Amazon reviews, Part One: Do they have any meaning?

[Note: This is the first post in a three-part series. Enjoy!]

Amazon has gone over the top with their change in book review policy. They have responded to the egregious practice where some authors ask family members and friends to write glowing reviews of their books. These reviews often are little more than attempts to stuff the ballot box because Amazon’s algorithm counts positive reviews. This practice, of course, offers no real service to readers and hurts authors who receive few but thoug...