Book Review Guidelines
The following Notes and Policies are provided to clarify, mostly to new reviewers, but also to other interested parties, the role of book reviewer. They emphasis a positive and constructive approach to book reviewing.
If the reviewer finds little that warrants a positive review, e.g. no substantial original contribution, then a brief note to this effect with some explanation for this assessment returned to the Editor may terminate the review process, or in some special case, the opinion of another reviewer may be sought to confirm the assessment.
Reviewers may wish to consider the contentious, but instructive view that a marketable book is 20% original, 80% old hat. A book need not be totally original in order to be an advancement. The reviewer's task is to sort out the percentages.
A good review may include many or all of these characteristics:
An accurate summary of the book's structure and content
Highlights of the main points which make the book an advancement or important contribution to the field
Suggestions on the best use of the book, and for whom it is best suited
Comparison with other similar books which are its contenders
Comment on weaknesses or omissions
Although there are overlaps in content, JCB book reviews will tend to focus more on theoretical and scientific works and TMR on educational and professional works, including textbooks, multimedia teaching programmes, and practitioner books.
Procedural Issues
Authors are requested to return their reviews within 4 to 6 weeks of arrival of the book.
The review must be submitted as a PC format text file (Text with Line Breaks), either on disk or via email. No graphics, tables or charts are usually expected. Authors are invited to keep the book they review. Any substantial editing of the review will be cleared with the review author before publication. Authors will also need to sign a Copyright assignment form.
We publish reviews of books which are notable as being important new contributions to research, teaching or practice of Marketing.
We publish reviews which are thoughtful, informed and critical in approach. The emphasis is on how the work advances and serves the field. Though a critical review may contain some unfavourable comment, hopefully constructively framed, we do not publish predominantly negative reviews.
We do not publish reviews supplied by publishers or other parties, unless it can confirm the completeness and legitimacy of the review with the original reviewer. In any case, we hold the right to edit all material as appropriate, with the reviewer's approval of the final text.
We do not normally review new editions of existing books where the edition is incremental, rather than original. The exception may be certain texts which have proven to be trendsetters, or so prominent in leadership in the field that a new edition is newsworthy in itself and commands attention and appraisal.
We will edit reviews for minor corrections, and may suggest improvement to the reviewer. The final text will always be approved by the reviewer.
We reserve the right to not publish a review we feel is inappropriate for the Journal.
Book Review Editor:
Dr Andrew Lindridge
The OU Business School
The Open University
Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA