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The phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover” sounds nice on paper, but if everyone actually followed it, publishers wouldn’t spend so much time and money creating them. And that’s not something we, the readers, want.
The subreddit ‘Terrible Book Covers’ is dedicated to finding the thoughtless, poorly executed, or otherwise baffling designs that were eventually greenlit and sent to print. Turns out, there’s no shortage of them.
We put together some of our recent favorites from the community that got our attention—albeit for all the wrong reasons—and invite you to take a look as well.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Animal Farm By George Orwell
Beak Hookage 14 hours ago
Aww, what a happy little story about friendly animals - it'll be just the thing for my little nephew!
RELATED:
#2
Basic Self-Defense By Fred Neff 1976
From a numbers point of view, nearly six in ten (57%) Americans have bought or read a book based solely on its cover, one survey of 2,000 adults has revealed.
Surprisingly, a whopping 96 percent of those who did so say the book largely met their expectations.
However, eight in ten (80%) admit to avoiding a book because of its outward appearance. (Perhaps they're also members of ‘Terrible Book Covers?’)
#3
Emma By Jane Austen
#4
Your Erroneous Zones By Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
#5
Recipes For Romance By I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!
Respondents said the main reasons for this decision were:
- the cover looked too plain (61%);
- the cover used a repulsive title font (56%);
- the cover featured art that didn’t match the genre (52%), and
- the cover used the movie poster of the book’s film adaptation (49%).
#6
Satan Was A Lesbian, By Fred Haley
Beak Hookage 14 hours ago
I still can't believe this is an actual book. But it is. I watched a full run-down of the plot on YouTube. Basically it was one of those w.ank rags posing as a novel which hid its leering depictions of lesbianism behind a façade of "oh it's BAD and WRONG and the lesbian is punished by dying at the end. But before we get to that, please enjoy some more girl on girl action."
#7
The Metamorphosis, By Franz Kafka
#8
Jurassic Park By Michael Crichton
#9
The Old Man And The Sea
The survey also revealed which elements make the best book covers. People noted that a detailed illustration is important (53%), as is an image of the story’s setting (53%).
Other notable mentions were a compelling color palette (50%) and an image of the protagonist (47%).
#10
We Like Kindergarten
#11
Little Women By Louisa May Alcott
#12
Drácula By Bram Stoker
#13
Crabs: The Human Sacrifice
Whiskey Tango Delicious 13 hours ago
A whole wide world of STD related jokes, and this book comes along... 😂
Respondents shared what their favorite covers of the books they’ve read were and the most mentioned were: “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill, “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, “Misery” by Stephen King, “Harry Potter” series by J. K. Rowling as well as the “Twilight” series by Stephanie Meyer, and “Fifty Shades of Gray” by E. L. James.
#14
The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow By Washington Irving
#15
Make Way For Dragons By Thorarinn Gunnarsson
Beak Hookage 14 hours ago
Well that's the most aggressively 90s thing I've seen in a long time.
#16
El Retrato De Dorian Gray By Oscar Wilde
#17
Skin Of The Soul
Additionally, the survey revealed the interesting differences between day and night readers.
If you consider yourself an avid reader, you most likely read during the day rather than at night (88% vs. 69%).
Among day readers, nearly two-thirds (65%) attribute their preference to avoiding nightmares based on the material they’re going through, while over half (52%) simply want to escape to another place specifically during the day.
#18
Psychic Pets: The Secret World Of Animals By Joseph Wylder
#19
Anne Of Avonlea: That Time Green Gables Was Cursed By A Witch
#20
Tilly Mae And The Toothache By Renita A. Burgess
Day readers are also more likely than night readers to prefer to read surrounded by others (49% vs. 36%).
However, more than half (56%) of those who read at night said it helps them get better shuteye and fall asleep faster (55%).
If the cover isn’t so terrible that they can’t even look at it, of course.
#21
The Joy Of Pasta
#22
Self-Defence For Women
August West 14 hours ago
I'm feeling frisky today so I better put on my all-black creep uniform
#23
Regalbop By Leonard Wasserman
#24
Dracula By Bram Stoker
#25
3 Guys And A Squirrel: A Slacker's Guide To Adventuring
#26
Im Taumel Des Lebens By Erwin Sittig
#27
Margaret L. Miller - "Love In The Time Of Coronavirus"
Stephanie Did It 14 hours ago
Love in the Time of Cholera is a 1985 novel by Colombian Nobel laureate Gabriel García Márquez. Maybe Margaret thinks she dreamed it.
