[AnotherCat]

Originally Posted by Dutchbook

I haven't looked at the cover of a book before deciding to buy it/read it in years. Granted, I get my kicks from reading technical books and history books, instead of storyline literature.

Case in point, the cover of what i'm currently reading: https://ozon-st.cdn.ngenix.net/multi...1007171774.jpg

And of my favorite book:
https://www.securepages.nl/kadeboeken/plaatjes/6574.jpg


But when I do, I just google the title, read a summary and the reviews on Goodreads (and more importantly, check what kind of people those reviewers are)...

I think you are completely astray in understanding the points being made about the importance of covers if you think that public domain mid 19th Century novels (your Havelaar example) and handbooks describing the USSR's air defense forces prior to the collapse of the USSR (your other example) have any relevance to what is being said.