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BOOK TALK
Down With Dust Jackets!
One Reader’s Opinion
The first thing I do after buying a hardcover book is toss the dust jacket. There’s something about trying to keep it on the book as I read that really annoys me.
It’s just a lot easier to ditch the thing.
Dust jackets, according to Google, have been with us since the early 19th century. While slipcases existed before that, wraparound paper jackets started to appear in the 1830s. Although their primary purpose was to protect the book, they soon became a marketing tool, with catchy cover art, summaries of the book, author bios and supportive blurbs.
I am a writing coach and editor who works with writers to improve and publish their prose.
I often continue to work with my writers after their work has been accepted for publication.
Working with clients who have gotten published by major publishers over the years has made me aware of just how many hours and how much thought goes into creating a dust jacket for a new book. Meetings are held…
