Like all other shortcuts for judging a book this one has plenty of issues. However I like that it disentangles a few of those issues. Instead of judging a book by the author, cover, title and then the first page you can focus in on just one of those heuristics.
Also if you can control yourself and avoid revealing the author/title of books you don't like you won't bias yourself when you get recommendations from friends!
Also if you can control yourself and avoid revealing the author/title of books you don't like you won't bias yourself when you get recommendations from friends!