Poll

it tickles my interest

When I was a kid I'd read everything I came across. I found some great books that way but also a lot of stinkers. Nowadays my reading time is limited and I need to be more selective and informed.

Yes, absolutely, and I have many times.

Nowadays, I usually choose a book based on an author's writing reputation, so it's mainly based on rating and reviews. In the past I would only have read books by my favorite authors but I've branched out a lot since I've taken up reading e-books.

That's often how I find books when I am at the book store. But then I read so fast that it doesn't hurt if a book isn't all that great.

I would start a book just based on the cover and description but might now finish it.

This is how i chose books to read. The cover art gets me then the discription traps me.

I do it all the time as well.

Usually, yes. If I didn't, I would have missed so many great books.

That's how I discovered Robin Hobb long ago. Found Assassin's Apprentice in the shelf and bought it purely based on cover, title and the description on the back

Only when it sounds interesting... Discovered "The Name of the Wind" and "Skulldugery Pleasant" that way

The only way I choose my books is based off of the cover and the description. What an odd poll. I didn't realize that this was not the norm. Podcast or friend recommendations are great as well.

Well I read Hunger Games the day it came out so there wasn't much to know about it besides the description and cover. How does anything get hyped up unless someone takes a chance on the cover/description and reviews it? I mean, besides critics reviews and such.

I do all the time!!
You'd be surprised at how many good books you find!

its the only way I spontaneously get a bk. Otherwise I look up reviews on Goodreads!!

If the cover art really grabs me I can be tempted, yes. I did this last with Michael Laimo's The Demonologist and wasn't disappointed.

Frequently.

Not so much the cover as the Title. A title that makes me stop and look is usually how I find my favorites!

I absolutely love to take a chance on a book. One of my favorite things to do in a bookstore is to grab a few beautiful covers and a few not so attractive/descripted covers and read to review them

I usually do that
ive only read a couple of books when i havent done that :)

That's how I roll.

i do it all the time

I rarely look at reviews, either by readers or by reviewers. And I don't look at the ratings, either. Reading is a subjective activity. I agree with Anastasia, you find some great books by reading the description. The cover doesn't matter that much to me.

i do!

most of the time yes :D I do this a lot

Yes I have done this. Sometimes it turns out well. of course now that I discovered GR, I often check reviews, and that can put me off a book. Also, if a cover really turns me off I will choose not to read a book!

Most of the books I own, I bought them based on the cover and the description.

For sure! If the cover is interesting I choose it. Then I read the description and decide if I'm going to read it

That's more often than not how I choose what to read. If the description doesn't sound interesting, I won't read it.

Yeah I do.

Jessica wrote: "Not so much the cover as the Title. A title that makes me stop and look is usually how I find my favorites!"

I do this a lot too! A good, eye catching title is a sure bet for someone to stop amd read the blurb.
But Ive also turned down reading a book even though the title grabbed me because I didn't like the cover art.

Only sometimes. One of my favorite books doesn't have an interesting cover. When I was younger, I thought it looked boring and pathetic. I then read it and really liked it.

The cover is one of the factors that I pick or buy a book because it challenge the mind to read what's in it.

I always do.

Actually, over time I find that I tend to finish and enjoy books when I take my time selecting them by reading reviews or watching interviews with authors. I found a few really great books that way.

Found my favourite book like this 5 star all they way. couldnt ask for more in a book. <3

Cover--only if there is NO girl on it.
Guys only, with hair please. Description needs to grab me with one of my fav genres--M/M, BDSM, angst--etc.

I don't actually read the book descriptions all that often because they're usually full of spoilers. My favorite thing to do is just grab a random book off the shelf and hope I got lucky.
If not, try again.
:)

The Night Circus was one of these exact things for me. And I absolutely loved it.

Usually the name or cover catch my eye. Then I research it. If the concept sounds interesting and it has good reviews, i try it.

I usually look at the cover and/or review. If it looks/sounds interesting, I read it. If not, I put it away and pick up a different book.

Well, yeah...it's called browsing for books.

I've actually read books purely based on cover, and sometimes cover and description. I've never regretted the decision.

I do it all the time. :)

yup

Yes.

I used to buy books based on their cover & description. But I learnt my lesson every time I do that, I end up with a boring & uninteresting book. However, now I do my research & I always have books on my wish-list that I am sure of them.

I do, far too much, and have been very disappointed or very pleasantly surprised, so I won't stop!

I have found some amazing authors by just taking a chance on just reading the synopsis of a book. If I hadn't taken those chance I never would have found Carolyn McCray, Marshall Huffman, J A Konrath and several more.

Every time! haha