Reviews Questions
Q: What are H-Net reviews?
A: H-Net Reviews in the Humanities and Social Sciences is an online scholarly review resource. Individual H-Net discussion networks have their own review editors. To read more see the H-Net Reviews Page .
Q: How can I submit my book to be reviewed?
A: H-Net commissions reviews through network review editors, and not in response to direct solicitations from book authors. To inform review editors that your book is available, you may want to visit the Discussion Networks Page , take a look at our lists, and decide whether or not we have an appropriate list before you send us the book. If you would like to mail us a copy of your book, please send it to:
H-Net Reviews
141h Old Horticulture
506 East Circle Drive
East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1115
Once the book has arrived in our office review editors of related lists are contacted. Unfortunately not all books we receive are reviewed.
Q: To whom do I send my completed review?
A: When you complete your H-Net review you should return it by e-mail to the review editor who assigned it. If you do not remember the list name or review editor you can write to hbooks@mail.h-net.msu.edu for assistance.
Q: Are there any specific formatting guidelines I need to use?
A: Please see our formatting guidelines .
Q: Will I be notified when my review is published?
A: Most review editors contact their reviewers when a review is published. However, some may not. H-Net’s central office does not contact reviewers when their review is published.
Q: Will I be notified if my book is chosen for review?
A: Some review editors contact the author of the book they have chosen to review when the review is published. However, some do not. H-Net’s central office does not contact authors when books are mailed out for review.
Q: How may reviews are published a year?
A: Over 1500 reviews are published on H-Net Reviews every year.
Q: Who can review for H-Net?
A: Reviewers for H-Net reviews are chosen by the individual review editors for each list. To become an H-Net reviewer send a CV and a statement of interest to the appropriate review editor. You can find a listing of review editors in our Editors Directory . H-Net policies prohibit review editors from assigning reviews on the basis of specific solicitations from authors or reviewers.
Q: How do I get on the list to review a book?
A: Send a letter of interest and a copy of your CV or other documentation of qualifications to the individual review editor for the network that you wish to review for. You can find a listing of review editors in our Editors Directory . H-Net policies prohibit review editors from assigning reviews on the basis of specific solicitations from authors or reviewers.
Q: How do I get a review I have written published on H-Net?
A: H-Net policies prohibit review editors from assigning reviews on the basis of specific solicitations from authors or reviewers. However, you can send a letter of interest and a copy of your CV to the individual review editor for the network you wish to review for. You can find a listing of review editors in our Editors Directory .
Q: What are your circulation numbers?
A: The combined sum of all the H-Net LISTSERV subscriptions exceeds 100,000. In any given week the H-Net web pages are visited a total of over 200,000 times. The reviews archive steadily receives more than 5000 visits per week; 10,000-plus hits in a week is not unusual.
Q: Who are your subscribers?
A: Our discussion lists began as a consortium of topical discussion lists for history professors, and to this day professors and professional scholars form an important subscriber core. More recently however, H-Net has found an audience among graduate students, librarians, independent scholars, high school teachers, and the educated lay public. You can find a list of our editors in the Editors Directory .
Q: How do I get my material reviewed on H-Net?
A: H-Net graciously accepts new scholarly works for review consideration. Unless other arrangements have been made, please send books, CD-ROMs, videos, etc. to:
H-Net Reviews
141h Old Horticulture
506 East Circle Drive
East Lansing, MI 48824-1115
Q: Who decides what is to be reviewed?
A: H-Net's review editors are notified of a books availability, if the editors deem it appropriate for their list they find qualified reviewers. To get a sense of the types of works are reviewed, and which lists have been most active, sort the book review index by "List Name."
Q: What kinds of materials get reviewed?
A: For the most part, monographs, textbooks, reference and teaching materials. Our scope is as wide as our list of discussion networks. We often suggest that publishers use the site's indexing function and try various sorts. Searching by list, for example, will tell you which lists have been most actively reviewing, and perhaps give you a feel for the types of material they prefer.
Q: Do any lists specifically review textbooks?
A: Yes. Several of our discussion lists are specifically for teachers, instructors, and professors who are interested in reading textbook reviews. H-AfrTeach, H-Survey, H-Teachpol, H-W-Civ, H-High-S, are the most likely candidates. From time to time however, other lists have commissioned reviews on teaching materials.
Q: Will I receive a copy of published reviews of my company’s books?
A: Yes, our staff sends out notices to publishers within four weeks of their review appearing on H-Net Reviews.
Q: Who should I contact if I have a question about a book I submitted for review?
A: You should contact our clerks at hbooks@mail.h-net.msu.edu.