When looking for abook, I look first at the title. I love sweet and catchy titles. Then I check out the cover. I love romantic novels and the cliche'd ones with the two lovers on the covers. Then I look at the back to read the synopsis.

I never judge a book by it's cover. But it's useful for getting an automatic reaction for the feel of the book.

Well, considering the amount of romance novels I buy on a regular basis, I check the cover, the author, and the summary of the book (back or inside flap, whatever it is). The author does matter, especially if I've read their work before. Cover...I'm drawn to pretty things. Titles, I'm also drawn to because some of the books have screamed "BUY ME, CLAIRE! BUY ME!" and like...maybe a few months to a year or longer later, I'll eventually get it.

If the book is within a series, I'll do my best to buy the dang series because I do want to know what happens next. So it's freaking awesome when I pick books to read. I mean, I will scour entire sections of the genre I'm looking at if I have to. Sometimes I leave the store empty handed, but more often than not if I have money, I will spend it all on new books...and then those books get lined up in my shelf and one by one they get devoured.

I just got to the books I bought last December and there's still about twenty-something books to go after that.

This is weird but i always look at page 39 if im picking a book,if the page sounds interesting ill look at the blurb and then i decide whether to get the book or not ^^ But colorful covers attract me too XDD And if its by an author i know then ill buy it staright away XDD

Hahaha page 39... that's funny =]

I usually read the summary and yes has to have a good title.
Though I look up books online to make sure of there good before buying them.

It depends on my mood, I have days where I'm impatient and will ask a friend if they believe I would enjoy the novel if they have read it or on really bad days I have in fact "judged a book by it's cover". That has gotten me some pretty interesting novels. But usually I take my time and read the back or inside cover, sometimes a bit or the first chapter to get a feel of the book.

Cover does factor in since it hints at what the book is about.
Sometimes the cover attracts me, sometimes the title, and sometimes the author.
Other times I simply look through a genre I like, find a book the size I want to read, and read the back.
If there is a positive review by an author I like I'm much more likely to read the book.
If there isn't much of a summery on the back or inside flaps I read a few pages.

Some books I just look at genre though. Especially if I've never read that genre.
Then I'll pick out a book the size I want. I never do this when buying, but at the library I do.
It introduced me to the genre and I can later look at reviews online. If I don't like the book and the reviews say it's the best book they've ever read in that genre, I'm less likely to read it again.
That's kind of the route I took when I read the Twilight series.
I wanted a fluffy teen romance and found that the series was popular so I requested it at the library.
Didn't enjoy it beyond a fluffy mindless read but now I know what to expect from teen romance to a certain extent.

I really do prefer to research the books I want a bit first though.
I hate wasting my time with a book. But I hate not giving a book a chance.

The first thing I look at is the author. I know the authors I like and the ones I hate.

Depending on the author it can go three ways.
If it is:

an author I like
I read the summary. 95% of the time I will buy/read it.

an author I don't like
It most be paper back.
I look at the cover.
Then I read the summary.
If I like everything there is a 10% chance I will read/buy it.

an unknown author
I look to see what else the author has written.
I look to see if there are any reviews in the book.
I read the summary.
Look at the cover.
Then look to see how many pages there are.
Usually a 50% chance I will read/buy it.

I hold credit in covers but not too much since 98% of the time it isn't accurate.
One of my favorite series covers show the main character as a blonde when in the book she has read hair. The book I'm currently reading shows the main character with shoulder length hair when in the book they made a big deal about her having waist length hair.

I also love to randomly buy short story collections in genres I like (fantasy, horror, etc) or that includes an author I know. That way I can find more authors I like.

my first is by the author...if its an author I know I like I gravitate towards that first. But if I am looking for a new author I do things much like yourself. Title first then cover, then summery.

at the library I go to the computer and search for a book or author that I like and then I check the similar authors/books to see if something sounds good. Or I just randomly walk around and look at books. Oh and I really like reading books about books.

