Book cover reviews

July 18, 2003 6:14 AM

As a matter of fact, you can tell a book by it's cover.
posted by coudal (15 comments total)

This is fun. Thanks!
posted by dejah420 at 6:41 AM on July 18, 2003

I saw the link on your site yesterday and immediately emailed Cheshire Dave, after finding myself agreeing with just about everything he said about the book covers he reviewed. I most definitely have bought books just for their covers, which have been promptly framed and hung on my walls. Great link.
posted by iconomy at 6:55 AM on July 18, 2003

Heres a new article about whats wrong and right with book covers in New Zealand. Again it's those evil corporations fault apparently.
posted by meech at 7:30 AM on July 18, 2003

What a wonderful site. Don't miss his Behind the Typeface: Cooper Black if you haven't seen it yet. It's font-tastic.
posted by kittyb at 8:06 AM on July 18, 2003

It is indeed. Thankee!
posted by Asparagirl at 8:54 AM on July 18, 2003

Very cool link. Thanks. The new Steinbeck books are amazingly covered and bound. They've definitely got me drooling to buy some nicer versions of his books. The Oprah Book Club banner is very disheartening.
posted by Ufez Jones at 8:57 AM on July 18, 2003

Good stuff! Being a greedy internet bastard, I wanted more. I hope he keeps it up.
posted by furiousthought at 9:52 AM on July 18, 2003

Fabulous link! I really like the way design is reviewed and dissected here - very helpful for those of us who aren't designers but who would like to enhance our critical thinking and powers of discernment in that area.

But hey, coudal, how the heck did you get here first!!?? Usually one of us beats you to the good links found on your site...we will all have to redouble our efforts!
posted by madamjujujive at 10:00 AM on July 18, 2003

Loved the Cooper Black piece. Mine eyes have been opened...
posted by widdershins at 10:20 AM on July 18, 2003

"As a matter of fact, you can tell a book by it's its cover."

We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 10:52 AM on July 18, 2003

Pettyfilter.
posted by iconomy at 11:42 AM on July 18, 2003

Book covers truly was the best part about working in a library prep department.
posted by Razzle Bathbone at 11:56 AM on July 18, 2003

Vintage generally does a nice job, cover-wise.

although the content and the design are not inter-indicative to any serious degree (an argument could be made that better books are more likely to have the money spent on them to be properly prettied up), I still find both components contribute to whether I buy the book. It's not just the cover, though - the layout / typeface makes a difference too.

I have certainly chosen editions of books based on covers, and sometimes the cover is the factor that tips the scale one way or the other (Is it surprising I'm a mac user?) I would enjoy designing book covers, although I would prefer to write books.
posted by mdn at 12:10 PM on July 18, 2003

Coudal, congrats on the article about your site in the Chicago Sun Times btw!
posted by madamjujujive at 12:29 PM on July 18, 2003

Thank Mrs. Jive and sorry about the "it's" Mr. Davis. The only thing I can say is I've been making that same mistake for 35 years. Damn. I like Chesire's comparative review of the Gettysburg book covers best and btw: The Sears book is great history, beautifully written.
posted by coudal at 1:11 PM on July 18, 2003