I’ve written before about how to get books for free by reviewing them on your blog. Since that post, more and more Christian publishers are starting up book review programs for bloggers. Rather than having to email publishers and plead for a book, they are soliciting you to join their book review program. That makes it easier to manage so I’m hoping more of you bloggers out there can take advantage of this. Reading good books is important, and promoting them on your blog keeps your blogging productive and helps publicize a good thing.
So here are the book review programs I’m aware of. If you know of others, please let me know, I’ll add them to the list. I’ll divide them up into those programs that send an actual book, and those that send a PDF copy. I’ll also include the books I’ve received / requested from each of these). Note: click on the Publisher names to visit the book review program and join!
Physical Copies
- Thomas Nelson (NKJV Chronological Study Bible, The Gift of Psalms: Devotional Wisdom from 50 of the Best Loved Psalms)
- Bethany House (The King James Only Controversy: Can You Trust Modern Translations?, 2nd ed. by James White)
- Tyndale House (Life Application Bible Studies: Hebrews)
- NavPress (pending)
E-Books (PDF) Copies
- Reformation Trust (Living for God’s Glory: An Introduction to Calvinism by Joel Beeke)
- NetGalley — titles by Broadman & Holman, Moody, Barbour, and others (Quick Notes Simplified Bible Commentary: Genesis thru Numbers, edited by Tremper Longman)
Personally, I prefer reviewing physical books. The NetGalley thing is primarily self contained. They want you to post reviews on their site. Reformation Trust will send you a hard copy of the book, after you’ve posted your review. For me it is hard to read PDF books, though. So unless I get a free Kindle sometime soon, I’m going to continue my slow progress on pdf book reviewing.
I hope the trend continues with more and more Chrisitan publishers opening up to bloggers. It creates great publicity for them, and exposes their material to many new readers. And it makes blogging a more productive and fulfilling hobby!
Tags: blog for books, bloggers, Blogging, book reviews, books, Books & Reviews, free books, how to
Though not a traditional publisher. I know A Larry Ross Communications (www.alarryross.com) is looking for reviewers for their Christian books.
[...] compensation for my blogging, of late, has been free books. And with this I try to be above board as well. I ask publishers for books, and promise to [...]