What do you want to find on the back of a book or the blurb for an ebook?

HappyLady Level 1

November 7, 2018, 12:48 am

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What do you want to find on the back of a book or the blurb for an ebook?

When you pick a book up in a store and look at the back, what do you like to find? Similarly, when you read a "blurb" about an eBook, what makes you think about getting the book?

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stbrians

stbrians

The appearance is the first impression when you come into contact with any stranger the first time. Their way of dressing and grooming will tell you something about the stranger.

The book you get on the shelf is this stranger. You look him all over so that you may know something about him. At the back we see the image and description of the author and also the synopsis of the book.

6 years ago

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HappyLady

HappyLady

So for you, it matters that there is a picture of the author and also how that author presents themselves? Thinking about it, I have put books back thanks to photos of the author, so you have a point. First impressions seem to count, both in life and in reading books, or rather purchasing them.

6 years ago

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burgosmichael24

burgosmichael24

Everytime I went to a bookstore to buy books, I always check the back of the book for the synopsis. I am not satisfied with the title of the book though it's the first thing took my interest. I always look for some synopsis of the book at the back before I take it.

6 years ago

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HappyLady

HappyLady

This is helpful. I guess, what we do with a book is begin with the cover and turn to the back before we get to the inside. You just made me think of what I do when I am in a bookshop. My guess is most of us do the same.

6 years ago

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jaybee19

jaybee19

For me, it's the uniqueness and the way of how the synopsis were written that gives me the green light to buy a book. It's actually because it gives me the idea about how the story is written and if it is interesting or not. That is why when the synopsis is written badly, I don't bother to buy the book anymore especially that most of the books on my favorite bookstore has a plastic seal on them and the only way to judge is by looking at the synopsis at the back.

6 years ago

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Jeane

Jeane

Blurbs tend to be rather misleading. You may read something that makes you believe the book will be interesting but once you buy the book and read it, well, you are left feeling a little disappointed. I bought a book called the "ninth wave" because the blurb made it sound interesting but it was so boring I couldn't even read it all.

That said, I'd prefer to see only the synopsis on the back cover. Nothing more.

6 years ago

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HappyLady

HappyLady

So are you saying you would not want the picture of the author on the back, but would prefer that on the inside? I just got the blurb for a book I am writing. My reaction to it was "oh dear." This does not make me want to read the book I have written. At least the writer of the blurb on the book you wrote about got you to look inside.

6 years ago

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Corzhens

Corzhens

What I want to see on the back page of a book is the pitch of the story which is actually the gist. I sometimes see a blurb and some lines quoting critics or celebrities that are annoying. There was one book that has a long quotation from a popular author that was obviously endorsing the writer. That is a turn off for me.

6 years ago

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HappyLady

HappyLady

Interesting, as I was thinking of asking some relatively well known people for endorsements. Now I am wondering if what you say is a general feeling or particular to you. It does make me wonder if the people giving the endorsements read the book.

6 years ago

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NerdIndeed

NerdIndeed

Hmm, most of the time what's at the back of the book is about the author. I mean his biography and all that. But as for me, I would like to see a summary of what the book is about, as to not make me go to the first few pages.

6 years ago

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HappyLady

HappyLady

I think I am fast getting the message that the important thing on the back cover is a summary. It seems that the author information is better placed at the back of the book or in the last pages of an eBook. So we seem to have a pattern. Killer cover makes you turn to the back of the book which pushes you to open and start reading a bit from the front.

6 years ago

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mdayrit

mdayrit

Whenever I buy a book, the first thing that will make me hold them is their cover. Then the next thing that I do is to turn it and see the back if a summary is written. This is to help me decide if I will be buying the book. I want to get a glimpse of the story if it is something worth reading.

6 years ago

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theresajane

theresajane

I also do the same. It's a given fact that most readers prefer to look "first" the outside appearance of the book, and then turn to the back cover of a book for it's synopsis.

6 years ago

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Kakashi2020

Kakashi2020

Well it should be something inviting or motivating. Not just a synopsis but some kind of a review but not exactly a review. Something that would convince readers that the book is worth reading.

6 years ago

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theresajane

theresajane

Well, I want to find a sypnopsis at the back of a book, and not just a pile of reviews. I also want to have a pleasing cover, even at the back of the book. The totality is important for me.

6 years ago

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DenisP

DenisP

The common answer that most people are going to give you is that they want a basic synopsis of what the book is about. I can understand why people would want this, but I get most of my information beforehand on the internet, so I don’t really care to get a synopsis on the book itself.

Weirdly enough, I like it when books have some sort of information on the author. I’ll figure out what the book is about by reading it, but I want to know the background of the person writing it. I want to know their qualifications and what was their motivation for writing the book itself. However, more often than not this information is usually found in the introduction anyway.

6 years ago

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superlicca

superlicca

What I want to see on the back of the book is the synopsis, something that most readers want to see. Reading the synopsis of the book will give me an idea if the book is really interesting to read. I don't really read a lot and when I do, I only read the one that has a great story. The synopsis will give me an overview of the story and this will save me from reading an uninteresting story.

6 years ago

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Jelineex

Jelineex

I usually go for synopsis after being attracted with colors and designs of a book. I want to know what the book is all about. If it has an interesting factors to consider. It's best to read to it before deciding To save time and money. Sometimes, I am also particular with the author that I like.

6 years ago

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cmoneyspinner

cmoneyspinner

A quick summary of the book and a little something about the author. How much can you fit on the back of a book?

6 years ago

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gutzman

gutzman

I want to see a glimpse of what makes the book interesting or unique among other books. I also want to know the reason why the author wrote the book. If the synopsis is boring, common or the story is very easy to predict, I won't buy the book. Also a good design related to the story is a good strategy to catch the attention of the reader.

6 years ago

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HappyLady

HappyLady

Thank you, guys, for these great answers. It seems like the consensus is that peope want a summary of the book rather than information about the author or endorsements for the book on the back. Perhaps these are best kept to the inside. This has really made me think about how to present books in general. I may go back and redo some back covers or end pages of eBooks as a result.

6 years ago

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Wenkx03

Wenkx03

It good to have a good title at the front but a good synopsis that gives chill to the readers would be a reason to get that book. I dont think that a picture of the author would be necessary but ithats what you. What up.

6 years ago

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