What does it mean when there are different editions?

[Mary]

What does it mean when a book, written a mere 3 years ago, already has 5 editions? Were there so many editing mistakes that it took 5 tries to get it right? Is the author changing the cover to get more readers? I won't mention the book or author I'm referencing, but it seems odd and I wondered if anyone had an answer.

[Jan]

No, Mary...the different editions are often: paperback, trade paperback, hardback, ebook, audio. Or sometimes a cover is changed to entice more readers.

[Pamela(AllHoney), Fairy Godmother]

Yes, what Jan said! lol Different formats and different covers etc...