Author Profiles Are No Replacement for Book Criticism But I Love Them Anyway ‹ Literary Hub

Some critics would say that the author profile is a shoddy replacement for actual book criticism and I would agree with them. Over the past decade or so we've seen space for book coverage at general media outlets decline overall, and straight reviews, unless they're absolutely vicious takedowns, notoriously don't tend to generate much traffic.

At first, books sections shunned the straight review in favor of more clickable fare, but now even the more camera-ready author profile is on the chopping block. I fear the day when newsy bullet points summarizing celebrity memoirs are the only book coverage available to the average newspaper or magazine reader.