Usually I read books people suggest to me, or if the cover catches my attention, I read the blurb and decide whether I'd like the story or not. But usually if I like a book by a certain author, I read other books by them too.

I tend to open the book, and read a few pages, or even a few chapters if it instantly catches my attention. Thats usually how I pick them. Or, if its in a setting that I know well(like the Warhammer and Warhammer 40k books) then I usually just read the blurb, then pick it up.

I've got a huge wishlist on Amazon, so I've just always got books in mind that I want to get. If I'm in a bookstore I can usually find at least one of the books I've got in mind.

And if I don't have anything in mind, I'll read the back and usually the first three pages. If I'm still interested after three pages, chances are I'll want to finish it.

Most of the books I read now are for school, but not necessarily something assigned. If it's for school and focuses of a topic of interest, I will read the summary and skim through the introductory chapter.

If I'm looking for something to read for fun, I stick with genres I like, authors I've either read before or have been recommended, or I take a stab at something with a title that interests me. Doesn't matter if it's hard/soft cover. If I have time before going to a store, I'll check out reviews on Amazon or B&N.

I usually go with that I know I'll like. Anything historical and based on any war or something like that and I'm ready to read. I'll also do mysteries, too, but not ones labeled as horror. Some surprising parts within a book not labeled may scare me, but I get over it. If it's a book about the holocaust or during a food rationed time then I need to be strong while reading those parts as I get that ill feeling in my stomach.

It's usually the title or cover (or both) that attract my attention. Then I usually read the back of the book and decide whether I'd like to read it. Usually, if I get some sort of good feeling about the book, I usually end up reading the entire thing, but if I don't I ether set it back down or take a peak inside. ^^

I choose books on two aspects. People or friends have recommended them or the cover looks really interesting.

I know I am not suppose to judge a book by its cover...But I still do it anyways. XD In my opinion, the cover attracts my attention and it also tell me if the story will be interesting or not. I don't read books with covers that look boring and I missed out a lot of great books. But the habit is hard to get rid. I always choose books that have fantasy looking person or characters or just animals. I read a lot of books but I only remember the names of the authors who have a series that I really like or just because my friends keep talking about them a lot. I don't mind if the book is a paperback or a hardcover. But I do prefer paperbacks more because it is easier to carry and put it in my bag. Hardcover is good too since it can last longer and have better conditions and it can also serve as a weapon or just a protection tool. :)

I largely base my reading choices off the subject material and the person/people contributing to it. Another important detail can be the people who they cite. Although this is a lesser concern. At the moment I currently choose between books which I have put in my one and only, small bookcase. There are about 40 or so books in there to choose from.

Usually with me, if the cover is really pretty and draws my attention, I'll grab it and read the back if it's paperback or i'll read the inside if it's a hardback.
Back in middle school, I judged a book by it's cover and ended up wasting my money half the time.
So I've learned my lesson to just let go of only judging a book by its cover and include if the story plot seems sensible or exactly what I want to read and such.

I go by the author. If i've read anything from that author or i've heard of that author i'm more likely to read it.

I go by word of mouth; by the name of an author I already read; or if the inside book description happens to catch my interest I will give the book a try and read it.

I always check for a summary on the copyright page, and I go by that. Much shorter than the cover summary :D
Sometimes an author's name will catch my eye. I usually read it if I know them.
A book can have an amazing cover and still suck. = w =

I tend to pick up books at random and just read the blurb, if it sounds good I'll probably read it. Also, a lot of what I read comes from my friends recommending a book, series, or author. Sometimes it's a good choice, others it really isn't. I cannot bring myself to read non-fiction. I find it's usually boring or depressing.

>.> In soviet Russia, book picks you.

Ha, I usually read what my professors pick! When I have time to read on my own, I usually pick books based on recommendations, or I read books by authors I've already read. For example, I'm going through a lot of Margaret Atwood's books and reading those because I've like other things I've read by her.