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This Online Group ‘Judges A Book By Its Cover,’ And Here Are 30 Of The Weirdest Ones (New Pics)
It has been said that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. But there’s an online community that’s calling utter BS on that. r/TerribleCovers has 79,000 members who all gather on a daily basis, to laugh and cry at badly dressed books. These guys have the inside scoop on all the hilarious and hideous book cover fails. And they aren't afraid to share, or shame.
From cringe old classics, to kitsch self-help books, and confusing romance novels, there’s no shortage of paperbacks and hardbacks lining up to take part in the next edition of Extreme Makeover. Or at the very least, get their pages on a better fitting jacket.
Bored Panda has put together a library of our personal favorites (or worsts) from the page. Grab your reading glasses and keep scrolling. Don’t forget to upvote your top contestants.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Just Found This Sub, Thought You All Would Appreciate The Sodfather
RELATED:
#2
Hello, My Name Is William Goldman. You Designed This Cover. Prepare To Die
#3
When You Need To Make A Quick Buck But Are Too Busy To Read One Sentence About The Book You're Designing A Cover For
We’re often taught not to judge a book by its cover. After all, you never know what beauty and magic could be hidden within. But this doesn’t stop people from doing so anyway. When it comes to the human beings we meet or the actual, literal books we encounter in shops, on shelves or online.
One survey found that 57% of Americans buy books (and 80% avoid books) solely based on their covers. And therefore, bad cover design is one of the most common reasons for low book sales.
#4
Terrible
#5
This Is A Sensitive Topic
#6
Literary Horror Classic
“Humans are visual creatures,” explains best-selling author Tucker Max. “We see our way through the world, and vision is our defining sense. Humans can be immediately reached, engaged, and moved by color and shape because these images enter the brain literally at light speed. This is the power of design.”
Max says that book covers exist to give visual form to written content. “A great cover makes someone in your intended audience say ‘I need to read that,’ by showing them why the book matters to them in a way they can immediately grasp (or at least raising their interest enough to want to learn more). It should help your audience realize that they should be reading your book.”
#7
Jeffrey Dahmer Talks The Birds And The Bees
#8
Three Unbelievable Book Covers
Multa Nocte 8 months ago
P.S. "By 673126 - Note: Author's pen name." From when he was in the pen. 😂
#9
I This This One Actually Might Be The Worst
However, some argue that the cover isn’t the first, or only, thing someone judges before buying a book. Writing Cooperative notes that nowadays, books aren’t only bought in physical stores anymore.
“Most books are now discovered either by in-person word of mouth or online, and in both cases, what is the first piece of information they receive? The title,” reads their site.
The experts say while a good title won’t necessarily ensure your book flies off the shelves, a bad title "will almost certainly prevent it from doing well." As the Cooperative puts it, many potential readers stop considering buying the book once they have heard the title, and nothing else.
#10
It's Not A Cartoon For God's Sake
#11
Why God, Why?
#12
This Sure Is Something
A study published in the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services found that around a third of books are bought as gifts, women buy and read more books than men, and that higher-educated and older consumers tend to read and buy more books.
The same study found when deciding on whether to buy a book, the top factors noted by those surveyed were the "Title”, "Synopsis”, “Subject covered in book”, “Recommendation of family and friends” and “Books with discount/on sale”.
#13
I Think We Can All Agree The Animorphs Covers Are All Deeply Disturbing
#14
Found This Beaut On Goodreads
#15
They Look Like Traumatized Hobbits
According to the Writing Cooperative, "almost every potential reader will judge whether or not to buy and read your book before they have read one single word inside the book."
They also say that often, readers aren't even aware of their thought process when browsing a book store. But that it takes less than a minute for someone to give the book a thumbs up or a big fat "no" before they either head to the till to pay or put the book down and move on.
#16
An Oldie But Goodie
#17
Interested In Initiation?
#18
Wow. Just. Wow
David Morgan 8 months ago
This looks like a book that makes it clear Legolas and Gimli were VERY good friends...it only needs a Boromir who looks like Fabio to be complete...
"These buying decisions are a series of instantaneous and mostly unconscious judgments. They are made in less than 60 seconds, and they are made together, each influencing the other, not individually," notes the site. "These judgments are real and substantive; in most cases, they are the main evaluation and purchase triggers."
