Texts We Haven’t Read

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Clarissa

June 1, 2016

There is an academic who tried to write a review of my book for a scholarly journal without having read it.

No, seriously.

This individual sent me an email telling me they read the introduction and the first chapter and wanted me to send them synopses of the rest of the chapters so that they could complete the review.

I didn’t respond because I don’t use the word “freakazoid” in academic contexts, and no other words came to mind.

An actual scholar of literature did this. It was as if this person thought it was the most natural thing to do.

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8 responses to “Texts We Haven’t Read”

Mark Masterson

June 1, 2016

I run across a sizable number of academics who don’t try very hard. I also know many thorough people too… but, especially in [a particular country], there’s a lot of corner-cutting— and they think it’s the most natural thing in the world. I don’t quite know what to do when I hear these “we all do it” comments— it’s a small talk kind of moments and, well, you know. It takes time you got to do it right, and it improves your approach down the line. Expertise and knowledge build even exponentially when we don’t cut those corners.

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1. Clarissa
  
  June 1, 2016
  
  What was shocking is that this person so easily confessed to me what they were doing without any fear of judgment on my part. It’s like it was the most natural thing in the world.
  
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xykademiqz

June 1, 2016

This would-be-reviewer has probably done this same thing before, perhaps multiple times. If they have been asked to review a book for a reputable venue, I bet most authors even jump at helping provide a synopsis because having a visible review is better than no review at all.

It’s similar to how some busy academics of acclaim, who are asked all the time to provide letters of recommendation for all sorts of things (not just grad school or TT position, but advancement in rank through professional societies) will ask the candidate to draft a letter themselves and then they massage it, because nominally they don’t have enough time to thoroughly go through every candidate’s often extensive record.

On the one hand, I understand being busy and needing help pulling off some of the time-consuming tasks. On the other hand, you are not doing the work that you should be doing to produce the documents that you sign your name on, so WTF? What about professional and personal integrity?

That would-be-reviewer, are they getting paid for the review? Or is the fact that they were asked to do the review viewed as a positive on their CV? If either of these two, they are being compensated for the work and should do it properly. If neither, then if you can’t do it properly and it’s not worth your time, then don’t accept to do the review. Sheesh.

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1. Clarissa
  
  June 1, 2016
  
  “I bet most authors even jump at helping provide a synopsis because having a visible review is better than no review at all”
  
  Yes, that’s what is so sad. Both the author and a reviewer in this case want to add a line to their CVs and care nothing about the actual scholarship. Freaks.
  
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m

June 1, 2016

If there is one thing that my career in academia has taught me, is that there exists a shockingly high percentage of full time, often well-respected academic staff who are staunchly, proudly, anti-intellectual in every possible way.

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1. Clarissa
  
  June 1, 2016
  
  Exactly. 😦 How sad.
  
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Pen

June 1, 2016

What.

I’ve been asked to rate someone’s review on a book according to whether or not it was helpful and accurate. I declined on the basis that I had no intention of reading the book and so couldn’t provide an accurate rating. The person left me some angry response that I honestly couldn’t care less about. If you can’t be honest and professional in your work (especially if you are a professional, as in the case of the professor who contacted you), why do it?

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1. Clarissa
  
  June 1, 2016
  
  I found it offensive that this was even suggested to me. As if I were so desperate for a review that I’d accept it on any condition.
  
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