Andi’s Ruminations on a Blurb

We are often told “not to judge a book by its cover.”, but it is difficult not to judge with the
colorful visuals and pithy blurbs on book covers. I was thinking about this today when one of
our other librarians pointed out the blurb on the front cover of a new book, No One Left to Come
Looking for You, by Sam Lipstye

The blurb reads: “Reading this book is like being duct-taped to a chair with wheels and shoved
down a steep hill into eight lanes of oncoming traffic. In other words: MY IDEAL READING
EXPERIENCE.” – Steven Soderbergh

I realize that I don’t usually read book blurbs, Soderbergh’s quote has me intrigued. What is it
about a physical book that pulls you in to read it?