How long is a book sample?

Pingu · 11-19-2010, 01:10 AM

Anyone familiar with how long book samples are from Amazon?

colinsky · 11-19-2010, 01:20 AM

Typically seem to be around 10% of the book.

Starko · 11-19-2010, 02:13 AM

I have had two sapmples. one was about 4 pages, the other about 10 pages. (both books would be around 200 printed pages.)

a_str8 · 11-19-2010, 02:18 AM

You can see for yourself. You can look at the samples on your computer or smart phone. Check out the free kindle apps. http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.htm...cId=1000493771

TheKindleWorm · 11-19-2010, 02:41 AM

Sometimes samples are useful and sometimes not so much. But I think they are worth looking at, particularly before purchasing an expensive book, because they give you an idea of how well (or not) formatted the book is. There have been lots of book samples which have put me off buying a book due to the style of writing and a few because of poor formatting. But also I've read some samples which have been excellent and I've gone and bought the book immediately.

Josieb1 · 11-19-2010, 04:01 AM

I had a sample once that was only the Table of Contents!

Bill Lumburgh · 11-19-2010, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheKindleWorm

There have been lots of book samples which have put me off buying a book due to the style of writing and a few because of poor formatting. But also I've read some samples which have been excellent and I've gone and bought the book immediately.

Same here. I think samples are a great feature. I often download samples based on recommendations or water cooler talk and check them out when I have a few minutes. Usefulness really varies though. Sometimes you get just a couple of pages which tell you nothing because you don't know the characters and what's happening if you don't have the Amazon page in front of you.

And sometimes you get an entire chapter which can ruin the experience a bit if you decide to buy the book because it's often not the first chapter.

Pingu · 11-19-2010, 07:42 AM

It sounds variable!!

Thanks for the help.

Mike L · 11-19-2010, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josieb1

I had a sample once that was only the Table of Contents!

Yes, I had one that was just a long list of acknowledgements and dedications.

xnowimcoolx · 11-20-2010, 04:50 AM

i find samples next to useless, 99% of the samples I've downloaded do not get passed the forward which is written by a different author! So they usually give no indication what the content of a book is like.

RCR · 11-20-2010, 05:14 AM

Before I bought the ebook "Just Kids" I looked at the sample on Kindle and Borders. Neither sample was enough to warn me that the ebook did not contain the photographs that the original book has, and contained minor format errors.

Anyway, even if you have a lengthy sample - how do you know it is not a sample from the 'real book' and not the ebook?

cjottawa · 11-20-2010, 10:01 AM

Of the books whose samples get past the forwards and acknowledgements, I find them useful.

I can't stand certain writing styles so the sample gives me a chance to do just as promised: sample the content for "personal compatibility."

11-19-2010, 01:10 AM	#1
Pingu Enthusiast Posts: 34 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: none	How long is a book sample? Anyone familiar with how long book samples are from Amazon?

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11-19-2010, 01:20 AM	#2
colinsky Addict Posts: 240 Karma: 3500000 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: Sony PRS-300, PRS-T1, PRS-T3	Typically seem to be around 10% of the book.

11-19-2010, 02:13 AM	#3
Starko Zealot Posts: 123 Karma: 998177 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle 3	I have had two sapmples. one was about 4 pages, the other about 10 pages. (both books would be around 200 printed pages.)

11-19-2010, 02:18 AM	#4
a_str8 Member Posts: 22 Karma: 472464 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kindle 3 Wifi	You can see for yourself. You can look at the samples on your computer or smart phone. Check out the free kindle apps. http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.htm...cId=1000493771

11-19-2010, 02:41 AM	#5
TheKindleWorm Guru Posts: 860 Karma: 177868 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: East Anglia UK Device: Kindle 3G, iPhone 3G, iPod 4G, PB 360, Sony 600 sold, Kindle 2i sold	Sometimes samples are useful and sometimes not so much. But I think they are worth looking at, particularly before purchasing an expensive book, because they give you an idea of how well (or not) formatted the book is. There have been lots of book samples which have put me off buying a book due to the style of writing and a few because of poor formatting. But also I've read some samples which have been excellent and I've gone and bought the book immediately.

11-19-2010, 04:01 AM	#6
Josieb1 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,082 Karma: 18051062 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Device: Kindle Scribe, Coloursoft, PW SE, Kindle 6, Kobo Libra Colour, Libra 2	I had a sample once that was only the Table of Contents!

11-19-2010, 07:42 AM	#8
Pingu Enthusiast Posts: 34 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: none	It sounds variable!! Thanks for the help.

11-20-2010, 04:50 AM	#10
xnowimcoolx Connoisseur Posts: 61 Karma: 3100 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Kindle 2	i find samples next to useless, 99% of the samples I've downloaded do not get passed the forward which is written by a different author! So they usually give no indication what the content of a book is like.

11-20-2010, 05:14 AM	#11
RCR Addict Posts: 334 Karma: 992487 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: 2 x Sony 505, iPad, Samsung 7 Tablet, ASUS Transformer, Nexus 7	Before I bought the ebook "Just Kids" I looked at the sample on Kindle and Borders. Neither sample was enough to warn me that the ebook did not contain the photographs that the original book has, and contained minor format errors. Anyway, even if you have a lengthy sample - how do you know it is not a sample from the 'real book' and not the ebook?

11-20-2010, 10:01 AM	#12
cjottawa Tempus fugit. Posts: 91 Karma: 911 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Keyboard	Of the books whose samples get past the forwards and acknowledgements, I find them useful. I can't stand certain writing styles so the sample gives me a chance to do just as promised: sample the content for "personal compatibility."

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