Poll

really i can't help it, it's what makes me pick up the book in the first place im really book racist hahah...prob sad joke (pout face)

I like to live on the edge

How else do you discover new authors, new genres...?
Lit critics and book reviewers are one thing but the point of "browsing" through the shelves in a bookstore is to check out books based on title and description (cover art, not so much in my case, I have to admit)

Cover art is what captures my attention kinda like a room of black and white and then u see smthing bright and shiny I'm drawn to such book and then after It's gooten My attention I read the name If it's a one word tittle like torn or Ransom I'm even more interested but if It's a really long name I dn't find myself interested but I'll look at the blur and if that is really good I buy it If it's not I won't bother. The book has to sell itself in my eyes if not enough effort is put on the outside then what's to say there is effort in the inside. That's just what I think but people are different but I dnt really care who the author is and the description sells the book the cover just advertises it

This is pretty much how I choose 50% of the books I read, haha.

I always do

haha see it's affective :)

I've done this since I was a child going to the library- many of the series I've loved throughout the years have been initially picked up this way

Really when it comes down to finding a book last minute then you probably would want to take a luck-shot and go for the book that appeals to your eye, but I like to check out what I'm reading first. At the very least i look at the back synopsis. Although some may find books like this, I usually find my books either online on Goodreads or hear of it somewhere. Most of the time when I take a pick at a book that's published nowadays I find it boring and monotone, just like all the others, with a few exceptions. I like to go for classics and read through things that I know won't waste my time.

I agree with Madison:)

Isn't that how most people pick books anyway? From their cover and description?

Sarah wrote: "the cover is what i normally look at to decide if id like it, if i do or dont, i still read the back. then if it sounds good, i give it a try. but i normally i dont give a book, who's cover doesnt ..."

Same with me!

Yeah same here, I never look anywhere else. I always go in head first hoping the book will be good! Its part of the experience of going to the book store!

I do it all the time.

As for book covers, here are insider comments from new-noir scribe Charlie Huston (author of The Joe Pitt Casebooks [titled "Already Dead" through the 5th and final "My Dead Body"], "The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death", and "Skinner"): "...the MYSTIC ARTS cover was part of a very conscious strategy on the part of my publisher. And yes, an element in that strategy was to reach out to a more general readership. The intention wasn't so much as to create a 'literary' appearance as it was to veer away from a distinctly pulp image. They wanted to imply something, forgive me, hip or cutting edge, while also suggesting that there was good writing inside as well as an entertaining plot." And tho he doesn't break here, the next line is priceless ... so now I continue quoting him: "Cover design is a kind of alchemy. There tends to be a level of consensus when a striking cover is created, but that doesn't mean there is agreement as to what we all think that striking cover is signaling."

I look at the cover, read the description, and also read a little bit into the book to see how the author writes and whether or not it sparks my interest.

Probably 90% of my book buying choices are based on the description - and I'm usually happy with my decision

this is mostly how I find my books, tbh. lol

How else do you choose books? I go based almost solely on description: does the plot/characters sound interesting? I really don't care what some random reviewer says on the back and I take my friends' opinions seriously, but I also ask them to give me a description.

Based on the cover? No. I can't think of a single time I've read a book just because of the cover. (I've collected a few for the covers but never just read one because of it). I usually read a few pages, sometimes in the middle of the book (if we're in a bookstore or library), and if I can't pick it up and flip through, I'll sometimes go trawling for samples elsewhere too if I'm really unsure.

I'll start a book based on cover and description, but I have no problem stopping a book after a page, a chapter, even several chapters. Typically before purchasing a book or checking it out from the library, I will read the first few pages to make sure I at least like the writing style.

Sue wrote: "I was just handed a box of new paperbacks. All missing the front cover.
This will be interesting! Reading books without the cover is
Strange. I don't have any preconceived notion about the book.
..."

Oh I've done that a few times. Usually because the books were found in dumpsters and were so beaten up the covers had been long lost. I made my own covers for them if I liked them enough. My copy of The Hobbit is like that. ^-^

I read books all the time based on cover and title. If not we would never find favorite new authors. I am also a mom of 3 so my book choosing time is limited.

Yes, that is EXACTLY how I determine if I am interested a book. Unfortunately, it also works the opposite for me, since if I dont like the cover, i.e. the hand-drawn covers I keep seeing, that totally turns me off a book. My loss since I am provably missing out on good stories.

Besides classics (which are known), I'm usually inspired by the title. I glance at the description of the book (not all the way cause they're always spoilerish), and if it's something that might interest me as a whole, I read it.

Of course there are also books who've been recommended, books which subjects interest me, books that I've seen around but never had time to read, etc. It comes down to many factors in the end.

Yes, if the i like the description i'll give it a go but not before i check the reviews and rating

Faith wrote: "Honestly, I never read book descriptions because they'll full of spoilers. I'll generally check the goodreads rating, but I've read plenty of books on cover alone."

Me too! I often avoid reviews too because some people don't understand that most people reading reviews haven't read the book yet. I love a good *spoiler alert* :)

Yes! I started reading the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer because the cover was cool! I LOVE the series and cannot wait until the next book comes out!

Some of the best books I've ever read I just picked off the library shelf. It's important that they have an appealing cover and intriguing name, otherwise I never would have opened them. :)

Some of my favorite books I've found this way such as The Sky So Heavy by Claire Zorn, and Wildlife by Fiona Wood. <3

I used to do that years ago, but some of these authors now don't even have the characters match the descriptions, and it throws me off. I think it throws off the reader especially if it is a romance novel.

Yes, I "judge a book by its cover"! Normally when I read the back, I mostly like the book.

I tried that once on a book called "The Caravaggio Books", and the blurb on the back made the book seem really cool (it's a 90's murder mystery). There was even a review. The book, however, was utter crap.

The synopsis and cover may pull me in and is apart of my decision making to wheather I'll read it, but it really comes down to the reviews, after I've read good and bad reviews to get a basic idea of the book will I then decide.

I know it's bad, but sometimes, I totally judge a book by its cover...

Chloe wrote: "I know it's bad, but sometimes, I totally judge a book by its cover..."

Everyone does!

Yes, I do read books just because I like the cover and depiction. However, the depiction matters more to me than the cover (though it helps quite a bit if the cover is nice) :)

All the while, though the description is far more important to me than the cover. Especially if I'm about to purchase the book.

I've just started searching books from the Internet and read comments etc. All these years I go to my local bookstore and I choose a random book I like just from decription and cover, nothing else... I have found my favourite books in that way ♥

Okay, this is cool. I voted "yes, I love to take chances" awhile back, and although I say yes to that I usually get pulled to the synopsis before I read. Tonight I came across one in which the cover got me, I went to Amazon.com and read it from the cover alone. Didn't look at anything else about the book for the first time ever and I loved it so much, lol. It turned out to be a children's/YA book with 84 pages, but it was so fun and sweet. Very cool! :)

Choosing a book by it's cover and description (or even just seeing the name of a trusted author) is the oldest of the old-school! I think it's how most people get into going to the library.

I do sometimes, and when I do, its usually a fantastic book.

Cindy wrote: "I do it all the time!"

Same here

Chloe wrote: "I know it's bad, but sometimes, I totally judge a book by its cover..."

I'm even worse. I judge them based on their title alone. I read some fantastic stuff this way, and some utter garbage too. ^.^

That's Awesome!!

It's The Only Way To Find Good Books To Read...

I got surprised so many times!

Cindy wrote: "I do it all the time!"

yes! me too when i was reading the question i was confused because i do this all the time.

I'm only do that

What else can you do?