One of the benefits of writing book reviews has always been the possibility of receiving a free copy of an expensive book. This seems to be no longer the case, as recent experience with Oxford UP and Brill has shown. I don't think that Brill is hurting in the profit margins. What is your recent experience?
I have written book reviews for a social sciences journal, and yes, this journal does give out review copies. The International Social Sciences Review. I do not know about any others.
Tzvi - I used to be a Review Editor for 7-years (about a decade ago) in a leading journal in my discipline before the journal stopped publishing book reviews. The format was that publishers would send me hard copy of a text - and I would physically send that text to a designated reviewer. They could then keep that text. Of course, it's a more digitalized age - so I am wondering - can't publishers at least send out an access code to reviewers?
Yes, I've been told that one publisher will send a pdf or e-book. However,I find that format less comfortable for the cover-to-cover reading and note taking that reviews demand. Digital versions are fine for searches or for reading/printing smal lsections, but I have never read a full book in digital format.
Tzvi Langermann I think publishers try to save money wherever they can (paying very small honoraria to book authors, not giving out hard copies to book reviewers etc.).
It clearly is meant to save money but in the end, if books will not be reviewed, less people will purchase them=not to mention that reviews themselves are often an important contribution to scholarship.
For Oxford and especially for Brill, one should request the book for review through a Journal. The Journal must do the request, more or less in your name, and it should expressly stipulate that one does not need an online access to the book, but a printed edition. At least, this was my experience with Brill. Instead, Oxford provided me the book requested. And, I agree, one cannot properly make an academic review through an e-book format. (For fast check I use the pdfs., but for thorough reading I am more successful with the glosses and marginalia on paper).
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