Decent way to do it. I usually try to read the first 2-10 pages of a fiction book (at most) before I decide I might like it. If it hooks me, I open to two other mostly random pages, and ignore the plot parts to see if the writing style still seems good. If so, I buy or borrow it (depending).

Non-fiction is different (aside from reasons already mentioned) in that there is usually a far more limited number of books on a subject anyway. Sometimes (mostly not textbooks), you are stuck with just one or a few. Lots of great little obscure books about quirky bits of history out there that were great twenty pages in, but started out sorta meh.

Read the Adler book in high school; I kinda felt it was overrated at the time. I probably ought to reread it as an adult (not a 15 year old) at some point.