Perspectives on Science DHST Early Career Workshop #1: Introduction in Writing Good & Fair Book Reviews
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Sep 22, 2025 Gleb Albert, Assistant Professor in General and Eastern European History at the University of Lucerne and seasoned book review editor, shares insights on crafting effective scholarly book reviews. He discusses the critical balance of criticism and the importance of connecting reviews to prior work. Gleb emphasizes the significance of deadlines, communication with editors, and understanding a book’s goals while structuring engaging reviews. He provides early-career writers with practical tips and encouragement to navigate the review process confidently.
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Shift In Who Writes Reviews
- Book reviews shifted from senior-only gatekeeping to being largely written by junior scholars today.
- This opened space for novel approaches but increased reluctance to harsh criticism due to career hierarchies.
Reviews Serve Multiple Stakeholders
- Multiple actors gain from reviews: authors get attention and feedback, publishers get publicity, librarians use reviews as acquisition guides.
- Reviews thus function as a multi-purpose channel that shapes circulation and use of books.
Be Proactive In Pitching Reviews
- Proactively contact review editors with offers to write reviews, because some outlets welcome suggestions.
- Expect rejections but you have little to lose and may secure repeated assignments after a good first review.