When a Book Review Becomes an Advertisement: The Problem with Dishonest Praise
When a Book Review Becomes an Advertisement: The Problem with Dishonest Praise There was a time when a book review meant something. It was supposed to be a guide for the reader. A personal, honest, sometimes emotional, but still thoughtful response to a book. A good review did not have to be cruel. It did not have to destroy an author. But it had one basic duty: to tell the reader the truth. Today, however, something strange is happening in the world of online book reviews. More and more often, we see glowing posts filled with phrases such as “beautiful story,” “deeply moving,” “straight to the heart,” “I could not stop thinking about it,” and then, at the very end, a perfect rating: 10/10 . And somewhere nearby, often quietly placed, we see the words: advertising cooperation barter review copy from the publisher This raises a serious question: Is this still a review, or is it already advertising? Of course, receiving a free book does not automatically make a reviewer dishonest. ...