Do you judge a book by its cover? - Page 2

Spock96 · 05-01-2012, 12:21 PM

When I buy books I buy them half for what I read on the back or inside the cover. The other half would be strictly by cover art.

Pomtroll · 05-01-2012, 12:24 PM

I voted yes. Certain covers definitely turn me away from a book. But if the book comes with a recommendation I will look further than the cover.

Catlady · 05-01-2012, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danskmacabre

There's lots of ways to judge a book apart from by the cover.

I've got some books for free as the first book in a series. They hope that you will buy the book once you've read the first book.

Many book selling sites let you read previews of the book. Usually of the first chapter or 10 pages or whatever.

Recommendations by friends, associates etc who have a similar interest.

If you're looking at physical books (I don't see any reason why this thread is restricted to ebooks) just going to a bookstore and browsing the shelves, flipping through the books.

That's just a few methods...... I'm sure there's others than just deciding on a book by its cover..

All of these except the recommendations take more time than glancing at a cover. I'm not going to pick up the book in the first place if the cover doesn't appeal to me.

I also judge books by title. Intriguing title, intriguing cover--then I'll read the blurb.

danskmacabre · 05-01-2012, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catlady

All of these except the recommendations take more time than glancing at a cover. I'm not going to pick up the book in the first place if the cover doesn't appeal to me.

I also judge books by title. Intriguing title, intriguing cover--then I'll read the blurb.

The time it takes to do any of those things wasn't in the OP. The question was do you only judge by the cover? you answered what alternatives are there?
You didn't say "Only specify alternatives as quick as looking at a cover"

I answered your question with reasonable possibilities based on your reply.

danskmacabre · 05-01-2012, 02:53 PM

I would prefer just a text cover to a bad cover..

Apache · 05-01-2012, 03:11 PM

Book Covers and Titles may make me notice the book and pick it out. They are not going to cause me to buy the book. And now that I buy ebooks I do not even notice the cover of a book.
Apache

paulsalter · 05-01-2012, 03:18 PM

varies for me

if its an author I have read/enjoyed before then I don't take much notice of the cover

for authors i haven't read before, the cover plays a big part in deciding whether to try it, the cover looks good I read more about the book, and possibly get it

when looking at the daily free books on amazon, the cover plays a big part in filtering out the books to get

jmaejr · 05-01-2012, 05:49 PM

If the cover looks like something a 10yr old did in 2 minutes in Photoshop, I can't imagine the inside being much better...
i.e like this

For example only, not my type of book.

I won't even pick it up...

The Terminator · 05-01-2012, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmaejr

If the cover looks like something a 10yr old did in 2 minutes in Photoshop, I can't imagine the inside being much better...
i.e like this

I won't even pick it up...

Exactly.

It seems in general that eBooks can have some really bad covers since the author must have made them quickly in Photoshop.

Catlady · 05-01-2012, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danskmacabre

The time it takes to do any of those things wasn't in the OP. The question was do you only judge by the cover? you answered what alternatives are there?
You didn't say "Only specify alternatives as quick as looking at a cover"

I answered your question with reasonable possibilities based on your reply.

Huh? I didn't ask you or anyone else any question.

Vic333 · 05-01-2012, 09:51 PM

The cover, if well designed, should fairly represent a book's content.

xg4bx · 05-01-2012, 10:12 PM

i mainly buy indie ebooks so if their cover looks like they handed their dog a box of colored pencils, it gets skipped. i'd rather have no cover than some of the truly embarrassing ones i've seen. the internet is packed to the gills with talented artists and stock photos, theres no excuse.

Harry_Y · 05-02-2012, 10:19 AM

I have to say that if a cover grabs my eye I will tend to look at the book further.

JD Gumby · 05-02-2012, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danskmacabre

There's lots of ways to judge a book apart from by the cover.

I've got some books for free as the first book in a series. They hope that you will buy the book once you've read the first book.

Many book selling sites let you read previews of the book. Usually of the first chapter or 10 pages or whatever.

Yeah, but judging the cover (by which I'm including the title) is what lets most people take the next step of thumbing through (or checking a sample) it to see if they might want it.

ProfCrash · 05-02-2012, 03:59 PM

I am weird. I do all of my book shopping online and I can't say that the cover means anything to me. (shrugs)

Heck, I am annoyed that the Kindle App and Kindle for PC show the covers instead of just list the title. I don't like the idea of my nephew wanting to look at my Kindle books on my IPad and going "what is up with all the people in rope?"

View Poll Results: Do you judge a book by its cover?
Yes, I do!	73	66.97%
No, never!	12	11.01%
Difficult to say	11	10.09%
I like chocolate muffins!	13	11.93%
Voters: 109. You may not vote on this poll

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05-01-2012, 12:21 PM	#16
Spock96 Book Geek. Posts: 78 Karma: 639132 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: Kindle Keyboard 3G	When I buy books I buy them half for what I read on the back or inside the cover. The other half would be strictly by cover art.

05-01-2012, 12:24 PM	#17
Pomtroll Guru Posts: 822 Karma: 1341819 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Minnesota USA Device: Sony 350, Sony T1, Kindle Touch, Kindle PW1	I voted yes. Certain covers definitely turn me away from a book. But if the book comes with a recommendation I will look further than the cover.

05-01-2012, 02:53 PM	#20
danskmacabre Guru Posts: 733 Karma: 3593438 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Glo. Galaxy Tab S 8.4	I would prefer just a text cover to a bad cover..

05-01-2012, 03:11 PM	#21
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,306 Karma: 90981752 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	Book Covers and Titles may make me notice the book and pick it out. They are not going to cause me to buy the book. And now that I buy ebooks I do not even notice the cover of a book. Apache

05-01-2012, 03:18 PM	#22
paulsalter Fanatic Posts: 579 Karma: 3243761 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle Fire HD8	varies for me if its an author I have read/enjoyed before then I don't take much notice of the cover for authors i haven't read before, the cover plays a big part in deciding whether to try it, the cover looks good I read more about the book, and possibly get it when looking at the daily free books on amazon, the cover plays a big part in filtering out the books to get

05-01-2012, 05:49 PM	#23
jmaejr Banned Posts: 132 Karma: 566638 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Wouldn't you like to know. Device: Sony PRS-350:Sony PRS-T1:Rooted Nook Tablet	If the cover looks like something a 10yr old did in 2 minutes in Photoshop, I can't imagine the inside being much better... i.e like this For example only, not my type of book. I won't even pick it up...

05-01-2012, 09:51 PM	#26
Vic333 Connoisseur Posts: 57 Karma: 500240 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	The cover, if well designed, should fairly represent a book's content.

05-01-2012, 10:12 PM	#27
xg4bx Are you gonna eat that? Posts: 1,633 Karma: 23215128 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Phillipsburg, NJ Device: Kindle 3, Nook STG	i mainly buy indie ebooks so if their cover looks like they handed their dog a box of colored pencils, it gets skipped. i'd rather have no cover than some of the truly embarrassing ones i've seen. the internet is packed to the gills with talented artists and stock photos, theres no excuse.

05-02-2012, 10:19 AM	#28
Harry_Y Addict Posts: 305 Karma: 704492 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NY Device: Kindle 3, Kindle DX, Galaxy Tab 2	I have to say that if a cover grabs my eye I will tend to look at the book further.

05-02-2012, 03:59 PM	#30
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	I am weird. I do all of my book shopping online and I can't say that the cover means anything to me. (shrugs) Heck, I am annoyed that the Kindle App and Kindle for PC show the covers instead of just list the title. I don't like the idea of my nephew wanting to look at my Kindle books on my IPad and going "what is up with all the people in rope?"