The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-11-24
REASONS FOR BUYING BOOKS.
PURCHASERS EXPLAIN THEIR
METHODS or CHOOSING.
Results OF an Investigation by Robert q.
Ceeke-lnnueuce of Book Reviews.
Advertisements and Other Things on
People In ' arious Parts Of theC Continent

49,.
! People In ' Various Parts Of thee Continent.
The question. Why does a person buy one
book rather than another at the bookstore2
was discussed In TIE Sun recently from
the standpoint Of the sellers Of books. The
other side Of the question. the viewpoint
| OF the buyer, Is reflected in an extensive
| correspondence which President Robert
G.. Cooke OF the Grafton Press has had
with bookbuyers in many States and H.
Canada and Mexico.
Mr.. Cooke was formerly connected with
the Appletons and the Harpers. In tho
course OF his affairs he conceived a desire
TO learn from buyers what influences led
them to select particular books in the
general line classified as current literature,
and he began a widespread correspondence
looking to this end.
His wish was TO have representative
popular opinions. II was not his aim 10
secure the views of collectors, but 10 learn
what influenced the general buyers. But
he did not want indiscriminate responses
which would be valueless because Of igno-
rance Of their source, so he set out to bring
himself into a certain sort OF personal
relationship with the persons whose views
he wanted
He turned TO his university connections.
selecting from among the Lehigh graduates
men who were widely scattered over the
country. picking out personal friends where
possible and in other instances falling back
upon college loyalty, and TO these he wrote
explaining his scheme and asking them for
lists Of persons known TO them In their re-
spective towns or counties who were pur-
chasers OF books.
liz then addressed the latter persons,
telling his reasons for writing and asking
them what influences guided them in their
purchases of current literature. As he
did not ask permission Of his correspondent
to make their views public, he does not
feel himself at liberty to publish their
names, \ but a reporter has made extracts
from the letters.
A Captain in the army at St, Paul, Mimi,
wrote: Il give II as an opinion that book
reviews in mag zines appeal with more
force than announcements Of any other
character. Display advertisements do not
impress me as f%avorabiy IA a candid review.
The say so Of the librarian is apt TO carry
weight, and in much greater degree the
announced approval Of a Gladstone. a Kip
ling. n Lew Wallace. dc. but above all
I Relieve my reading is determined by
the opinions and expressions of friends
as much M by other causes combined.
Why should not the publishers themselves
saw what they think Of the books they put
out and stand or fall accordingly
The President OF a beef company OF
Denver replied Il am rarely If ever IN
fuenced in my selections OF new pub
locations by display advertisements some
times an article In some OF the reviews,
particularly il its author il we'll known,
Influences me. and quite frequently ] have
made purchases because OF advertise
ments in reviews, magazines, &c"
A resident of Fort Smelling, MINI said
selection Of books by the literary reviews
published in daily newspapers and periodi-
Gals of the East and the West.
From Savannah. Ga. cane a letter whose
writer said that he derived his Information
almost entirely from cat alogues.
ACaptain Of the Third Infantry. L.. S. A.,
writing from Fort Smelling. said in a brisk.
military style: Il do my own thinking
and Judge of books by my impressions
regarding the author. consult the book
review column Of some papers. also
receive book catalogues.
The general agent at Denver Of one Of
the great New York life insurance com
panies wrote. such books as ] have
beer able 90 purchase from time 20 time
are books that | have long since decided
10 DUN JUS " NNPFA ~ h"t mn 80
me 20 do SO. ] generally make up my
mind wears beforehand what ! want, and
get IL when the time comes without regard
10 book agents or advertisements or any
such medium
Il RELY entirely on the advice given ma
by the manager In our book department"
said the owner Of a store In Mime
MY main reliance said a resident q
Cambria, wyo.. ia in periodicals pub
lished expressly for the reading OF book
hunting public. My preference N 20 50
lect personally from stock ] have often
made selections from publlsh"r-' list, and
catalogues with satisfactory results
A lawyer Of Pittshurg wrJt" that 50 FAR
AZ he purchased and read current llt"rd-
,ure, his choice ui me DOCKS "Aa ulnu'
.no.si chiefly by Intelligent reviews The
announcement Of a new WORK ~ a "ni"r
~ known merit II often sufficient 10 M
duce a purrhase ha concluded.
A Captain Of Enginrers Of th" army AZ
81 Paul ~rui" My BOOK purchases
are almost exclusively ~ tH' h'' 81 u,n
meal works and engineering and kindrsi
subl@rts Most ~ my purchases ar" made
alter looking carefully over IA" iuirAD-
aud sample pages usually -"ut pui ~ no"
publishers "a thn.s Who have shown thtt
ih,y r,.d over such puut"I matter 90
cazianally sse a book no'l@, 90 uiu" ~
ths u-chnlon paI-r- when lntis tu q put
ch,.. have 10 lpCll bIuk dralri, uui
orIrr diu-s from the publishers
A Minneapolis gram u"fulihi d-'ln,i
btur.lf largely ~ the haudr - ilr iurIi-
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