Ethics in Book Reviewing: The More Things Change…?

In 1989, the NBCC (National Book Critics Circle) published an extensive survey of ethics in book reviewing by Philadelphia Inquirer literary critic Carlin Romano, drawing on responses from NBCC members about whether it’s ever okay not to read a whole book before reviewing it and similar moral dilemmas.

This panel discussion, sponsored by the NBCC, poses a similar survey to a distinguished group of authors and critics to see what, if anything, has changed since the original survey was taken. Romano, who hosts this spirited discussion, is joined by John Leonard, a critic for the New York Review of Books, David Ulin, Book Editor for the LA Times, Sam Tanenhaus, New York Times Book Review Editor, and authors Francine Prose and Christopher Hitchens.