompe
					 
				 
				It follows since if you can detect in a paragraph that the book is not worth reading then the reviewers or friends would have told me so. 
			
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 That only applies if tastes are universal and absolute.
Sampling is about testing a book for suitability, to see how it matches with *your* tastes and expectations. Friends and reviewers can only tell you what *they* think.
Sampling is testing to see what *you* think.
Relying on others only gets you part of the way to a good/fun read. Sooner or later you have to read and pass judgment yourself.  It can be before or after paying, before or after reading the first paragraph; that is strictly up to you.