#19
I Think Orwell Deserves Way Better
#20
Jesus He’s Big
#21
What A Hell Is This?
#22
Mammoths Hunters 🫠
#23
I Am Haunted
#24
"Frank"
#25
I Don’t Know What’s Worse, The Spelling Mistake Or The Cover Design
#26
This Is An Audiobook Cover But Jesus Christ
#27
These Might Be The Worst Covers I’ve Seen In A Reputable Bookstore Yet
#28
Terrible Way To Be Summoned
#29
Some People Never Change. Some Do
#30
So Sad…
David Morgan 8 months ago
Setting aside the VAST quantity of food, how in the hell do you make chilled desserts (like the milkshake in the back) with a microwave?
#31
Demons... Exposed!
LauraDragonWench 8 months ago
Something's definitely exposed, and it looks like the guy is enjoying the hell outta it!
#32
The Fireclown
#33
Uh... No Sh*t?
#34
Kids, Please Don't Do This Bada** Thing
#35
This Is Insane
#36
Fun Fact: The Author Is The Father Of (And Literally Wrote The Book On) Modern Psychological Warfare
Arlnee 8 months ago
F yeah Cordwainer Smith! Thanks to him we also have Lt. M'ress from the Star Trek animated series (she was based on C'Mell from this series). I recommend the short story Mother Hitton's Littul Kittons, Think Blue Count Two, and of course Norstrilia, which is Australia In Space with Humongous Sheep That Grant Immortality! Seriously though, read his books.
#37
No Man Knows My Pastries
LauraDragonWench 8 months ago
I want to know the story behind this photo and yet I don't - like, REALLY don't - want to know.
#38
These Awful Persian / Farsi Translation Harry Potter Covers
LauraDragonWench 8 months ago
Compared to some of the covers on this list, this one is practically fine art.
#39
Found At An Antique Store
#40
Found At A Goodwill Bins Store Two Years Ago
Bill Swallow 8 months ago
Not the author's fault, but that cover looks like Henry Kissinger finally came out of the closet.
#41
She Has Something On Tap For The Poor B*****d
Multa Nocte 8 months ago (edited)
This is a fake book cover spoofing bad book covers, isn't it? I believe I have seen this somewhere else. Edit: OK, it is, but it's hysterical. Reddit · r/fakebookcovers 3.4K subscribers in the fakebookcovers community. this subreddit is dedicated to fake parody book covers.
#42
And That's Better??
#43
Was Told To Share This Here As Well On R/Janeausten, The Worst Austen Cover I’ve Ever Encountered While Book Shopping
LauraDragonWench 8 months ago
Is...is she dead? I know zombies showed up in P&P, but I don't remember them being in S&S. 😂
#44
Saw This In A Donation Bin The Other Day
#45
Upgrade Your TV Dinner
Wendy Miller 8 months ago
This is probably from my parents house. We had this exact book. We might even have gotten it with our first microwave.
#46
Bigfoot Looking Fabulous
#48
He Is A Tank-Head
#49
Lesbian Horse Stories, No Wonder The Book Is Big
David Morgan 8 months ago
How do you tell if a horse is a lesbian? Does it only want to stay in a field with other lady horses?
#50
The Ultimate Christian Warrior
Robert Beveridge 8 months ago
This has to have been the cover of a self-released thrash metal album in 1988.
#51
A Truly Wilde Ebook Cover
#52
This One Still Haunts Me
LauraDragonWench 8 months ago
So, how is an alien autopsy related to malware analysis? Anyone?
#53
Found This Absolute Gem At My Neighborhood Lfl
Earthquake903 8 months ago
I've read this book. Saw him in Albany, Ga. Very funny guy. Opening act sang a song that went something like this, "get your tongue outta my mouth cause I'm kissing you goodbye".
#54
The Four Redheads: Apocalypse Now
#55
Le Hobbit: I'll See Your Chonky Bilbo And Raise You Whatever The Eff This Is
Bill Swallow 8 months ago
Could be worse - (and in this case, the cover is far milder than the actual text...) Let's see if BP lets it through, since they are censoring .jpgs now. Astra-and-...0327c8.jpg 
#56
Bro, You Are A Shark
#57
Yes, It's That Adolf
Bill Swallow 8 months ago
Note to the uninformed: Tezuka was a manga / anime artist and writer who created 'Astro Boy' (Tetsuan Atom) and 'Kimba the White Lion', among others.
