What Is The Back Cover Of A Book Called? You Might Be Surprised

Have you ever held a book and turned it around? Have you ever thought of asking yourself the question “what is the back of the book called?” In this case, the answer can be quite multifaceted because the term varies according to the type of book, format, or the publishing language.

In this article, we will explain to you all the nuances and details, starting with terminology and ending with the components of the back cover of your book.

What Is the Back of the Book Called?

The standard term used when talking about the back side of a book is back cover. It means the outer part of a book which you see from its reverse side.

Other terms associated with this concept include:

• Blurb – the description found on the reverse part of the book
• Back cover text or blurb – the marketing text itself
• Jacket copy – this term is used in case of hardcover books with dust jackets
• Dust jacket back panel – in case of hardcover books

In other words:

👉 The back side is the back cover, while the text is the blurb.

Back Cover vs. Back Matter (Don’t Mix Them Up!)

There are two concepts that may confuse you in talking about book publishing:

1. Back Cover

• The outer side of a book
• Used for marketing and design reasons
• Visible even without opening the book

2. Back Matter

• The inner pages following the main text
• Consists of appendixes, glossaries, indexes, and more

❗️ Important distinction:

• Back cover refers to the outer side of the book
• Back matter refers to the inner pages of the book

What Is a Blurb in a Book’s Back Cover?

The blurb is the most crucial part of the book’s back cover. It is usually a short and interesting piece that will make the readers curious about what is being written.

Some features of a blurb include:

• Introducing the plot or theme of the novel
• Creating suspense
• Not giving out any information from the main story
• Making the reader want to buy the book

Back Cover Components of a Book

Some common components found on the back cover of a book include the following:

1. Book Blurb

A brief explanation of the book’s contents (about 80 to 150 words).

2. Author Information

Details about the author (up to four sentences).

3. Testimonials

Testimonials from reviewers or authors to add credibility to the book.

4. ISBN and Barcode

Identification codes to assist in the marketing of the book.

5. Publishing House Details

A logo or the name of the publishing house.

Back Cover in Hardcover Book v.s. Paperback

• The definition of “back cover” can differ according to the type of book:
• Paperback
• The back cover is printed on the book itself
• It is flexible and part of the book’s binding
• Hardcover
• Usually comes with a dust jacket
• The “back” visible is normally the back flap of the dust jacket, not the board itself

Why Does the Back Cover Play Such an Important Role?

There is no doubt that the back cover plays a very important role:

1. As the Point of Sale

This helps buyers to decide whether to buy the book based on its advantages.

2. Second Impression (After the Front Cover)

They will definitely flip it to check its reverse side before buying it.

3. As an Advertisement of the Book Content

4. As a Reader Attraction Tool

It helps readers to generate interest by its blurb.

Essentially, the back cover answers a very important question:

👉 Why should I read this book?

This is the same question book bloggers answer every day when they share books on social media — and the back cover is their starting point.

Back Cover Writing Tips

If you’re writing a back cover yourself, consider these useful tips:

• Begin with an intriguing hook
• Highlight the central theme or conflict
• Make it brief (approximately 100–150 words)
• Don’t give away too much
• Employ active and dynamic language
• Be consistent with genre tone

The back cover is meant to arouse interest, not reveal the entire story.

Mistakes to Avoid

1. Writing too many words
2. Revealing the conclusion
3. Employing vague descriptions
4. Badly formatted or illegible font
5. Filling up with too many reviews

Conclusion

What do you call the back of the book?

• The right answer is: the back cover
• And its contents are: the blurb

Despite being just a small portion of the book, the back cover is one of the strongest elements of the publishing industry. It merges design, narrative, and marketing within an extremely limited format, which may ultimately decide whether the buyer purchases the book or not.