So, I wrote a book review for the Journal of Politics. The author of the book I reviewed was leaked the review, which is somewhat (though not entirely) negative. After reading the leaked review, the author of the book contacts me, the reviewer, and entreats me to make changes to the review. He makes a series of arguments why my evaluation is wrong. I refuse to make any changes. A year later, I find out that my book review has been shelved, will not be published, no reason is given. It looks like the book review editor was pressured by the author not to publish the review. What should I do? Is this ethical?
JOP nixed my book review
(47 posts) (23 voices)-
Posted 3 years ago #
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Two possibilities:
1) Your negative review could be unfair and the book review editor is convinced of that.
2) Your negative review is, well, objective, but could be destructive of another scholar's reputation, career, etc. and the book review editor is not sure whether they want to pursue that.
But if you are keen to do just that, why don't you post it on your website and provide a link here?
Posted 3 years ago # -
Without any other information I would say that this is entirely lame on the part of JOP editors. As a book review editor, I suppose he/she does have the right to decide which reviews get published, but this sounds very irregular. The editor should not be sending book reviews to the authors. And, normally, they do not. I say this as someone who has written both books and book reviews. In fact, I have had my books reviewed by JOP, but I never got a pre-release version of the review from the editor. I have never heard of a single case of a journal sharing a book review with the author of the book prior to publication of a review. I could imagine it if it was a review essay and editor was asking author to respond in print, but that is not the case you describe.
If I had to speculate, I would guess that the editor saw something in your review that looked outrageously wrong. He/she may have been trying to save you and/or the book author some extreme and avoidable embarrassment. I think we should test this hypothesis. Please post the review here and we can tell you whether you are really as dumb and/or rude as the editor seems to think.
Posted 3 years ago # -
This would be highly unusual (less unusual for JOP, or other journals, to lose track of book reviews and delay or neglect to publish them). I would be very surprised if JOP shared the review with the book author prior to publication (or ever, you'd be surprised how random the process of discovering reviews of your own books can be). Far more likely, given what you described, is that the author contacted JOP and made a reasonable argument for killing the review (which raises the question of how the author got hold of your review in the first place, if not from JOP). You could push back with JOP and argue in favor of your review. If they stick to their decision, then you could see if someone else wants to publish it, or you could self-publish it on a website -- though that just seems petty. Far more productive at that point would be to file it away and perhaps incorporate your concerns into a more substantial article or review essay at some point.
The whole experience might encourage you to think about how your wrote the original review and whether it really was as professional and as well thought out as you would have hoped. Might be that the author is being thin-skinned and JOP is behaving badly by listening to him or her, or that you need more work on your negative-review-writing skills, or perhaps both.
Posted 3 years ago # -
I write a lot of book reviews (probably about 8/year), almost all of which do get published. I try to give criticism sparingly, unless more is truly warranted. I suspect that a fellow scholar I shared it with leaked it to the author, not the JOP book review editor (so I guess that it is partly my fault, I should have kept it to myself). I don't suspect that I'll push the matter with the JOP book review editor. But what really called my attention to it was that my book review disappeared from the author's CV (posted on-line) within a week of me declining to make changes to the review. So, my conclusion is that if authors have enough of a network (to get a hold of the review prior to publication) and enough clout (to pressure book review editors), they can successfully block negative reviews of their book from being published. P.S. I'm not going to post the review because then I would be a persona non grata at JOP.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Let me guess. You really like writing book reviews, don't you?
Posted 3 years ago # -
8 book reviews a year? that must be a record. guess our time could be better spent given how thankless the job of book reviewing often is.
Posted 3 years ago # -
It is a service to the profession. And I get a lot of ideas for my own papers by reviewing others' books. Still, the point is that the process could be compromised by clever authors intent upon stopping any published criticism of their own works.
Posted 3 years ago # -
This is highly suspicious regardless of the circumstances. I have written dozens of reviews and rarely ever have even a WORD changed.
If your review is unnecessarily harsh, inaccurate, even hackneyed the the editor should provide you with comments and request revisions. If you think the revisions are unnecessary or unwarranted you should be able to make the case to the editor. If, after a revise and resubmit process, the editor still feels the review is not worthy of publication he/she can inform you of that decision.
Assuming that your review is critical but accurate and professional there is no reason that it should not be published: none.
On a related note: I share my reviews with book authors as soon as I write them as a matter of both professional courtesy (so they know that they a review of their book will be published somewhere) and because I take full responsibility for whatever I write about someone else's work.
Posted 3 years ago # -
I assume that the review has been shelved, since it has been over a year and no word. Also, I thought that the review disappearing from the author's CV was pretty good evidence that it had been shelved. I'm afraid to inquire with the book review editor to see what happened to it. Again, I'm fearful of burning any bridges with JOP. Perhaps I'm being conspiratorial. It could have been an honest mistake, e.g. the review was misplaced or they are way behind schedule.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Have to say that's quite different than what you wrote in the first post. I know of multiple instances of JOP losing track of completed book reviews or putting them in a very long queue before publication. You may be right, but it is equally plausible that you are jumping to conclusions. You should simply contact the book review editor and ask what the status of your review might be.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Zero
Don't you think you should have first gone to Jan or John or another member of the editorial board with this issue? It sounds like you are experienced in the profession and pretty well connected, if you are being solicited to write half a dozen or more reviews a year, so I think you'd be in a position to contact someone.
If my description of you is accurate, then why are you raising this issue in this way on an anonymous board? Do you consider this the right forum for raising this issue?