#58
I Wouldn't Bet On This Hobbit To Get The Ring Anywhere
LauraDragonWench 8 months ago (edited)
OMG I had this book! In fact, I had the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy done in this same cover design. Makes me rather nostalgic.
#59
Title Page?
#60
It’s A Pretty Good Book Tho
Bill Swallow 8 months ago
"GANDHI II - No More Mister Passive Resistance!" (But looking at the editor and authors, this is probably a real hoot to read, like Esther Friesner's 'Chicks In Chain Mail' anthologies.)
#61
Servants Of The Wankh Is A Seminal Sci-Fi Series
#62
I Don't Want To Know Why The Reindeer Is There
#63
It Rules!
LauraDragonWench 8 months ago
I can only find this under its other title, "Spatial Delivery." How disappointing!
#64
Found In My Grandpa's Basement
#65
Milking The Sci-Fi Genre For All Its Worth
#66
L. Ron Hubbard Had Some Truly Wild Cover Art
Multa Nocte 8 months ago
Now see, this is exactly what I would expect for a L. Ron Hubbard book.
#67
For God's Sake
Multa Nocte 8 months ago
My two kittens asked if I would get this for them. I am afraid it might give them ideas. More ideas . . . .
#68
Fun Fact: There Is No Word In Swedish For "Copyright Infringement"
trollingergirl 8 months ago (edited)
Oh, come on, he does not even look like Darth Vader copyright infringement at all.
#69
I Can Finally Contribute To This Sub
#70
Found This In A Bookstore In Alabama. I Regret Not Buying It
#71
2,000 Years In The Future And This Book Is The Only Surviving Work Of Literature
#72
Nothing Says British Classic Like Neon Colours
#73
Jacie And The Alien Bodyguard
#74
Some Bad Covers From My Kindle Library (Slight Nsfw On Last Slide)
#75
This Is Nuts
#76
I Found This On Google Chrome
#77
What Y'all Know Bout This?
#78
Anne Of Green Gables
#79
Grotesque
LauraDragonWench 8 months ago
I actually have this title, but not this cover. I'm rather disappointed by that.
#80
Saw This At My Local Used Bookshop
Multa Nocte 8 months ago
I must say, I have never seen an image quite like this, and I have read a LOT of sci-fi books. I am intrigued and disturbed at the same time.
#81
Insane
LauraDragonWench 8 months ago (edited)
I think lizard-priest's face represents us all. So wise, lizard-priest.
#82
Couple Red Flags
#83
On Wheels
Marie Clear 8 months ago
Interesting concept, but very impractical. I mean, how much can you really pack in that trunk?
#84
Quilt Stripping
#86
Hi, I'm New Here, Is Posting Hippocampus Press Books Cheating?
#87
Does This Count?
#88
Fighting Fantasy Did Great Things. Terrible, But Great
#89
Picked It Up At A Second Hand Shop
#90
Train On This Book Cover Isn't Even On The Rails
#91
Moira: The Zorzen War: The Divided Worlds: Book 3!!!
#92
Philosopher’s Stone Cover Art
#93
Terrible Frankenstein Collection
#94
Omg Shakespeare
DetriMentaL (It/That) 8 months ago
Homeboy tryna be slidin in her DM's but the fams was not rizz
#95
You Come Across Some Gems Working In A Used Bookstore
LauraDragonWench 8 months ago
My eyes, my eyes!! Eye bleach isn't enough - this calls for some gouging. 😵
#96
What On Earth Do You Do?
#97
The Psychic Sasquatch & Their UFO Connection
Bettye McKee 8 months ago
Hmm. Strangely enough, I am less afraid of Sasquatch now. We probably have the same hairdresser.
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Multa Nocte 8 months ago
OK, I loved and adored these - more! More! Also, I believe BP did an article some years ago about fake book covers that came from a Reddit page? Those would be great to see here.
David Morgan 8 months ago
Self-publishing or on-demand publishing, probably. The authors are supplying the artwork or are getting a cheap artist to do it.
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Multa Nocte 8 months ago
OK, I loved and adored these - more! More! Also, I believe BP did an article some years ago about fake book covers that came from a Reddit page? Those would be great to see here.
David Morgan 8 months ago
Self-publishing or on-demand publishing, probably. The authors are supplying the artwork or are getting a cheap artist to do it.
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