You turn the book over in your hands, you scan the sentences on the back of the jacket, generic phrases that don't say a great deal. So much the better, there is no message that indiscreetly outshouts the message that the book itself must communicate directly, that you must extract from the book, however much or little it may be. Of course, this circling of the book, too, this reading around it before reading inside it, is a part of the pleasure in a new book, but like all preliminary pleasures, it has its optimal duration if you want it to serve as a thrust toward the more substantial pleasure of the consummation of the act, namely the reading of the book. Italo Calvino
About This Quote

A book is not just words on a page. It carries with it information that can be used to give us ideas, to create images, to inspire us, and to tell stories. By looking at the back of a book or skimming the back of it, our minds are able to extract information. This is why you should always read the back of a book before you read the front.

This information helps your mind process what is happening in the book, while at the same time helps you get an idea on what to expect while reading. For example, if you are reading a story that takes place in New York City, then knowing that helps you visualize what is happening in that city while reading about it.

Source: If On A Winters Night A Traveler

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