Tom Asacker

Tom I agree with you in the main idea but we could also say that if you really love reading you just end loving the books themselves. And you end having strong personal preferences for styles, sizes and designs.

Personally, I don´t like dust jackets, I get rid of them as soon as I can, I think they just can be useful when you are going to make a very low use of the product, of the book. But if you read intensively dust jackets are an obstacle.

But I also like cool design. I like beautiful covers, perhaps simple ones but with some style.

You are right, Tom. Once you have read the book it´s meaning as a thing changes, for it stands in relation with your reading experience, the way it changed your positions in one subject or the way it made you feel or it attracted your attention.

The book jacket/dust cover has several purposes.

First of all to protect the book. In days of yore when books were quite the expensive item they offered protection. Funny now because of the use of low quality paper and books in archives turning literally to dust the phrase dust cover seems the more appropriate of the two.

You may not think a book needs protection anymore, physical, that is, from grimy fingers (sticky fingers metaphor another subject). I beg to differ. Of course, you don't want people to pass around the book, you want everyone to buy the book themselves. You might consult and compare notes here by a school that requires pupils to cover books and one that does not, for wear and tear. Even that is out of date, revised text book editions come out at quite regular intervals so what needs protection--the pocketbooks of the parents/students or school districts?

But then I enjoy creating book covers. Just like putting a name to a face, it's a challenge to have an author describe a book and a designer and/or typographist use some type of visual objects and symbols to represent the message. If it's done properly, the result is artwork and even becomes a collectible. If not, you rely solely on the meat. . . which is the substantial part.

But then again, I was at a book store and bought a bound book, solid cover, high quality paper for $12. It was one of those for taking notes and doing sketches. Pretty high price for lean meat, or? So you tell me, what's the beef?

This is a good topic, I will expound on this in my blog today.

PS If it's the annoyance of the jacket...how about putting the cover inside the book, OR? At the end. Maybe to help readers understand. Then one at the end of every chapter. ( see, how i sell my craft)

PSS I would have gone with texture on your cover. (sand) I've never read you book or a synopsis, but a deluxe edition with a ...

pssst...and what happens when you don't cover up a sandbox...Litter box.

Great comments everyone! Thank you. Felix, I too love great design. In fact, I was an art major prior to changing to economics. The cover design statement was meant primarily as a metaphor. And Aleah, you're right. In fact, culture is like the stock market: a bunch of ups and downs. It's the trend that matters. And I believe the trend of substance with style is picking up a huge head of steam.