What is the value of professionalism in book reviewers? How much more valuable are they, if at all, than amateur book reviewers? What are the criteria for ‘professionalism’ in book reviewing?

As blogs (like this one) and other new media invested in books proliferate and as Amazon’s customer reviewers rival the New York Times for influence, this becomes more of an issue.

Though I am clearly on the amateur side (with sad pretension of more, but that is all) in terms of my own reviewing, I come down on the side of ‘professionalism’ in reviewing as a necessary aspect of maintaining our culture.

It is not just a question of gatekeepers. It is also a question of specialized knowledge and education and the benefits they impart.

Read this article for more on the suggested limitations of a reliance on sources like Amazon reviewers.