Some people say, “Never judge a book by its cover.” I agree. But then, I confess I do… I really do judge a book by its cover. And I also believe many of us do. What if I would say, “Never judge a book by its author’s photo on the back cover!” How many of you would agree to me on this.
How you look…. how much it matters! I believe it matters depending on what that person wants to do or which profession he wants to choose. This question never appears in my mind while I wrote more than two hundred fifty posts in my blog, or even when I self published my first book.
This question only came to my mind, only after I decided to go with traditional publishing for my first novel. It’s only then I realized some publishers want the author’s photo as part of the proposal. That left me wondering, why is it so important to check, if the author’s face is presentable or not. After all he is not an actor or a rock star. His work would never be judged considering how he looks in front of the camera while giving an interview or how he carries himself when he marks his presence on stage.
But then after talking to many people I realized these are all part of the process for the next generations of young writers; who have to promote themselves and their books on the social networking site, who have to visit various Engineering and Management colleges to create an impression in minds hearts of those hundreds of people present inside that podium. And yes, it’s quite impossible to create an impact with just 140 characters on a follower or to make your presence unforgettable in front of hundreds or thousands of people with just a ten minutes speech. This is when the face value matters. And it was my mistake to categorize those publishers as fools who ask for photographs of the author.
I was actually a fool who never realized what some great brains working in publishing world caught so easily. How could I forget once I too bought a book just by seeing the female author’s picture on the back cover! Then I had a huge crush on her and I am still unable to get rid of that. I was about to type the name of the author for you all ( I consider you all my extended family… you people know that 😉 ) …. But then I pressed the delete key few times, until I erased her name completely from here….
Here’s another thing I have learnt and implementing in my life these days. Now I am bit cautious on what I say or what I write on a public domain. Who knows someday, I would find a small empty space to fit in that list of next generation of writers. And I do not want someone else to tell that lady, I have talked about her in my blog. Some words sound better when you tell them with your own mouth to that person for whom they are intended.
Have you ever bought any book, just because you found the author good-looking or smart?
Being Arindam.. 
Carl D'Agostino
October 22, 2013
Selling your own persona first is first step in salesmanship. Sci-fi especially for cover interests me in story.
Arindam
October 23, 2013
Yes, that is what I am learning these days. I still need to master the art of projecting myself as the next big thing. 🙂
georgettesullins
October 22, 2013
It makes me dizzy and my head spin to think what authors have to do to “sell” themselves. The word should be enough.
Arindam
October 23, 2013
Yes Georgette. This word hurts me too. But no one other than us, ‘readers’, is responsible for this trend.
Elyse
October 22, 2013
I agree with Georgette!
Arindam
October 23, 2013
I too, Elyse. 🙂
earthriderjudyberman
October 22, 2013
Arindam, like Helen of Troy, you could launch a thousand ships (customers to buy your books). 🙂
What sells me on a book, however, is the blurb on the front and back that hints at what I can expect on the pages inside. That’s how I wound up buying “Into the Wild” and “Into the Abyss.” The adventure appealed to me even though I’m not really the adventurous type.
Arindam
October 23, 2013
Ha ha!! That would be asking for too much, but yes we are working on some innovative promotion strategy, but I have to wait until I get some publisher on board. 🙂
Judy, this publishing stuff is so complex, that it’s hard to come up with a conclusion what works and what does not.
mariner2mother
October 22, 2013
I admit that I have never bought a book because of how the author looked. But I do know that when you look at a person’s photo, you can get thoughts and impressions about that person. And if you feel a connection when you see their picture, you’re probably more likely to buy the book. One thing I like to do when I take a photograph of a person, is to capture the real “them.” If I wrote a book, I’d want to go with a photographer that would make me look good, but more importantly, one who would capture that sparkle of me.
Arindam
November 7, 2013
Yes, that was my point. In this modern era where social networking sites and electronic media play a crucial role, that first impression matters a lot. And I agree, it’s best to capture the real person, now I have to make sure someone capture a real photograph of me that well describes my personality for the back cover of my book. Thanks for sharing your thought.
becwillmylife
October 22, 2013
I haven’t bought a book based on how the author looks. When I am in a bookstore, the cover of the book does have to grab my attention or I won’t pick it up to consider buying it.
Arindam
October 30, 2013
Yes Becky, that how every reader must act. But this current generation marketing plays an important role. So might be everything appealing works in favor of the final product.
