Covers that Sell Books: An Instant Report from the Poynter Quick Reference Library

Everyone knows you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover —- but everyone does. Readers look at the front cover and the back cover and then make a buying decision. They do not read the book first. Retailers (bookstores) make decisions based on the appearance of the cover. Sales reps do not lug books around. Wholesalers make buys without seeing the text. They want you to submit just the cover—they don't judge the content. Reviewers receive dozens of books each day and can only review a small number. They have to select the books that appear to be the most interesting. Your book cover has to survive “the glance test.”