Vanity Press

[Rebecca]

As a librarian I often get patron recommendations for purchases. I don't know ALL my patrons by name, but I was skeptical when I received several emails from names I didn't recognize all directing me to the rave reviews for this title. I suppose it might be fun to read, but how credible is it? I couldn't find a single peer reviewed article by this author, nor evidence of any substantive training or research. It sounds to me like another scam. Are people really purchasing? Or are the reviews fake? Thoughts?

[Rebecca]

Oh, I said "Vanity Press" because the book isn't published by an academic or popular press, but by Authorhouse - a self publishing firm. I know of several excellent self-published books, Peter Rabbit by Ms. Potter being one of my favorites, but I also know most can just be dribble.

[Amy]

Rebecca wrote: "As a librarian I often get patron recommendations for purchases. I don't know ALL my patrons by name, but I was skeptical when I received several emails from names I didn't recognize all directing..."

I am in a process of reading this book and I must say for an Author House (I normally dont buy their books)book its preety good.

[Rebecca]

Oh, well, glad you're enjoying it. I communicated w/ someone representing the book and it annoyed me that she was not able to validate or confirm a single of the mentioned professional qualifications attributed to the author. This book touches almost every skeptic nerve I have.