When it comes to a great book, wise readers know that looks aren’t everything—a book can have the most stunning cover, but if the writing inside is poor, it will quickly be forgotten.
But some covers really do stand the test of time, in part because the designers tried bold and original designs that pushed boundaries, but also because the stories inside are so brilliant and powerful that new generations of readers continue to pick them up.
We’ve rounded up the most iconic book covers so you can revisit old favorites and learn the stories behind their creation.
Famous Book Covers
Below are 19 famous book covers that are almost as recognizable as their titles.
1. Jaws by Peter Benchley
Published in 1974, the original cover for Jaws was designed by Paul Bacon with an all-black background and the white forms of a swimmer and the massive jaws of a great white shark looming beneath her.
However, the author wasn’t a fan, and thought the silhouette of the shark’s head looked like a certain part of the male anatomy with teeth. So, illustrator Roger Kastel was commissioned to design the more colorful version that has become as iconic as the book and its classic film adaptation. In fact, the design was also used for the official film poster.
2. The Godfather by Mario Puzo
Those puppet strings and heavy typeface are instantly recognizable for fans of this beloved classic, published in 1969, and its even more popular film adaptations.
Designed by S. Neil Fujita, the puppeteer is a nod to Don Corleone, the puppet master who has complete power, which is later passed on to his son, Michael.
In one line from Vito also tells Michael, “I never wanted this for you. I worked my whole life—I don’t apologize—to take care of my family, and I refused to be a fool, dancing on the string held by all those big shots.”
3. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Released back in 1985, Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale has seen many cover designs over the decades, but this most recent version by Noma Bar is perhaps the most iconic, especially since it was released in 2017 to match the tone of the hit TV series based on the dystopian novel.
The minimalist design features bold colors that contrast and also calls to mind the themes of the book and show. On the back cover of this version, the artist also uses the same silhouette to create the shape of a keyhole.
4. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
Originally published in 1962, it’s the 1972 version of A Clockwork Orange’s cover that’s most recognizable.
Designed by David Pelham, the bold but simple design instantly brings to mind the mascara-donning protagonist in Stanley Kubrick’s film adaptation, which was released the same year.
5. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Francis Cugat designed this iconic cover, which is often regarded as one of the best book covers of all time. Pretty impressive, considering it was the only cover Cugat would ever design!
It has been said that the image was inspired by this quote from Chapter 2:
“But above the gray land and the spasms of bleak dust which drift endlessly over it, you perceive, after a moment, the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg. The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic—their retinas are one yard high. They look out of no face, but, instead, from a pair of enormous yellow spectacles which pass over a non-existent nose.”
(For more famous lines, check out our post on Gatsby quotes, with analysis of each.)
6. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
J.D. Salinger, author of this 1951 novel, was notoriously picky about his books’ cover designs, preferring only simple lines and colors, with no blurbs or text other than the title and his name.
This original and most famous cover was designed by E. Michael Mitchell. It features a carousel horse, which seems to be a reference of the penultimate chapter, in which Holden’s sister rides a carousel in Central Park. However, it also reinforces the importance of the symbolism of horses that can be found throughout the novel.
7. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
The many covers of this 1955 novel have stirred up about as must controversy as the book itself, which deals with a middle-aged man’s infatuation with an adolescent girl, with whom he later develops a physical relationship.
As this CNN article discusses, past covers have been full of the same tropes, including “endless lollipops, lips, lipstick, scrunchies, underwear, bathers, heart-shaped sunglasses… and sly references to the female anatomy.”
Despite its provocative and suggestive imagery, it’s the Stanley Kubrick film adaptation image that became one of the most iconic covers for this book.
However, it’s important to note, as this New Yorker article does, that most of the sexualized covers fail to convey the Lolita actually found in the text of Nabokov’s novel, which is not a temptress, but “a sexually abused twelve-year-old girl.”
8. Psycho by Robert Bloch
This original cover for the Psycho, designed by Tony Palladino, is another of the most iconic book covers of all time.
