A quick glance through some books on my coffee table shows multiple blurbs on the back cover are common, maybe something short and pithy on the front cover, and maybe a page of blurbs when you open up the book.
Maybe you meant to say disservices?
Having said that, the last American book I bought after studying the blurb and the award medallion was bad enough that I didn't finish reading it.
Quite a few bookshops discourage you from opening the wrapper, especially, I find, in Germany for some reason.
Instead of an abundance mentality (let them browse the books: they might buy more than one, and it least are likely to be more satisfied) it's a zero sum (they might look into the book, read what they want, and then buy nothing).
I buy a lot of used books and of course this shrinkwrap nonsense doesn't apply there.
I don't see this in English speaking countries, India, Japan, or China; I do see it common in France and Germany. I don't buy books in other countries so can't say.
If I had been able to read a couple of sample pages, as I often do prior to buying a book, I would likely have bought some.
Well.. yes. It's obviously not the best way but it's clearly better than inferring from universally positive blurbs that you get otherwise (hence this article). Have you ever seen a blurb "this book is okish"?
I’m currently reading "The science of story telling" by Will Storr. There are 5 blurbs on the cover, one on the back cover. The book open with 3 full pages containing 18 blurbs.
That’s completely ridiculous. It really deserves the book. It makes it look silly and unconfident.
For French book, it is quite rare. When it happens, it’s a red paper above the cover that you can remove after buying the book.
Is that an American thing?