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Book Cover Preference

Book Cover Preference

Book Cover Preference

(OP)
I really didn't know where else to ask this question, but since engineers are the final audience, I can't think of a better place.

As a working engineering, which would you prefer in a book cover?

Option 1: Faux leather with foil stamping. Just the title, author, and perhaps a simple image would appear on the cover, much like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Stress-Analysis-Design-Engineers/dp/0964701405/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312791095&sr=8-1

Option 2: Or a "typical" book with a high resolution image and modern design?

Personally, I like the simple book with faux leather. It looks more professional and just has the necessary content. I find other covers too busy and a modern image today is a dated image tomorrow. But I want to please the reader first so I might change that opinion.

Brian
www.espcomposites.com

RE: Book Cover Preference

Uhm... it's a book.  It's purpose is to contain information that I find useful and/or entertaining.  It's not a sports car.  If I have to pay more money for the information container because the author thought it would look "more professional" as a gold-embossed, faux leather wrap, I take a lesser view of the author.  The design should be enough to help me separate it from all of the other info containers on my shelf at a quick glance, but there's no need to do anything other than choose an appropriate collage of pictures/colors.  If you want to make the book look like a piece of art, make it an art book, not an engineering text.

Just my $0.02, so take it with a grain of salt...

Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

RE: Book Cover Preference

Looking at my bookshelf, nearly 2/3 of the text books I've retained over the years have non-graphics covers.  I never noticed this before, but it is interesting.  I recall that a significant majority of my undergraduate books (maybe 3/4) had graphic covers and at least 1/2 of my books from graduate school had graphics on the covers, but the books that have survived in my collection and are on my bookshelf tend to not have graphics on the cover.  Maybe the authors put more effort into the content than the cover?

This is a very non-scientific study since old text books make up one 8 foot shelf out of 10 such shelves in my office, and the book that I pull out the most often from that shelf has extensive graphics on the cover, but I was surprised at how many non-graphic books were on the shelf.  I heard somewhere that you can't tell a book by it's cover, maybe that isn't true for technical references.  Both Mark's and Perry's have non-graphics covers, but the SPE Petroleum Engineers Handbook is gaudy.  I have a book that competes with Marks (not very effectively) from CRC that has graphics, and a couple of outstanding CRC handbooks with faux-leather covers.

David

RE: Book Cover Preference

(OP)
David,

The author is not likely designing the cover. That is done by the publisher. If the publisher thought it would sell better with artwork, it would probably be there. It is more likely that the publisher though it would be better to go with a non graphic cover (unless it is quite old).

Like you, I tend to think of undergraduate books as having a lot of graphics. Working engineers tend to prefer a simpler cover.

Anyway, the selling price is fixed and I absorb any cost difference, so it has no affect to the purchaser. That said, I want to give the purchaser the best product possible. The cost is not dramatically different.

Brian
www.espcomposites.com

RE: Book Cover Preference

The cover is irrelevant for all scientific/engineering books I've ever bought.

A snappy picture may cause me to hone in on a pop science book though.

- Steve
 

RE: Book Cover Preference

Hard-cover books stay open better when you lay one on a table.  Much better when you need your hands for writing, drawing, typing, etc.

RE: Book Cover Preference

I'd prefer option one sitting on my shelf, all else being equal.

However, nothing in my small work collection looks like that. Everything has the typical glossy/graphic.  I assume this is because that is the standard (cheap) option when printing.  

Given the choice between option one and option two, with the price of option one being higher as a result, I'd take option two.  I always take the cheapest option which gets the job done.

If doing a graphic cover, I'd suggest avoiding any "wtf is that?" pictures.  Too many technical course texts with crazy cover graphics cause me to wonder if the text can be clear and concise when there is a stylized-modern-technical-doodad with bright colors on the cover.

When does the book come out?

RE: Book Cover Preference

Never judge a book by its cover.bigsmile
If it's a study book, I prefer hard cover. For working books I prefer soft cover.
I don't care what graphics are on the cover, as long as it indicates clearly what's inside.
Also, the option to order it in PDF format is a big plus.

Chris
SolidWorks 10 SP5.0
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

RE: Book Cover Preference

Hmmm.  Seems like people have forgotten that older books used to have the graphics on the book JACKET, which included the description of the contents, and other information, because it was probably too expensive to print that material on the cover itself.

Newer books don't come with book jackets any more, so most of the stuff that used to be on the book jacket winds up on the cover itself.  The switch started in the 60s to 70s, but there were still lots of books with plain covers.

While faux leather might be appealing on a journal or notebook or a literature book, I don't have a single engineering book with that type of cover.  Nor, do I, I think, have many new books without printed material on the covers.  Most of the new books that might have less adorned covers are those that are particularly well known, e.g., CRC Handbook, American Practical Navigator, etc.

TTFN

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RE: Book Cover Preference

Keep it simple, is my favorite.  Make sure the side is easily readable on a shelf, from a bit of a distance.

RE: Book Cover Preference

ESPcomposites,

   If it is a technical reference, I do not much care what the cover looks like.  

   Consider that the book will sit on a working bookshelf for quite a long time.  My copy of Product Design for Manufacture and Assembly by Boothroyd, Dewhurst and Knight, acquired in 2004, clearly has faded under UV light.  Most of my college books from 30+ years ago, are less faded, albeit, beat up from me reading them.  

