Thoughtfully written reviews are an important resource in research and teaching.
As a reviewer, you are providing an invaluable service to the AJBA, our Biological Anthropology colleagues, and the Anthropological community at large.
A review of current content (i.e, recently published books or produced media) should minimally include:
* a summary of the subject and major themes or arguments.
* a judgment of the quality of its scholarship and data.
* an assessment of the intended audience and potential uses.
An optimal review of current content underscores the item’s major theme, subjects, and utility.
More specifically, it can make connections to other published works, draw comparisons among contributions, and relate the book/resource to current research in the most relevant anthropological subdisciplines or complementary fields. Importantly, it should express the reviewer’s honest opinion on the value of the book’s/resource’s contribution to current research and teaching in Biological Anthropology and, if appropriate, beyond.
A Legacy Review is a review based on a book or a series of key articles that are (or should be) considered foundational in Biological Anthropology.
A Legacy Review should:
* Address version history (i.e., if there is more than one version, how do they differ? Which version are you reviewing).
* Provide the historical and anthropological context in which the original item was written, and also contextualize the author(s) and/or editor(s).
* Discuss the (ir)relevance of the book for today's discipline and its practitioners.
* Indicate the ways in which today's bioanthropologists should approach reading the text and reconsidering its substance. Address whether the book should be read today for purely historical reasons, or is there something to be gleaned from the item that could enhance current theory and research (or both)?
Comments on production values, illustrations, and price are appropriate when these factors significantly add to or detract from the review item’s impact. Exhaustive chapter-by-chapter summaries or simple descriptions should be avoided.
Review Content
Reviews should be of established and formal collections of dedicated content,
and not to one-off blog posts, podcasts, or YouTube clips.
* Content can be produced by biological anthropologists, other academic scholars, and journalists.
* Content can be expressed in any language but the review must be in English.
Review Types
* Single item reviews (descriptive and/or critical, essay-length).
* Critical review essays, in which 2-3 items of the same content mode are considered together.
This type of review tends to contextualize content much more deeply in the ongoing academic conversation and often, societal trends.
Review Preparation & Submission
Upon receipt of the item to be reviewed, please contact the Editors to confirm its arrival.
Formatting
* Download the provided review template.
* Prepare the review body according to the template’s instructions and the online AJBA Authors Guidelines. Please do not alter the template, e.g., margins, font.
Length
Standard review length is 1,000 - 1,500 words.
The 1,500-word limit may be waived for long or complicated volumes.
References
References should generally be avoided.
When needed, references should be formatted as extended in-text citations;
reference lists are not permitted.
Submission
Submit reviews via Scholar One Manuscript Central.
* To help you navigate the system, please follow these indications:
• Under “type," select "Media Review.”
• Provide a title for your review, which may or may not include the title of the item being reviewed.
Do make sure you provide the item title within the first two lines of your written review, however.
• Under "Open Research Badge," select "no."
• Under CRediT Taxonomy, only check "Writing-Original Draft," with Degree of Contribution as "lead."
• Your review will be reviewed! Please indicate suitable reviewers.
The rest should be self-explanatory.
* Please notify the Editors when your review has been submitted.
Deadlines
The AJBA relies upon reviewer punctuality.
Unless prior arrangements have been made, reviews are due two months from the item's receipt.
Editorial Process
Peer Review
All contributions will undergo peer review by one to two external reviewers.
Books & Beyond reviews that do not meet AJBA standards will be rejected.
Editing
The Editors will copy-edit the text and make minor revisions before forwarding the review
to the Editor-in-Chief and Wiley.
Substantive revisions and factual queries will be discussed with the reviewer before submission.
Proofs
Electronic page proofs will be sent directly to the reviewer.
Editors' Policies
Decisions concerning items for review are made at the Editors' discretion.
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Reviewers may not add additional authors without the prior Editor approval.
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If you accept an invitation to review an item and do not complete said review by the due date,
you must return the item in pristine condition and at your own cost.