Poll

sometimes I don't even read the description I just like the cover...

That's like the only way I pick out my books

I kind of had to ever since I found the world of Kindle and bought on line.

No If I did that I would never have found some of the greatest books out there
Some of my favorite books have very bad descriptions and covers
if I did that then I don't think I would've found this site
I read books despite fancy covers or descriptions
I just read them

**laughs** I do this all the time! It's why I can rarely go to the library *just* to return something...those accursed library displays of new books or recommended reads always get me.

I think anyone who actually goes into the library or book shops does this all the time. I know that in the past year I've chosen books based on reviews and review requests but I am still most likely to see a cover, like it and read the book. Not enough credit is given to cover designers.

me 2.

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

Same here :)

It is not unlike speed-dating...

Hilary wrote: "It is not unlike speed-dating..."

LOL. Given how many books I have enjoyed after choosing them this way perhaps I should try speed dating!!

I've read some fantastic books based just on the cover & description, I've also read some not so good! LOL

same.

I have done this many times. Love the way it works out. Most of the time its great.

i almost always read a book just because i like the cover. good descriptions help a lot too. i'm very sometimes-ish when it comes to reading reviews, although i do check out the star rating a lot. so, yep, this is basically how i get to reading all my books. =D it didn't even occur to me until just now that some people don't do that.

What else is there?
Less than 10% of the time I'll read a book someone with similar tastes to mine liked. But I don't place much faith in reviews. If the cover catches my eye I'll read the description and decide from there.

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

me too! I have read some incredible books by doing that!
You have to takhe chances! :)

I'm often beguiled into considering a book based on its cover and jacket notes. As so many have mentioned, I've found some delightful surprises that way. And yes, I sometimes end up with a real turkey of a book ("The Island of the Day Before" comes immediately to mind) but that's a risk I'm willing to take. Reading is an adventure!

Not sure how the "Yes" and "Maybe" ones are very different since yes, I would take the chance, but only if I was interested by what it showed/said; I wouldn't just read it, if neither the cover nor description were interesting, until something peaked my interest or it was suggested by someone I know.

Susan wrote: "I'm often beguiled into considering a book based on its cover and jacket notes. As so many have mentioned, I've found some delightful surprises that way. And yes, I sometimes end up with a real tu..."

Couldnt agree more!

Hmm, I rarely read books for other reasons. Isn't that how you usually find books to read? By browsing the shelves in a bookstore / library, seeing interesting covers and reading the blurb on the back? At least that's how it works for me.

I always do that when I'm in a book store. Otherwise, I look up more information about it online/read what friends recommended to me.

When I am browsing the book stores, that's exactly how I choose what to buy, how else?
Of course, I go to the book store to look for a book that was recommended to me in the first place, but I can't stop at just one.

Of course, what else would you judge it on?

I do it all the time too. Some of the best surprises are books I've grabbed just because it looked interesting. I read library books so if it is bad it just goes back the next trip. At the same time a lot of the books I've read great reviews and comments on have been books I've thought were terrible when I got my turn to read them.
Some times when you want to read something new you just want to grab something with out making a research project out of it, and when you grab a good one it just makes it that much better.

Cover and description are how I choose 95% of the books I read I'd say. I like to read reviews usually only AFTER I have read the book because other wise I find myself being bias. Besides, there have been many times where other readers HATED a book the would become an absolute favorite while other times they couldn't stop gushing over a book I had trouble finishing.

This poll doesn't even make sense to me unless it's about buying books. I grab books at the library based on just the cover and title all the time. It's a habit I started as a child and costs me nothing, since I go to the library regularly anyway. If I don't like the book right off, I've wasted a few minutes.

The cover is what makes me pick a book up. The description is what makes me open it. The first few pages are what makes me decide to read it or not.

I have and will continue to do it. Some times it's great.

Yes! I certainly would!

That's how I picked up Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I liked the cover art and the description on the back. This was before I knew who Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling were. If I had not taken the chance I would have missed out on a wonderful adventure.

I'm too much of a research-before-buying person to buy a book based on the cover and description.

All the time (that's what the library is for after all). Most recently, I read because the shiny white cover stood out from all of the other books in the section. It was a great read.

I used to not do this, but decided I wanted to experience new things, so I've started reading books - sometimes even just if the title is interesting.

Absolutely. I've read some of the best books by simply going on what the back cover says. In fact, rarely do I choose a book based on someone else's review, maybe a recommendation, but not solely on a review.


I take chances with my selections, and yes, I have made some bad choices. But for the most part, I'm usually dead on with what I enjoy reading. And I know what I'm looking for in a plot and in characters.

absolutely! And often just by the title.

reading is all about discovering..take a chance

This is how I've acquired a lot of the books on my want to read list. If a book doesn't have a good cover it's not going to stop me from reading it and just because I like the cover doesn't mean I'll necessarily read it, but nice covers do inspire me to read descriptions which leads to my choosing a book to read. Admittedly, though I usually base my final decision on the first few pages of the book rather than simply the description , because some plots though interesting are not well told.

I think the cover and description are the two most vital things to selling a book. And the idea, the hook. Sure, if you stamp it with Stephen King, it's going to sell a whole lot more. Sad, really. These days too many people buy too many things because of the trademark rather than real inherent merit.

THANK YOU!

I do it all the time!

Absolutely, I love to read nearly everything, and good cover art and a brief description of the books contents are just the thing to let one know what they are in store for.

It's the way I find most of the books I read. You can always tell a book by it's cover is my motto. Of course, I mostly get my books from the public library, so I'm not wasting any money. Might be different if I bought all the books.

Interesting survey. I wonder if there is a difference between deciding to read and "buying" the book.

It's rare for me to decide to read a book through some other way!

me 2.

A cover is very important IMO. However, many times authors have to accept covers picked by editors/publishers.

I sometimes enter the library and walk by the bookshelves, stop and pick one book. If that's a book I have never heard or read something about, the first thing that attracts me is the book cover. Next step is to read the back cover description. And I have bought so many books just by doing this! And read most of them!! Last one was a gift for myself for Valentine's!! :)

Lavinia wrote: "I sometimes enter the library and walk by the bookshelves, stop and pick one book. If that's a book I have never heard or read something about, the first thing that attracts me is the book cover. N..."

Done that myself, (love that name Lavinia, by the way).

Maryann wrote: "Done that myself, (love that name Lavinia, by the way)"

Thank you.

Selecting a book based on its cover is like selecting a wine based on its label -- a complete gamble! That said, I appreciate a nicely designed cover, especially these days when so many writers think they can run Photoshop on their own and put any old thing on the front. The cover should be a representation of the publisher/author's commitment to a quality book. Descriptions are pretty useless, have you ever tried to write one? Almost impossible to capture the essence of a book in a blurb. Excerpts are where my decisions are made. If I read the first few pages and get HOOKED, it's sold no matter the price (so long as it's $17 or less lol). I will sometimes be swayed by good reviews, especially those of friends who have pointed me to good books in the past.