Book blurbs: no one knows whether hyperbolic tone is deserved or not

Book blurbs serve a purely promotional purpose. Photo: AFP

"Extraordinary," "breathtaking," "the new Stephen King"... Book covers often contain short, glowing quotes from literary critics and/or writers. These so-called blurbs are a common promotional tool, but they're increasingly being criticised within the profession.

The issues surrounding blurbs were brought to light in August by the Society of British Authors (SoA), following the publication of Jordan Peterson's latest book, Beyond Order: 12 More Rules For Life.