4 ms·
Like the article's #3, I have my own silly rule, but it's a good one. No books with the author's name written in a larger font than the title. This eliminates
by jcoffland 8y ago
Like the article's #3, I have my own silly rule, but it's a good one.
No books with the author's name written in a larger font than the title.
This eliminates books who's main merit is the author's fame. It's especially good at filtering out crappy New York Times best sellers and it works for fiction too.
- kakarot 8y ago100% agree when dealing with non-fiction. It shows a lack of respect for the book as an art form or information resource. It shows the author is writing for exposure and money and not to produce something of true value. > it works for fiction too. Nonfiction authors usually write on a small handful of subjects, and chances are you're looking for a book on a particular subject and will compile a list of contenders, then do some light research on each author to gauge their authority on a subject. But with fiction, you aren't likely to know the general contents of a book before you read it. You may be looking for a particular genre, but not a particular story. If someone like Stephen King or Isaac Asimov have proven that they are capable writers within their genres, it's actually beneficial sales-wise for these names to stand out in a book rack. If I see a bunch of books on a rack and one of them says Asimov then I'm honing in on that book first.
- davidivadavid 8y agoSort of, but not really. To give a random example, look at Philip Roth book covers.
- msla 8y agoIt doesn't work for fiction for the simple reason a reprint is as good as the original, and a publisher reprinting Known Author's Work From Before Their Fame is going to do everything they can to make sure you know this unknown book is by Known Author. It isn't the book's fault, and it isn't the author's fault, and it in no way diminishes either.