Don’t Review a Book Unless You’ve Actually Read the Book!

To do otherwise is just putting more dishonesty and toxicity into the world

Photo by Ugur Peker on Unsplash

You should only write or post a book review if you’ve actually read the book you’re writing about or commenting upon.

This is what we used to call common sense — or at least common decency. And it pains me that this has to be said today. But, alas, these are the times in which we live.

Now, I realize people are busy. And I realize some people, due to the nature of their job or platform, may be asked to review multiple books each year or maybe each month. If you are in that kind of a position, it’s understandably difficult to read each and every book that you’re asked to read — and to do so word for word, cover to cover. That said…

Being busy isn’t an excuse for dishonesty.

If you don’t have time to read a particular book, don’t review it.

If you only have time to read part of the book, acknowledge that in the review. Let us know if you didn’t have time to read the entire book and then make clear you’re only commenting on the part(s) of the book that you did read.

Unfortunately, too many people just want to give the world their opinions or they have some kind of agenda to…