#28
Schrödinger's Cat By Robert Anton Wilson
#29
The Gaean Enchantment By T. Jackson King
Toujin C'Thlu 13 hours ago
A fine example of pre-Photoshop graphic art. Also, the leaf monster looks like it was made by a kid
#30
He-Man And The "Lost The Will" Dragon
Whiskey Tango Delicious 13 hours ago
I feel like this dinosaur fellow should be voiced by the late, great Gilbert Gottfried.
#31
His Monkey Wife By John Collier
#32
The Picture Of Dorian Gray By Oscar Wilde
#33
The Plot Against The “King” Don’t Delete Mods, It’s A Real Book
BeesEelsAndPups 14 hours ago
In case you didn't know. The author is the orange dictator's head of the FBI.
#34
Hatchet… Amazing Book, Terrible Original Cover. There’s Just Too Much Going On
Beak Hookage 14 hours ago
The copy I read in highschool had a b****s hatchet smashing through ice on it. It is indeed a great book. An exciting story, and you learn a LOT about the North American wilderness.
#35
Candide By Voltaire
#36
The Monk (...About A Catholic Monk In Spain)
Beak Hookage 13 hours ago
...how the hell did FOUR different cover designers somehow miss the part where it's about a Catholic monk, not a Buddhist monk?
#37
Northanger Abbey By Jane Austen
#38
A Little Princess By Frances Hodgson Burnett
Beak Hookage 13 hours ago
I've read the book and it definitely didn't star a child beauty pageant victim. Heck, the protagonist isn't even blonde.
#39
The Gay Teacher, By Randy Reid
Whiskey Tango Delicious 13 hours ago
I know it's AI generated, but what a distractingly handsome fellow.
#40
Dorian Gray: What Would You Do?
Toujin C'Thlu 12 hours ago
This one actually seems to fit the novel more than the others we've seen. Still looks goofy, though
#41
Put Your Hands Up! [An Arrest Warrant From God]
Whiskey Tango Delicious 13 hours ago
And the follow up book will be S*x Education. Because why let the awkward stop at one book?
#42
Hi There, High School! By Gay Head
#43
This Old French Edition Of Bilbo The Hobbit
#44
The Picture Of Dorian Grey By Oscar Wilde
#46
Baby Consealed By Leah Mills
#47
I Am Haunted - Living Life Through The Dead By Zak Bagans And Kelly Crigger
#48
Poirot's Early Cases By Agatha Christie (1979 Fontana Books Edition)
Northlander72 12 hours ago
When you say "Man, I'd like to be a fly on the wall for THAT conversation" too close to a monkey's paw.
#49
The Legacy Begins By E C Pando
August West 14 hours ago
Publisher: The space is too narrow for 2 horses in this pic. Artist: Ok no one will notice this edit. Publisher: Looks great
#50
Everworld Brave The Betreyal By K.a. Applegate
#51
The Case Of The Lame Canary
#52
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
#55
A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess
#56
"Watchers" By Dean Koontz
Stephanie Did It 13 hours ago
Koontz is known for having dogs in his novels, especially Goldens, and giving them angel-like qualities. It's his tribute to his own dog, Trixie. But I don't see anything hilarious or cringe about this book cover.
#57
Slim For Him - Patricia B. Kreml
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What do you think ?
Beak Hookage 13 hours ago
What the hell did poor Oscar Wilde do to deserve appearing on this list THREE TIMES?
Ashtophet’sRevenge 7 hours ago
I believe his books are in the public domain now…
Load More Replies... Northlander72 12 hours ago
There sure are a lot of New York Times best selling whatevers, isn't there?
Beak Hookage 9 hours ago
Speaking as an insider yeah, that label is pretty meaningless.
Load More Replies...
BlitheSpirit 14 hours ago
I was expecting to see a horrific Watership Down cover… the cartoon certainly fit that. A CGI version was made several years later; definitely an improvement, although I felt some of the characters’ personalities were altered, not for the better.
sturmwesen 13 hours ago (edited)
I watched that at about 8 -10. you can't pay me enough to watch it again....same as Felidae
Load More Replies... Beak Hookage 13 hours ago
What the hell did poor Oscar Wilde do to deserve appearing on this list THREE TIMES?
Ashtophet’sRevenge 7 hours ago
I believe his books are in the public domain now…
Load More Replies... Northlander72 12 hours ago
There sure are a lot of New York Times best selling whatevers, isn't there?
Beak Hookage 9 hours ago
Speaking as an insider yeah, that label is pretty meaningless.
Load More Replies... BlitheSpirit 14 hours ago
I was expecting to see a horrific Watership Down cover… the cartoon certainly fit that. A CGI version was made several years later; definitely an improvement, although I felt some of the characters’ personalities were altered, not for the better.
sturmwesen 13 hours ago (edited)
I watched that at about 8 -10. you can't pay me enough to watch it again....same as Felidae
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