“Good reviewing is very time-consuming and, in some ways, just as challenging as authoring an original research paper; time spent doing this well is time removed from one’s own research work. Indeed, the thoughts and comments of a good referee can often represent a fundamental contribution to the science as well as the quality of a published paper, and this input should be recognized, and measured…” – A guest post from Willy Aspinall Department of Earth Sciences, Bristol University, Bristol BS8 1RJ UK., Nature.com, Blogs, Peer-to-Peer

Why a formal peer review?

Academicians are the standard bearers for the body of knowledge of all academic subjects.  They write and They

1. Objectiveness

Not to overstate the obvious, but when we write anything we normally think it’s the best or at least very good.  Our immediate friends and colleagues may praise us for a job well done and for contributing to the body of knowledge to whatever subject we researched or plan to teach.  We also have colleagues who might, for our own good, tell us that it is lacking (i.e. stinks) when it is actually top grade.

Our reviewers, on the other hand, do not have this bias.  They provide impartial, detailed, chapter by chapter analysis.  They are paid, experienced professionals, committed to the highest standards, without exception.

2. Credibility and Improved Content

A formal peer review adds to the credibility our material.   It shows that we are confident that the material will pass the scrutiny of our peers and discretionary readers.  The corrections and enhancements we make as a result of the review increases the value and usefulness  of the book.

3. Increase the probability of adoption and publication

In our world of thousands of new publications a day, a formal, unbiased review is an effective tool in moving our works into the “look deeper” category.

Pricing and more details

How would others describe your work?  The following words and phrases are from actual reviews on various types of textbooks.  Some of them are airy and flowery, others are truly informational.

“. . . clear glossary. . .”

“. . . clear, unified structure for analyzing theories and empirical evidence. . .”

“. . . really valuable resource. . .”

“. . . abundant learning aids and exercises. . .”

“. . . accessible. . .”

“. . . clear layout allows the reader to access the material easily. . .”

“. . . clearly structured. . .”

“. . . combining balanced coverage of theory with current research findings. . .”

“. . . covering all the substantive topics. . .”

“. . . each chapter is divided into a main text and supplementary section containing more advanced material. . .”

“. . . engaging. . .”

“. . . excellent. . .”

“. . . exercises coded to indicate level of difficulty. . .”

“. . . focus on the core issues in (sociology). . .”

“. . . formal in its approach. . .”

“. . . fresh internal design. . .”

“. . . fully updated to reflect new trends and topics. . .”

“. . . good value for [the] money. . .”

“. . . his masterful synthesis of. . .”

“. . . impressive and well written. . .”

“. . . informative. . .”

“. . . issue-driven introduction. . .”

“. . . learn how to apply this information. . .”

“. . . lively range of activities and discussion points. . .”

“. . . new material is to be found throughout. . .”

“. . . offers a comprehensive examination of the field. . .”

“. . . presenting (the subject) as an exciting and relevant topic to students of all ages, interests and abilities. . .”

“. . . provide a more challenging and relevant option for instructors and students. . .”

“. . . provides students with a comprehensive, up-to-date presentation of (sociology). . .”

“. . . relevant examples. . .”

“. . . removes ethnocentric blinders. . .”

“. . . student-friendly cartoons, tables, diagrams and photographs. . .”

“. . . students can relate to. . .”

“. . . summaries of key issues. . .”

“. . . surprisingly accessible. . .”

“. . . technically precise and thorough. . .”

“. . . provides an easy-to-follow and thoughtful introduction. . .”

“. . . coverage of topics is complete and up to date. . .”

“. . . just gets better and better. . .”

“. . . will fill a tremendous void. . .”

“. . . uniquely uses the tools of. . .”

“. . . useful web references. . .”

“. . . vast array of examples. . .”

“. . . well-organized. . .”

“. . . written by two of the field’s most respected researchers. . .”