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Tips for someone interested in doing book reviews?

In our newest "how can we help you?" thread, a reader asks:

I expect this has been covered before, but I'd keen to write a few book reviews for journals. Set aside the point that this is not especially valuable on a C.V., I simply like the idea of doing it. Also, it seems a nice way of engaging with – and (hopefully )making yourself known – to people who are doing important work in your field of research.

Question: How do people go about doing this? I've looked at some journals that publish book reviews, but they don't provide any information (e.g., a list of books available for review or how to go about reviewing a book).

Do you write the review and then submit it? Do you agree with the journal to write the review before doing so?

Books can be very expensive – can you expect journals to provide books?

I'm not sure how to go about seeking book review opportunities, but as for the other questions, yes, journals provide reviewers books and you normally agree to write the review before doing so. 

Do any readers have any other tips for someone interesting in seeking out review opportunities?

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9 responses to “Tips for someone interested in doing book reviews?”

  1. Current Book Review Editor

    In my experience, you can simply email the book review editor and ask if you can review a specific book (or even ask if they have any books they would like to be reviewed), and they will say yes if you have the right qualifications. I myself am a book review editor, and we are always looking for reviewers. It is also a nice way to get a free copy of a book. Assuming you are proposing a review of a specific book, it should be recent and directly relevant to the journal in question.
    Usually what happens is you agree to write the review in advance, then the journal arranges to dispatch a copy of the book to you from the publisher. You do the review according to the journal guidelines and submit it. If there are any adjustments needed, the editor will tell you, but it doesn’t have the same kind of process as a research article.

    Reply
  2. Michel

    It depends on the journal, but there are two main ways to review books. The first, and main, way is just that a journal asks you to review something for them. For this to happen, you need to be sufficiently well known in your subfield that the reviews editor thinks of asking you. To help them think of you, you can email them to say you’d like to review something, and attach your CV.
    The second main way is that you email the reviews editor to tell them you’d be interested in reviewing something, and attach your CV (yes, this overlaps with the end of what I said above!). If they publish lists of books received, it helps if you list a few of interest. If they don’t, you could pitch a book, making a mini case (just a few sentences) for why the journal’s readership would be interested (I think this probably works best in specialist journals).
    Then you write it after. You’re usually given several months to do so (3-6, in my experience). You could pre-write it, of course, but the main perk of reviewing is getting a review copy.
    Most of the reviews I’ve written were solicited, but I’ve also pitched some. It’s fun.

    Reply
  3. Brad

    I was one of the editors in chief for Metascience, a Springer/Nature journal that publishes book reviews of books in the history, sociology, and philosophy of science, for the past 10 year. Just contact the current editor if you are interested in reviewing a book in the philosophy of science. The book should be recent, and there should be no conflict of interest – do not ask to review a book of someone who teaches in the program where you are doing your PhD, or someone who is on your committee, or someone you have collaborated or published with. Publishers do supply free reveiw copies, BUT lately they have been asking revieweres if they will take an e-book. If you say no, then many publishers will supply a hardcopy. I think book reviews are quite rewarding to write, and they are a great service to our professsion.

    Reply
  4. book reviews editor

    I am also a book review editor and agree with everything that Current Book Review Editor stated.
    I also occasionally put out calls for reviewers on the Liverpool philosophy listserv. There are all kinds of writing opportunities on the Liverpool philosophy listserv, so if you are looking for book review opportunities, sign up for the Liverpool philosophy listserv!

    Reply
  5. Bill V.

    Philosophy in Review is a good place to cut your teeth and they are always looking for reviewers.
    https://journals.uvic.ca/index.php/pir/books-for-review

    Reply
  6. Tim

    My experience agrees with everyone above. I normally email the Book Editor mentioning a book I’d like to review, and attaching my CV. They normally agree. My library has good access to many books. So sometimes I offer to acquire the book myself, through the library. I frequently send the review to the author, first, to make sure I’m being fair. And then I send it to the journal.

    Reply
  7. Daniel Weltman

    To add another data point, I’ve cold-emailed a few review editors. I have about a 70% success rate in hearing back from them. So, if you email a few people and don’t hear back, don’t worry: some review editors are not checking their email. Just email some others.

    Reply
  8. Grateful

    Thank you everyone for your very helpful replies, much appreciated!

    Reply
  9. Larry Cool

    Great question—and one many early-career researchers and academics often have. Writing book reviews can be a rewarding way to engage deeply with scholarship in your field and start building a presence in academic circles.
    In most cases, you don’t write the review before securing an agreement with the journal. Instead, you typically reach out to the book review editor expressing your interest and offering some brief background on your expertise. Some journals maintain a list of books available for review (though not always publicly posted), while others are open to suggestions if there’s a recent title you’d like to cover.
    And yes—journals almost always provide the book to the reviewer free of charge. It’s part of the arrangement. If they can’t source it, they’ll usually say so upfront.
    I’d recommend picking a few journals relevant to your field and emailing the review editor directly. Be concise, professional, and enthusiastic. Once you’ve done a review or two, opportunities tend to open up more easily.
    Looking forward to seeing your reviews out there—book reviewing is a great way to contribute to scholarly conversations and stay current with new work.

    Reply

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