RE: Proof that content is more important than style

[JB Foster <jb -dot- foster -at- shaw -dot- ca>]

Because of the current thread on 'content' over 'style' ... last night at a
get-to-gether, A friend and I, started talking about which is more important
in books: 'the content' or 'the style.' This topic started from - why
various paperback novels are now using cheap (comic-book quality) stock.
That of course led to my observations on horrible (or cheap$) layouts, in
certain books I've come across. Also I tried to  explain the recent email
discussions (on 'Tech-L') on whether 'written' content should be considered
more important.

To my surprise - my friend understood this topic, and expressed that
'presentation' (layout, selection of type, and paper quality) were at least
equally comparable to the writing ability. As an avid reader, he strongly
believes, that a 'well type-set' book can  be subconsciously 'as' alluring
to a reader, than the story itself. He also remarked "If the pages are
un-pleasing to the eyes, why would I waist my time reading the author's
story." ... "if they aren't bothering on the time to make it look
professional, then it probably isn't worth reading, anyway." My friend was
essentially negatively-biasing any author, who's publisher does printing on
the cheap. I wasn't expecting someone outside of our industry, to be aware
of the importance of page-layout in books, or even making a connection to
possible subconscious buying-decisions based on that.

I have some personal ideas why 'content' is more important than 'style',
which others on this list have covered quite well; I however, didn't't
expect (though had a hunch) people do more than judge a book by the content
or the story. I hope the answer isn't that some companies are convinced
proper set-up of type-face and layout is an unjustified cost, and something
the public won't notice.

Bruce



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