| Two Very Ugly Book Covers |
| John Hodgman, the PC actor in the ubiquitous Mac TV commercials, has written several books. The covers of these books are just plain ugly and can't possibly be doing much to sell the books. Nonetheless, they are selling well. Both are in the top 2,000 titles on Amazon. Apparently the content is funny because the covers are not. The Areas of My Expertise:  More Information Than You Require:  Do you like these covers? They fade away to blah, blah, blah in the video interviews I've seen. That means they disappear, are unreadable, don't snap at all. Since the books are from two different publishers, my guess is that John had a lot of input into the cover designs (since they look so similarly ugly). Labels: book covers, book marketing, book promotion, cover design |
posted by John Kremer @
12:50 PM
7 comments |
John Kremer's Ten Million Eyeballs Internet Marketing Event
7 Comments:
Well, that's his schtick. If you don't get the cover, you won't get him or his humour.
To me, it's more engaging than a glamour shot and punchy title.
I think it's very appropriate.
John,
This reminds me of the "Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Oil" soap bottles with the litany of religious messages on them. He's been selling those products (in spite of the ugly label) for over 30 years.
Conclusion: Ugly works! - you heard it here first:-)
Yes, just like Dr. Bronner's. I'm sure that was part of what he was going for. Very ugly.
Please note, however, that ugly most of the time does not work. Sometimes, like this, yes. Many more times, no.
Also, if you view any of the videos featuring this book, you'll see that the book disappears into the background.
Yes, much like Bonner's soap, and you know, every year or so I buy a bottle of the stuff... I suspect these covers work even tho' I hate 'em too... but they are so different in a bookstore I'd pick 'em up at least briefly... not something that could be done often and work
John, are you sure this cover critique is not in your own shadow?
You put yourself on a limb to bring up the issue, and I appreciate that. But just look at your own site.
Too much stuff to my mind. Maybe don't use your book cover also as background.
And all those little boxes of different stuff?
But thanks for the issue!
Strephon Kaplan-Williams
I am the designer of both of John Hodgman's books and just wanted to say thanks for noticing the design. It is indeed inspired by the Dr. Bronner's packaging, for both aesthetic reasons (John and I love the clutter and density) and conceptual ones (Bronner's text is a little wacko and John's is as well).
Anyway, best of luck to all!
thanks,
Sam Potts
I knew the covers had to be modeled after the Dr. Bronner's soaps. I suspected that was intentional.
I still think the covers don't help sell the books, but the only way to know for sure would be to test two different covers.
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