               JHG

RE: Book Cover Preference

(OP)
Thanks for the input everyone. It seems there really isn't a high preference either way. Both options are hard bound, just to be clear.

Here are samples I am kicking around. The left one is in faux leather, with matte silver and blue foil stamping. The right is a typical printed image with a glossy cover. The nice thing about the right is the flexibility. But the left has a more "classic" style and may be perceived as more professional, which is the target audience (as opposed to undergrad students).

http://www.espcomposites.com/both.pdf

 

Brian
www.espcomposites.com

RE: Book Cover Preference

most of my "books" are pdf. Those few that I feel compelled to have printed on paper are in 3-ring binders. A few others have paper jackets with nice graphics, the paper is ripping.  My 8th edition of AISC Steel Construction Manual is printed on bible paper with soft leather and gold embossing, but no graphics.  It has served me well since 1983. I love that book, but it has been replaced by a newer edition. I have several others with real or faux leather and gold or sivler embossed. The type of cover, graphics and embossing has no impact on how much I like my books. I didn't choose them by looking at the covers.

RE: Book Cover Preference

Brian - On a first look basis, I really liked the right (blue background) cover.  Given your title I'd definitely check through the material no matter what the cover looked like.  Just a stress kinda fella, I guess.

Regards,
Qshake
pipe
Eng-Tips Forums:Real Solutions for Real Problems Really Quick.
 

RE: Book Cover Preference

I don't have a preference for graphics or no graphics on the cover, but I like for books to have a very readable title on the spine.  For your example, I like the one on the right better.

"Gorgeous hair is the best revenge."  Ivana Trump

RE: Book Cover Preference

(OP)
Thanks for the input. I don't think I can go too wrong either way, but I now have some additional considerations to improve the design.

The two different concepts are not exclusive. That is, the font can be interchanged, etc. The main distinction is that the color scheme is limited for the faux leather. The potential advantage is a more professional book. The potential disadvantage is overkill and some may say it is inappropriate for an engineering book.

The other thing, and maybe its just me (probably), but I always thought dark colored books seemed more intimidating than lighter colored books. I want to invite the reader (composites is already an intimidating subject to many).
 

Brian
www.espcomposites.com

RE: Book Cover Preference

I agree with a light spine with dark text for readability.  Some of my older books, originally with gold ink on dark binding, eventually got the printing worn off, and cannot be readily identified at a distance any more.  In fact some of those books are so bad off that you have open up to the title page to figure out what the title is.  

Since you these books to well-used, you should consider whether the durability of the foil stamping is up to snuff.  While some books' stampings do seem to have held up well, none of my books with ink-printed covers are illegible.

TTFN

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RE: Book Cover Preference

As ESP noted, the publisher typically decides on the cover design and content. The photo or graphic on the front should complement the content.

I like the retro, plain covers....Terzaghi and Peck, Sowers, Neville, Yoder and Witczak...etc.

Different publishers have different approaches....Wiley uses the simple.  Pearson uses graphics and photos.  The content of the books can be equally good..but check them out, whether simple or ornate.

RE: Book Cover Preference

(OP)
I am still kicking it around, but either way, the title and spine will be very clear (high contrast). The graphics will be minimal, but relevant, as shown in the tentative designs.

I think it will come down to the quality of the faux leather. If it is convincing, durable, and "appropriate", I will probably choose this route. If it does not meet my standards, then I will just go with a conventional litho wrap book.

Brian
www.espcomposites.com

RE: Book Cover Preference

Brian,
If you can do it, put the type reading horizontal on the spine, so I do not have to cock my head to the right to read it. That way I can find your book faster on the bookshelf.
B.E.

The good engineer does not need to memorize every formula; he just needs to know where he can find them when he needs them.  Old professor

RE: Book Cover Preference

(OP)
berkshire,

I will try to, but it will depend on the title length, spine width, font size, etc. It is a very easy thing to implement if it makes sense.

The other way is use a "unique" color scheme, such that it stands out from other books (i.e. you can recognize it by the overall look). For example, I plan on using a blue background with white letters, which is not common. This will also has high color contrast. I am amazed at how many books have low contrast, which makes them hard to read. Either way, the spine design will not be taken for granted.

Brian
www.espcomposites.com

RE: Book Cover Preference

I have three favourites and pick the by colour:

Purple: Kreyszig
Yellow: Heywood
Red: Numerical Recipes

 

- Steve
 

RE: Book Cover Preference

Perusing my Limited edition "Far Side" boxed set, I notice the books are bound in conventional "Book stuff",titles gold embossed, but the slip-box is illustrated with flying cows, which adds to the perceived value.

RE: Book Cover Preference

Be careful with the unique color.  I've got two turquoise books on my shelf.  One is a useful Fluids book and the other is a worthless Statistical Thermodynamics book.  I hate the statistical thermo book so much that I can't even see the fluids book on the shelf.  Guilt by association is a tough thing to overcome.

David  

RE: Book Cover Preference

Not really what the OP was looking for, but I like to cover books that I might carry around in my soft bag or napsack for awhile.

I found that Tyvek shipping envelopes make nearly indestructable water proof book covers.

That stuff is amazing.  

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