Do You Read the Preface?

[sakura-panda]

I start reading after the table of contents, whatever that may be.

[RainingLemur]

Sometimes I'll read the full preface. Other times, I'll read a few lines and not really care about it and move on to the meat and potatoes.

[jerryguinn]

As with other respondents, I usually read the Preface ... if it is by the author. It may contain pertinent information relating to the story which he/she took time to present. If it doesn't contribute to the story, then I really haven't wasted that much time since the preface is generally only a very few pages.

[bucsie]

if it's short, I read it. otherwise, not. i give them more chances for technical books, to sort of get a feeling of what's inside it

[Assassin]

Yes I read the preface. If it is boring I'm sure the book will be too.
When I write a preface for my fiction books the purpose is to give some insight into the title and how it ties into the story; sort of an extremely short synopsis.
Example: in my book "Reverse Metamorphosis" the preface is six or eight line and compares natures metamorphosis of a worm to a butterfly to the lead character, an assassin, who transforms from an innocent human being to an evil killer.

[Nawpkin]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I always read the preface. In fact, I tend to read every single word in a book.

Quoted because I am the same way. The only page I skip is the copywrite page at the front of the book

[Quexos]

I don't feel comfortable jumping through any section of a book so yeah I read the prefaces, the prologues and the epilogues too :-)

[maxim9691]

I only read it before I take it home - it usually reveals little but I have a quick glance at it anyway.

[DMB]

I usually have considerable curiosity about the author and his/her motivation and objectives. Sometimes the preface illuminates them. I cannot put my hand on my heart and say I always read them, but I usually do, though sometimes after reading the book.

As a teenager I read the complete published works of G.B. Shaw, including compilations of his critical journalism and The Intelligent Woman's Guide to Socialism. But I really enjoyed reading his plays, and their prefaces are such amazing writing that some have been published separately; there was even a whole volume of them. They do refer to what happens in the plays, but they are often much more far-ranging critical essays. That's the sort of preface you can get your teeth into!

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by Quexos

I don't feel comfortable jumping through any section of a book so yeah I read the prefaces, the prologues and the epilogues too :-)

The What exactly do you call "reading a book" ? poll, here, reminded me of this thread. I too always read the prologues and epilogues as they are usually part of the story, where as prefaces and, at times, introductions are not.

[ucfgrad93]

I always read it, it is part of the book.

[shanghaichica]

Sometimes. If it's a biography I usually read it. I also read it if I like the author.