When self-publishing, one of the aesthetic decisions you’ll have to make is whether or not to publish your book as a hard or soft cover. The decision is one that will mainly affect your readers, so when exploring the pros and cons of this decision, we will be considering the experience and opinions of your potential readers.

First let’s consider what the pros are to publishing a hardcover title?

1. Hardcovers are just plain nice to look at. They are sleek.
2. You don’t have to worry about the pages getting ‘flappy’ or folded at the edges.
3. They absolutely last longer–I can’t tell you how many paperback books I have with torn off or taped on covers.
4. No need for a bookmark, just use the handy-dandy book jacket!
5. Look great as additions to a bookshelf or coffee table.

And the cons to publishing a hardcover title?

1. They are heavy as can be…