Posted 3 years ago # -
this thread has been moderated by sip a little bit.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Serious question for the mods. What's the stop someone from creating a profile and then attaching somebody else's webpage to it, and then maligning that person? For all we know, that's what has happened here as well.
Posted 3 years ago # -
That's a good question, but I don't have an answer to it. (I don't think there is any way to avoid such a... sad problem in the current system.) I hope Polisci Guy will look at this thread soon, but if not, I'll drop a line. You can do so too, of course.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Zero,
with all due respect, you already ARE having that conversation with Jan, but now you'll have to explain why you felt it best to post your suspicions on this blog. Surely someone associated with JOP has already seen this or it has been forwarded. Surely if you
have written precisely six reviews as you say, you are very easily identified.I suggest you immediately write the editor, apologize for airing dirty laundry in public, and air your grievance. Seriously. The cat is already out of the bag.
Posted 3 years ago # -
I am the book review editor for JOP. After being forwarded information on this post, I sent an email directly to the author of the book review (based on the linked webpage to zerophiliac's profile which has since been removed). I haven't received a reply even though it was sent between some of his posts. Here is part of that email:
"...Your review hasn't been "shelved" It is scheduled to appear in the first issue of 2010, it was submitted to the publisher in October. It was NEVER shared with the book's author. And, according to my records, it hasn't been a year. I got it in April, and it was sent to the publisher in October. . . . I know that your review was solicited by my prior assistant, who is a specialist in Political theory, so maybe notification of when it was to appear slipped through the tracks and for that I apologize. But, I think the more appropriate steps would be to contact me personally. I thought I would do that-email you privately- before posting my reply on PSJR. "
To clarify: I never shared the review with the book's author, and have never been in contact with the book's author. I do not think I have ever shared a review with a book author prior to publication unless it was part of a book review exchange that included author responses. Also, I do not think I have ever "rejected" a book review that we solicited, or that was volunteered/approved by us first (I would have to do some research to find out which was the situation with this particular review). I have declined a handful of completely unsolicited book reviews that I thought inappropriate for the journal. This was not the situation with this review.
Maybe the moderators could delete the post with the book review. I'm not sure what the copyright implications are of a forthcoming book review being posted here.
Happy New Year!
Valerie Hoekstra
Book Review Editor, JOPPosted 3 years ago # -
Copyrighted book review removed
Posted 3 years ago # -
After being forwarded information on this post...
Valerie, there is no need to cover up the fact that you read PSJR on a regular basis. You need not have any shame about it. Regular readers and posters on PSJR include Professors Mike Munger, Stephen Staideman, Jeff Jenkins, and many others who read and post anonymously, such as Professor Chill.
Again, no shame in it, Valerie.
Posted 3 years ago # -
PSJR: We Fit The Gap Between Your Brains and Journal Editors
Great forum
Posted 3 years ago # -
With all due respect, there's a lot of angst here over, well, a book review.
Posted 3 years ago # -
With all due respect, there's a lot of angst here over, well, a book review.
I was thinking the same thing but then just concluded: "Maybe these things are worth more than I give them credit for."
Posted 3 years ago # -
It's also apparently a lot of unnecessary angst, given Professor Hoekstra's message above. I've been wondering why the OP hasn't chimed since then with something such as an apology.
Posted 3 years ago # -
I've been wondering why the OP hasn't chimed since then with something such as an apology.
He's too busy writing his next book review? ;-)
Posted 3 years ago # -
Serious question for the mods. What's the stop someone from creating a profile and then attaching somebody else's webpage to it, and then maligning that person? For all we know, that's what has happened here as well.
Well nothing initially. It would likely be brought to my attention very quickly though. If it became a problem then I would look into removing the ability to link to personal webpages.
However, I should note that if account has been .edu verified then I think there is little chance that someone would post a link to someone else's page and post "fake" posts to make the person look bad.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Zero,
another piece of unsolicited advice for you. First ignore this thread. You need not reply to a bunch of anonymous posters. But immediately write an apology to Val. Eat crow and let her know you've learned your lesson. And move on.
Take my advice. I know of what I speak.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Sorry AnyUser,
Unlike you, I am no sycophant. I do not need to publish in JOP. Poli Sci is not even my discipline. Live your own lie and continue to kiss ****.
Thanks for all the attention, though. While unintended, yesterday alone there were 50 Google hits from five different countries with my name in them.
Looks like you will be dining on crow tonight.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Well, Zero, I truly hope someone is faking your name. When you grow up a bit, you'll realize that admitting when one makes an error shows strength of character, not sycophancy.
I'll let the sharks chew on the rest of the meat you've just tossed into the water.
Posted 3 years ago # -
I made no error. I still think the book review was suppressed. It might get published, but almost two years after the publication of the book, when it will have little or no impact.
I realize that you're hiding behind your anonymity, but I'm obviously not (that's already been settled). So feel free to come talk with me after one of my forthcoming talks.
I will probably only be doing the poli sci conference circuit for another year. I'm sure that we can have a civil conversation.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Zero, I apologize if I misunderstood these postings by you:
A year later, I find out that my book review has been shelved, will not be published, no reason is given. It looks like the book review editor was pressured by the author not to publish the review.
Sounds like Val's posting puts all of those charges to rest. You made an error.
I don't suspect that I'll push the matter with the JOP book review editor.
Perhaps a matter of interpretation, but I believe by posting your complaints here, you did in fact push the issue, but in a public and unprofessional way. I consider that an error. You may not.
P.S. I'm not going to post the review because then I would be a persona non grata at JOP.
Which you later did ...
Again, I'm fearful of burning any bridges with JOP.
Which you have now successfully done ...
Posted 3 years ago #