Do You Buy Books Based on an Author's Bio?

[dfigueroa]

I came across a blog I don't usually read, but it's really popular. I'm a dunce when it comes to blogs. I tend to read the ones that simply interest me or whose authors I know. This is the first time I've read this one. But I digress :P

The latest post on http://ireaderreview.com/ makes quite an issue over an author's bio making or breaking a book's sales.

I don't agree, but since I recognized the authors (I know Imogen from the boards), I read it. I've personally never bought a book based on a bio. What do you do?

The blog author is an intellectual, so maybe it's a different thought process?

Dunno.

[doreenjoy]

No one buys a book because of an author bio, but I'm sure plenty of people decide NOT to buy a book based on the bio.

All based on my anecdotal experience over 20 some years in publishing.

[GA Russell]

If a professional wrote a novel about his line of work, it might be a reason for me to give the book a second thought.

Dashiell Hammett was a private detective. John Grisham and Scott Turow were attorneys.

[DavidRM]

I've never bought (or *not* bought) a book because of the author bio. Or read or not read a book because of the author bio.

-David

[jgaiser]

Originally Posted by doreenjoy

No one buys a book because of an author bio, but I'm sure plenty of people decide NOT to buy a book based on the bio.

Or politics...

There is at least one author who will never get another dime from me.

[Simon Wood]

Hmm, I don't think so. The story hooks me first, then reviews will sway me. I think the only time a bio might change that if it gives some bearing on the story such as PI or a spy, but it would be a minor factor.

[Darqref]

Originally Posted by dfigueroa

The latest post on http://ireaderreview.com/ makes quite an issue over an author's bio making or breaking a book's sales.

I don't agree, but since I recognized the authors (I know Imogen from the boards), I read it. I've personally never bought a book based on a bio. What do you do?

The blog author is an intellectual, so maybe it's a different thought process?

Dunno.

If I were considering NON-FICTION, then an author's bio might very well make a difference. I'm considering a new non-fiction "Let the Swords Encircle Me" by Scott Peterson (it's expensive,so I haven't yet...) and I am only considering it because I know the author from his work as a newspaper correspondent.

It's more difficult for fiction, but even there, an author's bio might have a positive effect - bought an SF book once because I recognized the authors bio as a physics professor at a local University. I don't think I'd have a *negative* reaction to a bio without also having more personal knowledge about the author.

[FlorenceArt]

How do you find an author's bio? It never occurred to me to look for one before deciding on buying a book. I may skim it after reading the book, but only if I happen to find it in the last pages. I'm not interested in authors, I'm interested in books.

As already mentioned, this is true for fiction, but non-fiction is a bit different. It may be important to assess the reliability of an author and the seriousness of their work, but I usually rely on reviews for this, not on what the author or publisher is telling me.

[bthrowsnaill]

Age comes to mind as something that might influence me in a bio. I am less apt to read something by an 18 year old author than I am something by a 30+ year old author. One would think that a bio that comes off as arrogant might also be a turnoff. I've tried to give enigmatic responses to certain bio requests and have had negative feedback on that approach, so that might be another potential pitfall.

[Quake1028]

I've never used a bio to decide for or against buying a book in my life. In fact, I would say 99% of the time IF I read them it isn't until I finish the book. And I rarely read them.

[Penforhire]

Never. I read a bio after reading a book or two and only if I like the writing. I think that habit, ignoring the bio, is the result of some really screwed up authors whose works I enjoyed when I was younger.

I mean, look at the personal life of Robert E Howard. If you cared a whit about how he lived his life you'd never think to touch his books.

Or what about Nietzsche? Superman? Hardly. If you weigh his personal life against his works it can literally extinguish their value. Or is that merely an extreme version of "do as I say, not as I do?"

[GraceKrispy]

I can't say I've ever let a bio influence whether or not I choose a book. I do, however, read the bio (sometime numerous times) while reading the book. I like knowing a tiny bit about the person who wrote whatever it is I'm reading. Sometimes I become curious about the age of the person, or the work history, based on what I'm reading in the story. Often I read the bio before I begin the book. To me, the author is a really important part of the story, and I want to interact with that as well as what the author has written. I think what the author chooses to write and how the author chooses to pose (assuming some of that, at least, is within the author's control and not dictated by publishers, which I know may not be the case) adds something to the experience of reading the story.

As far as reading a detailed bio as you might find somewhere on the net, I don't care so much about that unless I've read the story and I'm really interested in knowing more about that author. I would say it happens for me in perhaps one out of every 20 books I read. The blurb bio is usually enough for me.

[yakuzaboss]

Never. If I based my decision to buy a books by reading the authors bio, I'd never buy books. My decision is based in word of mouth and reader reviews. And big Oprah. Lol. Jk.

[SeaBookGuy]

Are we talking about the bio blurb (somewhere) in the book itself? That might make a difference if I'm hesitant.

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by jgaiser

Or politics...

There is at least one author who will never get another dime from me.

Well, not so much for me. Few people in the arts are conservative like me, so I can't really let politics stand in the way of a good time.

Now poorly presented politics, that's a different story. If you are political in your art and you want me to keep on consuming your product, then you have to do some homework and make an argument that I have to work at to refute. Empty name calling will not get you any additional income from me.

If you happen to agree with me politically, then you need to be even more organized, I think I'm sort of sensitive to giving some clown a pass just because he uses the words and imagry I like. However I reserve the right to behave irrationally and maybe even hypcritically about this from time to time. I'm smart and good looking, but I'm not perfect.

In general, it isn't the politics I find offensive, its the assery of the presentation.

Back on topic, I hate biographies that sound like the author wrote them but is pretending to be someone else.

If they are too cute (i.e. list all their dogs named Sam, or talk about kid's 'poopy' diapers), or obviously contain a lot of inside 'jokes', I begin to suspect that if you can piss me off in 2 or 3 paragraphs, what could you do with a whole book?

Just give me the straight info; tell me who you are, and why you think you aren't a big fool for writitng the book.