RIYADH: Seventy six percent of readers purchase books because of attractive cover designs, and not necessarily the content, according to a recent survey.
The survey was conducted by Waseema Mohammed Al-Ashiwi, a researcher and professor of design at Princess Nora bint Abdulrahman University.
She presented her findings during a forum, organized by the cultural committee for the Riyadh International Book Fair.
According to Al-Ashiwi, her survey revealed they were attracted to the book cover, particularly those with interesting designs and clear portrayal of the content.
The title of the book, many respondents said, requires careful thought to make it more distinct and ensure it matches both the content and the design, she said.
Meanwhile, Khaled Al-Zahrani, a visitor at the book fair, said that most people still seemed to prefer the printed word. “Many prefer the old-fashioned paper books, rather than e-books,” he said.
He said that the apparent advantages of e-books have failed to convince lovers of paper books.
“Paper books still have their place in the hearts of intellectuals and book lovers despite the proliferation of e-books and other reading fare,” he said.
This is despite these books being expensive and heavy to carry, especially when traveling.
He pointed to a little girl reading a paper book as an example of this. The advantage of a paper book is that people can keep them on their library shelves at home, he said.
Adil Al-Harthy, another visitor to the fair, which ends on Saturday, expressed the same sentiment, saying that collecting books makes him happy.
“This should explain why many visitors attended the inaugural ceremony graced by no less than Culture and Information Minister Adel Al-Toraifi,” he said.
Speaking about her survey, Al-Awishi added that the type and direction of the font, and even matters such as color, clarity, and distance or spaces all have a psychological impact on prospective readers.
Artist Hoda Ghazi Al-Rowais, who spoke during the forum about the history and philosophy of photography in books, said that some book cover designs contradict their content.
“The picture comes second after the title in terms of what the viewer or prospective reader sees,” she said.
In her paper, she said that the photograph of the book is often more popular than the book itself, citing the covers of well-known author Taha Hussein.
There are no laws regulating taste, so people choose whatever they like, she said.
She advised authors and designers to be unique, and urged readers not to make decisions based on covers, but rather to give the text a chance.
A final paper was presented by Ahmed Abdulkarim, a professor at Helwan University in Egypt, in which he explained the evolution of books and art over the years.
The survey was conducted by Waseema Mohammed Al-Ashiwi, a researcher and professor of design at Princess Nora bint Abdulrahman University.
She presented her findings during a forum, organized by the cultural committee for the Riyadh International Book Fair.
According to Al-Ashiwi, her survey revealed they were attracted to the book cover, particularly those with interesting designs and clear portrayal of the content.
The title of the book, many respondents said, requires careful thought to make it more distinct and ensure it matches both the content and the design, she said.
Meanwhile, Khaled Al-Zahrani, a visitor at the book fair, said that most people still seemed to prefer the printed word. “Many prefer the old-fashioned paper books, rather than e-books,” he said.
He said that the apparent advantages of e-books have failed to convince lovers of paper books.
“Paper books still have their place in the hearts of intellectuals and book lovers despite the proliferation of e-books and other reading fare,” he said.
This is despite these books being expensive and heavy to carry, especially when traveling.
He pointed to a little girl reading a paper book as an example of this. The advantage of a paper book is that people can keep them on their library shelves at home, he said.
Adil Al-Harthy, another visitor to the fair, which ends on Saturday, expressed the same sentiment, saying that collecting books makes him happy.
“This should explain why many visitors attended the inaugural ceremony graced by no less than Culture and Information Minister Adel Al-Toraifi,” he said.
Speaking about her survey, Al-Awishi added that the type and direction of the font, and even matters such as color, clarity, and distance or spaces all have a psychological impact on prospective readers.
Artist Hoda Ghazi Al-Rowais, who spoke during the forum about the history and philosophy of photography in books, said that some book cover designs contradict their content.
“The picture comes second after the title in terms of what the viewer or prospective reader sees,” she said.
In her paper, she said that the photograph of the book is often more popular than the book itself, citing the covers of well-known author Taha Hussein.
There are no laws regulating taste, so people choose whatever they like, she said.
She advised authors and designers to be unique, and urged readers not to make decisions based on covers, but rather to give the text a chance.
A final paper was presented by Ahmed Abdulkarim, a professor at Helwan University in Egypt, in which he explained the evolution of books and art over the years.
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