Maxi
October 22, 2013
Never have I bought a book because of the author’s photo. The words must pull me in … make me want more…
blessings ~ maxi
Arindam
October 28, 2013
That’s a great attitude, Maxi!! It’s the content that is important.
Life With The Top Down
October 23, 2013
I must say that I never purchased or didn’t purchase a book based on the photo of the author. If that were the case I would never have read any of the Stephen King books. The title has to grab me than the hint of what is inside on the the back cover.
Arindam
October 30, 2013
Yes the back cover summary plays a pivot role/ I agree with you on that Lisa. I too most of the times buy books seeing that back cover.
wallflowerblossoming
October 29, 2013
I understand what you are saying as I was an English teacher to 15 – 16 year old students. The new generation is mostly about physical appearance as you usually only have about 10 seconds to get a person’s attention. So what an author looks like, as well as the book cover, seems to be almost more important that what is being said. It shouldn’t be, it really should be about the words. If Shakespeare wrote today, many would ignore him because he was not as physically appealing. But in this technology-driven day and age, the physical appearance seems to be the driving force behind any marketing.
It is my hope that we can continue to work with the new “Twitter” generation and get them to realize that the content of what is being said means far more than what the person looks like. Good article Arindam!
reneejohnsonwrites
October 30, 2013
I sympathize. We are all in this together.
Arindam
October 30, 2013
ha ha!! 🙂
findmesomething
October 31, 2013
I bought a Pete Yorn CD once, unabashedly for the cover art, containing a photo of him.
Arindam
November 1, 2013
Yes that’s what happens when it’s difficult to ignore the artist’s or creator’s attractive looks. 🙂
yogita - princess of my own world!!!!!!
October 31, 2013
Hieee Arindam,
Your article made me realize that yes even i have done the same. My looking at author’s face I have purchased so many books. But while reading your blog I realized that I was wrong , one should actually see the content and buy books not by looking that author’s face.
from next times onwards , I will always keep in mind to see the content first and then decide whether to buy or not.
Thanks,
Yogita
nuwansenfilmsen
October 31, 2013
I wouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, but being as artist as well as a book worm, I would like to buy a book I want to read, (assuming it’s been published more than once) with a nice cover. But there have been times I’ve had to buy a book I really liked with a not so great a cover.
Arindam
November 5, 2013
Yes, that’s fair enough approach. The cover creates a great impression. And it has some impact on the buyers’/readers’ minds. But the content and storytelling matters the most once the book reaches the hands of the readers.
greenlightlady
October 31, 2013
I agree, Arindam, that the cover of a book is important. Several times I’ve bought a book I considered ‘ugly’ on the outside only because it came highly recommended; sure enough the books were awesome. After reading the books I would wonder why the covers did not better reflect how great the writing was within. The author picture does not matter much to me as long as they look presentable and modest.
Blessings ~ Wendy
Sun
November 2, 2013
i believe book lovers purchase books because they cannot wait to dive in and enjoy the contents within, however, other items such as a magazine probably sells faster if the cover page features something more appealing – you know, having subjects with good looks, youthful or even controversial subjects.
really hard to tell, i mean, even if someone originally buys a book for its cover, if it is poorly written or laid out bad, the next book by the author, no matter how good the cover would probably be ignored. just my thought…cheers, Arindam. 🙂
Arindam
November 5, 2013
Perfect words!! yes I too believe the same. I too stays away from buying book’s authors whose first book I read did not strike a chord in me. But that’s what fears me too as a writer, and I was cautious while writing my first novel, so that I would not disappoint someone who would buy my book after spending his hard earned money.
Have a great day, dear!! 🙂
Deborah the Closet Monster
November 2, 2013
I don’t think I’ve bought a book for that reason, but I have a knack for forgetting details.
Your comment about leaving some things out of the public domain strikes me especially forcefully today. I’ve been itching to write about things I don’t usually touch upon in my blog, but ultimately . . . a moment’s gratification is not worth a lifetime of potential consequences!
Arindam
November 5, 2013
Ha!! 🙂 I too have this habit of forgetting details. So I would not complain with that one.
And yes, that what I am practicing these days Deb. There are some chapters in our lives which we must think twice before unfolding them. We should be careful about the consequences in later stages of our lives too. 🙂