The Professor is In

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Re: Book Reviews on www.amazon.com

From: Ellen-Marie Silverman
Date: 10/10/00
Time: 7:55:20 AM
Remote Name: 205.188.198.177

Comments

It is curious that experts take the role of paid critics in book review journals and newspapers as well as on television and radio to provide considered recomendations about plays, books, movies, videos, recordings, concerts, dance, musicals, painting exhibits, and restaurants. But academics, even those who profess to care about the welfare of the people, shy away from using their expertise to advise the general public about the soundness of advice contained in books written for them. Yet these same professionals critique materials written for each other in their own professional journals. Maybe, academics unwilling to publicly comment on books within their area of expertise written for the general public are concerned about conflict of interest issues that may be raised should they make favorable or even unfavorable comments about the available works. If so, they may do well to consider that professional critics have found solutions to these concerns that seem to satisfy all concerned. Thank you for bringing this issue into the light of discussion.


Last changed: September 12, 2005