The definitive guide to handling negative book reviews
One of my books has a negative Amazon book review that really annoys me.
The reader reviewer for Publicity for Nonprofits: Generating Media Exposure That Leads to Awareness, Growth, and Contributions says, “This book was disappointing in that it joins the many books already out there that focus on the mechanics, aka ‘basics,’ but not the critical thinking that is required for PR in today’s competitive and changing information age.”
She’s right — and I pretty much told her so in the preface, which can be read with the “Look Inside!” feature. It states: “It is light on theory and jargon and heavy on instruction.”
In fact, the entire preface emphasizes that the book isn’t for the veteran communicator looking to educate senior management on the importance of strategic thinking. That piece, the table of contents, and the back cover text make it clear that I wrote the book for somebody who isn’t so much interested in the “why” but needs to know the “how.”
So did I take the time to respond to her review and point this out to her?
No.
Should I have responded?
Nah.
Let’s say I did it with great diplomacy: [Thanks for the review, X. You’re absolutely right — this book is intentionally…
