Please keep the following factors in mind when writing a book review:
- A book review is an accepted form of scholarship. By reviewing a book, you add to the understanding of a particular domain or topic and influence how other scholars regard it. This implies that traditional rules of academic scholarship also apply to book reviews. When writing a book review, aim for Journal of Marketing quality. Remember that your book review is a permanent addition to the scholarly corpus of the journal. Thus, aim for writing that is worthy of that standard.
- A good book review demonstrates a deep understanding of the book and the topic it seeks to explicate. Please make sure that you have read and assimilated the book’s contents. Seek out other books and articles in the same domain or subdomain to assess the originality of the contribution. Try to compare and contrast the book and its point of view with those of other related books and articles. Ask critical questions about specific arguments. Finally, carefully examine the data used to make claims.
- Keep the reader in mind when writing the review. Not all readers will have read the book in question. Some will have read only excerpts. Others will read only your review and not the book itself. Place the book in context, and describe what is interesting or original. Readers appreciate clarity of thought and good organization. Your review makes a difference; your recommendation will determine whether readers will buy the book or order it for their libraries.
- Adopt a clear perspective. Book review writers adopt various perspectives. Some examine a book from the perspective of practitioners. Others review it from the perspective of research scholars or students. Explicitly note the lens (or lenses) through which you are examining the book.
- Pay attention to the writing. Well-written book reviews are much more likely to appear in Journal of Marketing online. Book reviews with grammatical or spelling errors will not be accepted.
If you are interested in writing a review or you have other questions, contact the Book Review Editor, Sandeep Krishnamurthy at sandeepresearch@gmail.com. Please note: The Book Review Editor will initiate book reviews and essays. Unsolicited reviews or essays will not be accepted; however, potential contributors are encouraged to discuss the possibility of such reviews or essays with the Book Review Editor.