How important is a Book's Cover?

I rarely care about a book cover I always end up prefering those simples ones like the Penguin Classics, which have a traditional image although these two covers really caught my eye

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51kiaO%2Bd5ML.jpg
It reminds me so much of Botticelli's work that I fell in love with it but it costed 20€ (already translated)

And another one
http://livroslivres.files.wordpress....03/perfume.jpg

It's so simple and elegant I also spent 3 months "dating" this book until someone gave me as a gift! :)

Well, the cover does keep the insides inside. :D
I would consider it pretty important.
Lame intentional misconstruations (yes, it is a word) aside, I unfortunately do judge a book by the cover. Boring covers don't hold my attention long enough to make me want to read them.

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Originally Posted by Sarai

I rarely care about a book cover I always end up prefering those simples ones like the Penguin Classics, which have a traditional image although these two covers really caught my eye

It's so simple and elegant I also spent 3 months "dating" this book until someone gave me as a gift! :)

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I agree about liking the Penguin's simple black. What, though, is dating a book?

I oftentimes get swayed by the cover and explore the insides of it only after going through them. At first glance it is the cover that draws the attention first.

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Originally Posted by blazeofglory

I oftentimes get swayed by the cover and explore the insides of it only after going through them. At first glance it is the cover that draws the attention first.

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Advertising works!

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Originally Posted by Modest Proposal

I agree about liking the Penguin's simple black. What, though, is dating a book?

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Opps another word occured to me but in German ^^ erm I usually use the expression "date a book" when I usually spend a lot of time staring at it and then can't resist and buy it! Like flirting! I prefer spending just 7€ on a book rather than 17€ with a nice cover.:nod:

Most children and some adults too are tempted by what they see on the book cover

When I'm just browsing the shelves in a bookstore, yes the cover is a big seller in making me choose to pick up the book. It's more than just a 'trick' to make you pick up the book, it usually visually illustrates what the book is about that influences your decision about whether or not the book could possibly attract to your tastes. If it has a Victorian woman on the front, I'll assume that it takes place in that time period. If there's two hands holding an apple out, I'll assume it's about temptation. (Regardless of whether the book is good or not, it tells something about the story. ;) )

Another thing... sometimes, the cover is not what you first see, but rather the title. Most shelves in the book store are tightly packed in, with only the titles showing on the side. So technically, the title has to draw you in for you to pick it out.

I often tend to pick up books that have nice paintings on the front. One instance I particularly remember of judging a books cover was when I picked up Lady Chatterley's Lover, saw a painting of a naked woman on the front, and immediately put it back. Obviously, I did not want to read something like that, classic or no. Anyway, I usually gravitate towards Penguin or Barnes and Noble Classics.