I know -- sure we also need site functions like clicking to get to different editions, purchasing, etc. -- but do those and all the other page content have to obscure book details? Amazon site wasn't always like that; book description section was bigger and a couole if years back was even predominantly featured ...
I swear it seems like every month that description section shrinks.
(Looks like they did finally do away with the huge orange headlines in book descriptions at least -- probably because too big to show in the new real estate allowed for descriptions ...)
Yep, I think Amazon just posts what the publisher uploads - and if you open a hardcover, on the inner flap are credentials (bestselling) and praise ("x author calls is 'fascinating'") before the summary.
I need to do my Goodreads Librarian thing, and start deleting all the credentials/praise on book descriptions.
Well, Amazon and other booksellers have always done that -- post what publishers, authors give them as description (directly or via various data feeds). Mainstream publishers generally make that the same text as goes on the back of the book,
But, amazon never used to have such a small area of top screen of book's product page to display that text. Even with smaller font sizes in that section, the exact same publisher-provided content where first paragraph might be one to two lines on another website wraps to four or more on Amazon. And you might have to click to see more before you can even see that much of it.
I'm pretty sure Amazon also offers a separate field for quoted praises (no rules against quoting in the book description field but it is an option to avoid endless ones in the description). A quote/line or two of praise in the description, fine -- unless by someone I've heard of doesn't do anything for me but doesn't ruin the description. Endless screen after screen of them - ugh!
I should add that those screenshot were on a tablet held landscape orientation. Upright like a book and Amazon description field is even more squished.
Then shrink that even further when trying to shop directly from ereaders...
I swear it seems like every month that description section shrinks.
(Looks like they did finally do away with the huge orange headlines in book descriptions at least -- probably because too big to show in the new real estate allowed for descriptions ...)
I need to do my Goodreads Librarian thing, and start deleting all the credentials/praise on book descriptions.
But, amazon never used to have such a small area of top screen of book's product page to display that text. Even with smaller font sizes in that section, the exact same publisher-provided content where first paragraph might be one to two lines on another website wraps to four or more on Amazon. And you might have to click to see more before you can even see that much of it.
I'm pretty sure Amazon also offers a separate field for quoted praises (no rules against quoting in the book description field but it is an option to avoid endless ones in the description). A quote/line or two of praise in the description, fine -- unless by someone I've heard of doesn't do anything for me but doesn't ruin the description. Endless screen after screen of them - ugh!