The NYT had a story this weekend about how authors "swap off" on cover blurbs for each other---you know, the quotes on a cover that says "Best Book Ever!!" and "insightful" and "Astounding debute novel"---that kind of thing. I also know some authors who talk about doing this for friends, and all the niceties and trade-offs involved.

But does anybody ever really pay attention to, or be influenced by, those blurbs?

You know, even though I know it's silly and that authors swap quotes for each other...I can't help being more likely to pick up a book if I recognize the author of the cover blurb.  So if Amy Tan tells me to read a book, even if it's just her publisher telling her that she needs to give a quote for another author at the same house, I guess I read it!

Perhaps I'm too well-trained - very good at following orders :-)

I don't even pay attention to the other authors' quotes.  I want to somewhat form my own opinion I guess.

I detest the blurbs especially when they are in place of the what the story is about.

Ditto for what Wendy said.  Give me a brief synopsis and let me make up my own mind!

I pay no attention to the blurbs.

I only recall one blurb that ever made any difference to me.  On the cover of The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle there was this testimonial: "Possibly the Greatest Science Fiction Novel I've Ever Read" - Robert Heinlein. I know some authors lay out these kind of testimonials left and right, but I have never seen another one from Heinlein (who is probably my favorite author) and I was a little surprised he'd use that kind of language...but  I was not disappointed.

Not anymore.  I asked an author about these blurbs once and she told me they are supposed to be attached to a particular book ONLY.  But I kept seeing the same blurb on almost every book in a series. 

I stopped paying attention to them after that.

I have to admit it - I do pay attention to them, but I still like to think I make up my own mind about whether to buy/read a book or not.

I barely notice them any more unless they are in some huge font that rivels the title and author. I am also suspicious when the back of the book only talks about praise for another of the author's works (especially on PBs since there is no dust jacket for a synopsis of the story). I feel like they are "hiding" something about the book - like it is so bad they are hoping you will buy it based upon something else they wrote.

I'm with Wendy and Venessa.

I pay very little attention to book reviews, blurbs or ratings. I don't put much faith in what other author's have to say becaue I know they're either getting paid for it, contracted to do it by their publisher or doing it in exchange for similar blurbs on their books.  So of course they're not going to say "this books sucks buy mine instead".  I  read the back blurb that tells what the book is about and decide if it's something I'm interested in for myself. Many times I have loved a book that has been rated or reviewed poorly and hated books that got rave reviews.  If I read a book by an author and like it-I tend to read everything else they've written whether they got good reviews or not.  If I read a new author and don't care for them-I generally give them another book.  Sometimes they grown on me and other times they don't.

I think Mary has nailed the basic concept behind the blurbs. Too many times, the author who writes the blurb has not even read the book! It's all a business deal, or helping out a friend.

Yes, I read that article also.  (I subscribe to the NYT partially because it means I get the Book Review a day early!)  I pay attention to blurbs if they are by an author whose work I enjoy.  However, some authors are starting to blurb me to death - I love Harlan Coben, but it seems like he blurbs every new thriller release these days.  Same for Stephen King... when I hear someone calling every book the next best thing I stop listening after a while.

It is a minor influence.  If I see a book in the library I will notice if one of my preferred authors has a blurb.  I do notice the lack of "author" blurbs.  If no authors at all are on the list of blurbs, I am more hesitant to check it out. 

For me to pay money or order a book at PBS I have to have a REAL PERSON recommendation. 

I LOVE the reviews here at PBS.  They very much help me pick out books.  Often when I am ordering books from a special in the Book Bazaar...the PBS reviews help me make the decision for the "freebies".

Just give me a quick synopsis on what the book is about.  And please don't include spoilers.

It might catch my eye, but I go for the synopsis. That is what counts for me. I do not use the reviews much. I always skip the official ones on or in the book. I read some of them here on PBS if I am undecided after reading the synopsis.