Obviously I’m biased, but I really do love this cover. It’s clean, simple, but still has a hint of grittiness. The simple color scheme — especially the greys – fit perfectly. And if part of selling a book is selling an author, why not play off what I’ve already branded? The gear alone could be brought forward into Salvaged, perhaps?

I think this is boring. That said, I like the simplicity and it really pops on a book shelf.

Not a fan of the primary colors here, but it is striking and catches the eye.

I added this in part because it captures the junkyard so well.

Great image. Not crazy about the colors — I’d want something grittier.

Mark’s book cover has a rawness to it that I like.

I like the hand drawn feel of this, as if the lines/arrows were done on a whiteboard.

Simple, clean, clear.

The next three, by the Heath brothers, all capture the nuance of the book without using words. Lightening in a bottle, duct tape sticks, switching on/off. Easy to see metaphors but still great graphics/images.

You could also develop a “light bulb in the junkyard” theme. As in ideas that come out of the junkyard. This is a 117 year old light bulb that has been in continuous usage, and the ruggedness fits perfectly with a junkyard.

The idea of “salvaging” something from the junkyard brought me to this image.

See the rusty sheet metal? That’s what caught my eye here. Had the idea of a book cover that looked like rusty sheet metal (which is EVERYWHERE in a junkyard) or even a rusty chain link fence.

Chain-link fence in front of a rusty metal plate.

I started thinking about “pulling” parts at the junkyard and thought of this image. Though I wouldn’t use a VW!

Stacks of pulled parts

I added this just to make you laugh. 🙂