Do You Read the Preface?

[vulcan_girl]

I like to read them because they usually offer some extra insight into their process or reasoning behind the book.

[elemenoP]

If I enjoyed the book, I will read the preface *afterwards.*

eP

[Ravensknight]

Usually. But I just skip the "acknowledgements" and "thanks to..." parts. I don't give a fig about Author X's grandpa and how the spanking said Grandpa gave Author X changed Author X's life path forever.

[Tattncat]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

I figure the author took the time to write it, so I might as well read it. I find it often gives me a good idea what to expect from a book.

I am pretty much on the same page with you. In general I think it often gives a little insight as to the author's purpose and point of view.

[Hatgirl]

Originally Posted by bumblesby

It depends on if you mean a real preface written my the author or an introduction written by someone else. Introductions tend to give too much away about a book. Unless it is a really complex book, I will skip it. It is best to read the introduction after you read the book. An author-written preface, yes I will read it.

Ditto

[SeaBookGuy]

Originally Posted by Nyssa

So, have you ever read one that then made you question purchasing/downloading the book?

I mostly read library books, but they have, on occasion, caused me to realize that the book itself might prove rather dry.

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

<snip>
For standard fiction fare... well, if it's important it should be in the darn book, not in the preface! It makes me wonder if the book was all done, someone said, "Oh crap, this wasn't explained and doesn't make sense!" so instead of fixing it, they stuck the info in the preface. (They should at least legitimize it by working it into a prologue so it's actually part of the main book text.)

Sometimes the preface is TMI. I was about to read an historical fiction novel that I was really looking forward to. The main character, according to the blurb, was being shunned by pretty much everyone, including her (arranged) husband, because of her inability to bear a child. The big question was, will she overcome this? Will she ever give her husband an heir? Or will she blah blah blah. The preface contained a few bits of info about the locations in the novel, including "The location where Main Character gives birth to the heir is now the site of... "

The author and the editor apparently had never heard of an afterword. Aaargh. That was a long time ago and it still irks me.

This covers both my feelings ("well, if it's important it should be in the darn book, not in the preface! ") and concerns ("Sometimes the preface is TMI."). That, and I always assumed that prefaces where more often than not acknowledgments, instead of pertinent information.

Originally Posted by elemenoP

If I enjoyed the book, I will read the preface *afterwards.*

eP

That sounds like a good idea.

[Latinandgreek]

I usually do, unless I flip through and see that the preface contains spoilers (in which case I often read it after I'm finished the book), or unless it is just made up of the author's acknowledgements.

[JSWolf]

I never read the blurb in the front of a book that's an excerpt of part of the book. Nor do I read summary of previous book(s) if it is a book in a series. Otherwise, I'll read it.

[Loosheesh]

I chose Sometimes because I sometimes read them for nonfiction books (and I always read the prefaces of textbooks)

[Loosheesh]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I never read the blurb in the front of a book that's an excerpt of part of the book. Nor do I read summary of previous book(s) if it is a book in a series. Otherwise, I'll read it.

On a similar (but reverse) note, I was reading this book which was the first in a two-part series, and 3/4 into the book, I went and read the summary for the 2nd book. Well, bad move, because it gave away the identity of the murderer in the first book.

[Assassin]

I always read the preface, if it's short and not too revealing. I don't want a full page that turns out to be a summary of the entire book, but a few sentences that give the author's intent are fine and can pique my curiosity about the story even more.

[jersysman]

I chose Sometimes. I always start out to read the Preface, but if it is boring or just is a recap of the book, then I will just skip over it. I do give it a chance though.

[sammsmom]

If when I start it I realize that it's part of a later chapter, I tend to skip it otherwise I try to read them

[Ea]

I usually only read the preface of non-fiction books, and then I typically just skim it. Is it just me, or have prefaces become a lot more common in later years? (10 years or so) - or perhaps it's because I've shifted from Danish library books to English ebooks within that time, and Danish p-books - at least then - didn't have long prefaces, if any at all.