Academic Book Reviews Deserve Some Respect
They are an investment in the scholarly community and in ourselves as researchers, Victoria Addis argues.
"The academic book review has long had a status issue, both in the United States and elsewhere. [...] So if writing academic book reviews isn’t likely to do much for your career, why should you continue to produce them? [...] Beyond their undeniable value to the scholarly community and academic publishing, book reviews can provide impetus for debate and discussion and add to current conversations in a given field. Institutionally recognized or not, they are an important avenue for scholarly engagement, and one we should not allow to become diluted by low expectations of the form." [...]
"Reviewing books provides a focal point for deeper thinking and an avenue through which to share those thoughts in a brief and accessible way."
Victoria Addis is completing a Ph.D. in English at the University of Leeds.
For the full article, visit: https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2019/10/03/why-reviewing-books-good-avenue-scholarly-engagement-opinion