While it may only feature a giant, slashed-through typeface in black and white, it’s enough to send chills down the spine, much like the famous score used in Alfred Hitchcock’s film adaptation.
9. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Designed by Joseph Mugnaini, this 1953 dystopian novel (there’s a lot of those on this list) features a man made of paper on fire.
Bradbury once revealed how the special bond between him and the illustrator originated, back in 1952, when Bradbury came across Mugnaini’s paintings in a Beverly Hills gallery and saw the very images he had dreamed and written about.
10. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
Graphic artist Paul Bacon has been credited with creating the “Big Book” look, featuring prominent titles and author names, with small, conceptual images.
Each element of Bacon’s famous covers was pieced together by hand, including the iconic red figure from Catch-22‘s cover that Bacon ripped our of a piece of paper to become part of book-cover history.
11. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The cover of To Kill a Mockingbird, published in 1960, was designed by Shirley Smith. As it features only an oak tree, some have criticized the cover as being too simple, but that hasn’t stopped it from becoming one of the most iconic and beloved designs among book lovers.
12. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
This original cover of The Hobbit, published in 1937, was actually designed by the author himself. The original cover didn’t have a red sun (as you’ll find in later editions).
Tolkien Library notes that the author originally wanted the sun and flying dragons to be red, but was forced to change it due to budget restraints.
13. Harry Potter Series
The original covers for all seven Harry Potter books were designed by Mary GrandPré. In fact, she also designed the iconic Harry Potter logo!
Her vivid and colorful illustrations captured the hearts and imaginations of young readers everywhere, and were even used to portray some of the most critical scenes from the books.
14. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey
In yet another classic cover designed by the talented Paul Bacon, the minimalist cover of this 1962 novel, which is set in a psychiatric hospital, features bright, playful colors and hand lettering by the artist.
15. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
The artist of this 1952 cover, Edward McKnight Kauffer, was well-known for his avant-garde design and work designing posters for the London Underground. In fact, he was once named the “Picasso of advertising design.”
True to that reputation, the cover of Invisible Man is a clear nod to cubism and is the version most closely associated with this classic novel.
16. Columbine by Dave Cullen
This 2010 nonfiction book documenting the Columbine High School Massacres of 1999 features an iconic cover with a simple shot of the campus by Henry Sene Yee, and an ominous grey sky looming above it.
17. An Ethics of Interrogation by Michael Skerker
This nonfiction cover designed by Isaac Tobin features a single, hanging light bulb against a cold, dark background, which sets the appropriate mood for a book about interrogation and the (often questionable) methods used to get information.
18. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Designed by S. Neil Fujita, the same talent behind The Godfather’s iconic puppet strings, this cover for a true crime classic features simple, classic typefaces and a hatpin with a drop of blood. Originally, the drop was a brighter red, but Capote asked that it be made darker to indicate time had passed since the murders.
19. Against Happiness by Eric G. Wilson
Designed by Jennifer Carrow, this cover features a minimal design that plays on the iconic yellow smiley by turning it upside down into a frown, using just the title and author.
What Book Covers Sell Best?
Try as we might to not judge a book by its cover, we’re all guilty of doing it from time to time. The truth is that the iconic covers on this list all belong to equally iconic books, and their images are instantly recognizable (you probably know some even if you haven’t actually read the book!).
However, if you’re an emerging author and want to make sure your book makes a strong first impression, check out these 5 tips for creating an attractive book cover.
Do you have a favorite book cover? Share your picks in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- 187 Book Cover Designers That Create Spectacular Art
- 5 Tips to Create an Attractive Book Cover
- 28 Must-Read Modern Classics
- The Most Memorable Great Gatsby Quotes, Explained
As a blog writer for TCK Publishing, Kaelyn loves crafting fun and helpful content for writers, readers, and creative minds alike. She has a degree in International Affairs with a minor in Italian Studies, but her true passion has always been writing. Working remotely allows her to do even more of the things she loves, like traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.
