📚 Book Lovers Debate the Fate of Blurbs! The book publishing world is buzzing after Simon & Schuster US announced it will no longer require authors to get blurbs—those short, glowing quotes from famous authors or reviewers found on book covers. These blurbs are meant to convince readers that a book is “dazzling,” “illuminating,” or even “spellbinding.” Why the change? Sean Manning, head of the US imprint, claims blurbs reward "connections over talent" and are a hassle for both the authors requesting them and those writing them. However, booksellers and reviewers argue blurbs help them sift through countless books vying for attention. 🔍 The Bigger Picture: This debate reflects a struggling publishing industry where marketing budgets are shrinking, and publishers are desperate to promote their books however they can. Thoughts? Do blurbs help, or are they just noise? 📖