you know a book appeals some you read the back synopsis.. maybe some review quotes and based on who is saying might sway you.. maybe you crack it open in the middle and read a random page... I think rather than just doing that I may start reading the beginning and if they are doing this .. do just that and pass.. that said the two recent examples of this for me turned out to be books of some value that I don't actually regret reading even if they could've should've been more..