Unfortunately, book reviews carry little academic capital in the assessment of faculty "productivity", and for this or other reasons it is not rare that they are devalued by the academics themselves.
In the domain I work i also see a reticence for critical engagement with the material under review. As a genre, book reviews are becoming formulaic, almost predictable (a polite way to say boring), cautious not to probe "too deep," praising the merits and adding a few critical comments (often obvious) for "balance." One reason is that critique these days is seen by many authors who receive it as a personal attack and professional affront–with all the implications, we, seasoned in this kind of situations, can imagine.
Another may connect with the politics of knowledge and its material implications, the reluctance to enter into rigorous debate about methodology and interpretation may connect with the concern of displeasing certain powerful academic networks, with the reviewer facing the results (the wrath?) of their discontent. A highly mediated genre is further compromised. [obviously this is much more complex, requiring a broader discussion.]
Instead of welcoming book reviews as venues practicing critical reflection valuable for the profession, bringing attention to one's work, reflecting on its implications, pointing to weaknesses, contributing to reassessment and rethinking (and perhaps leading to a follow up article or book), many refrain from this route. An indispensable component of knowledge production is sacrificed, and we are all the lesser because of this loss.
Yiorgos Anagnostou
In the domain I work i also see a reticence for critical engagement with the material under review. As a genre, book reviews are becoming formulaic, almost predictable (a polite way to say boring), cautious not to probe "too deep," praising the merits and adding a few critical comments (often obvious) for "balance." One reason is that critique these days is seen by many authors who receive it as a personal attack and professional affront–with all the implications, we, seasoned in this kind of situations, can imagine.
Another may connect with the politics of knowledge and its material implications, the reluctance to enter into rigorous debate about methodology and interpretation may connect with the concern of displeasing certain powerful academic networks, with the reviewer facing the results (the wrath?) of their discontent. A highly mediated genre is further compromised. [obviously this is much more complex, requiring a broader discussion.]
Instead of welcoming book reviews as venues practicing critical reflection valuable for the profession, bringing attention to one's work, reflecting on its implications, pointing to weaknesses, contributing to reassessment and rethinking (and perhaps leading to a follow up article or book), many refrain from this route. An indispensable component of knowledge production is sacrificed, and we are all the lesser because of this loss.
Yiorgos Anagnostou
August 31, 2024
p.s. The issue is drawing broader attention, see https://snfphi.columbia.edu/events/what-has-become-of-critique-book-reviews-in-greece/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFBgMNleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHVdU6xdMmLOpB0QxMQFBUP_mg4B7VXA19iKzj5nhqXReUhO-kGxZXJl69Q_aem_c2x05EAw4Y0hAAAGrpnhjQ
p.s. The issue is drawing broader attention, see https://snfphi.columbia.edu/events/what-has-become-of-critique-book-reviews-in-greece/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFBgMNleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHVdU6xdMmLOpB0QxMQFBUP_mg4B7VXA19iKzj5nhqXReUhO-kGxZXJl69Q_aem_c2x05EAw4Y0hAAAGrpnhjQ
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