The idea addresses a subtle but meaningful gap in the digital reading experience: the loss of social signaling that naturally occurs with physical books. While paperbacks and hardcovers display their covers openly, e-readers typically show generic screensavers or reveal exactly what the user is reading, leaving no middle ground for those who want to control their reading image.

The Digital Book Cover Solution

One approach to solve this could be creating a feature that lets e-reader users choose what appears on their device's display - whether the actual book they're reading, a different title from their library, or even custom images. This would work through:

• A simple interface within the reading app to select and manage displayed covers
• Options ranging from personal book collections to publisher-provided alternatives
• Temporary settings for time-bound display choices

The system could integrate with existing reading platforms, allowing seamless switching between privacy, personal expression, or participation in reading trends without requiring actual book consumption.

Why This Makes Sense

For readers, this offers valuable control over their reading image in public spaces - whether concealing private selections or showcasing literary tastes. For publishers and platforms, it creates interesting promotional opportunities and engagement hooks. The technical requirements appear modest, building on existing e-reader display capabilities and book metadata systems.

Getting Started

A minimal version could begin by allowing display of any book from the user's purchased library, then expand to include:

1. Publisher-approved covers from broader catalogs
2. Custom image uploads with moderation
3. Integration with reading challenges and social features

The concept leverages existing digital reading infrastructure while adding a human-centered design layer that acknowledges reading's social dimensions.

The feature essentially recreates the optional visibility that physical books naturally provide, adapting it thoughtfully for digital reading culture and devices.