--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I used to want covers that represented…" description: "\"I used to want covers that represented the book's contents very closely and were also pretty. Many folks automatically believe that this is what makes ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed0/nancy-werlin-13440_about_i-used-to-want-covers-that-represented-t_2014127.png" --- # I used to want covers that represented the book's contents… ![“I used to want covers that represented the book's contents very closely and were also pretty. Many folks automatically believe that this is what makes a good cover. But I've changed my mind about this. While the cover should not lie (by implication or outright), its job is simply to say: 'Pick me…” quote by Nancy Werlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed0/nancy-werlin-13440_about_i-used-to-want-covers-that-represented-t_2014127.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed0/nancy-werlin-13440_about_i-used-to-want-covers-that-represented-t_2014127.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed0/nancy-werlin-13440_about_i-used-to-want-covers-that-represented-t_2014127.png) > “I used to want covers that represented the book's contents very closely and were also pretty. Many folks automatically believe that this is what makes a good cover. But I've changed my mind about this. While the cover should not lie (by implication or outright), its job is simply to say: 'Pick me up!' to someone who might like the book.” [Nancy Werlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-werlin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She argues that a book cover’s primary job is to attract the right reader, not to perfectly depict the story’s content. **In simple terms:** Covers should catch attention, not be literal. Key Takeaway Design for appeal and relevance. Themes marketing design reader engagement visual communication Mood practical creative Type marketing advice When to use this quote - bookstore displays - online thumbnails - advertising - author branding Key Concepts branding psychology of aesthetics consumer behavior Questions to Reflect On - What visual cues draw you to a book? - How much should a cover reveal about the story? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on visual appeal may mislead expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Contents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contents/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Lie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lie/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Outright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outright/) ## Related quotes > [We always want to do covers, but we found it kind of boring to do covers of bands in our genre, and we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-shadows/we-always-want-to-do-covers-but-we-found-it-kind-of-boring-to-do/) [M. Shadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-shadows/) > [To me, I don't think it does anybody any good to just hide something or cover it up or lie or whatever. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/to-me-i-don-t-think-it-does-anybody-any-good-to-just-hide-something/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [A lie, leads to another lie to cover the first lie, and another lie to cover the first and second lie It is understood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-lie-leads-to-another-lie-to-cover-the-first-lie-and-another-lie-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Even through all the pain you put me through you try to cover it up with a lie to make seem like you never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-lugo/even-through-all-the-pain-you-put-me-through-you-try-to-cover-it-up/) [Mia Lugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-lugo/) > [“This job, this life … it changes you. Your cover is a lie. A pack of lies, and you have to live with them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-warren/this-job-this-life-it-changes-you-your-cover-is-a-lie-a-pack-of-lies/) [Andrew Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-warren/) > [The only way to cover up a lie? Keep lying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomi-lahren/the-only-way-to-cover-up-a-lie-keep-lying/) [Tomi Lahren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomi-lahren/) > [I'd like to win the British belt outright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-degale/i-d-like-to-win-the-british-belt-outright/) [James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/) > ['Horrible Bosses' is just blatant, outright fun. I've read some of what the critics have said, and it's incredible how mean critics can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/horrible-bosses-is-just-blatant-outright-fun-i-ve-read-some-of-what/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [Health care confronts us with a difficult test. 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I think it's because my process involves writing very badly. My first drafts are filled with lurching,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-haven-t-had-trouble-with-writer-s-block-i-think-it-s-because-my/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [If you're going to take a jab at someone, you should at least have a bit more of a personal relationship with them. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harland-williams/if-you-re-going-to-take-a-jab-at-someone-you-should-at-least-have-a/) [Harland Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harland-williams/) > [“It's not that I was an outright nitwit of a child.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/it-s-not-that-i-was-an-outright-nitwit-of-a-child/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) ## More by Nancy Werlin > [There is nothing in this world that I want or need, but you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-werlin/there-is-nothing-in-this-world-that-i-want-or-need-but-you/) [Nancy Werlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-werlin/) > [From all of us Scarborough girls, greetings and thanks. This task required two, working together, trusting each other. It required the "us," not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-werlin/from-all-of-us-scarborough-girls-greetings-and-thanks-this-task/) [Nancy Werlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-werlin/) > [Nothing that had happened in the past could be taken away. This was an amazing gift. The past was done and over and settled;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-werlin/nothing-that-had-happened-in-the-past-could-be-taken-away-this-was-an/) [Nancy Werlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-werlin/) > [Sometimes the people who mean you harm, are the ones that say they love you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-werlin/sometimes-the-people-who-mean-you-harm-are-the-ones-that-say-they/) [Nancy Werlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-werlin/) > [I'm not saying I'm glad it happened. Not exactly. 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But I never did look in mirrors anyway, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-werlin/jews-put-black-over-mirrors-during-times-os-mourning-so-they-wouldn-t/) [Nancy Werlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-werlin/) > [Emmy, the events we lived through taught me to be sure of nothing about other people. They taught me to expect danger around every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-werlin/emmy-the-events-we-lived-through-taught-me-to-be-sure-of-nothing/) [Nancy Werlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-werlin/) > [“Continued pain is a signal to the body that there's something wrong, not right. Lucy Scarborough Nancy Werlin”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-werlin/continued-pain-is-a-signal-to-the-body-that-there-s-something-wrong/) [Nancy Werlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-werlin/) > [When you first fall in love, it's supposed to be awful. Awful, uncertain, scary, wonderful, confusing, all at once. 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