LSE Review of Books publishes daily reviews of books across the social sciences, all of them written by experts. This encourages wide public discussion of some of today’s most pressing global issues, including climate change, the struggle against religious fundamentalism, the challenges currently faced by Western-style democracies, the rise of China, how the internet is changing society, and issues connected with maintaining, or promoting, free speech.
The LSE Review of Books also runs an online guide to the world’s best bookshops, which has included contributions on Mumbai, and Fukuoka - and you don’t have to have a connection to the LSE to contribute.
Dr Rosemary Deller is managing editor, LSE Review of Books. She says: "In terms of contributors to the LSE best bookshops series, it certainly isn’t limited to LSE academics and students only – we do potentially welcome contributions from others, although we generally ask that any interested writers contact us first.”
Writing an account of your local bookshops could be a fantastic way for you to get involved in global discussion of books, arts, and literature. If you are interested in contributing on your city, contact Dr Deller at at lsereviewofbooks@lse.ac.uk.
If you live outside a major city, but feel your region has enough bookshops to support a round-up review, then contact Dr Deller to discuss.
Dr Deller also pointed out readers of LSE Review of Books could suggest cities for inclusion in the bookshops series, by posting in the comments section of round-ups that have already been published. Alternatively, readers could add comments on bookshops known to them, but missed by the reviewer. She says: “We definitely welcome comments on other bookshops in the featured cities as a way of adding or complementing the posted guides.”
Asia is a region where the publishing industry and bookselling are often little-developed. This could be a chance to help bring bookshops that are struggling to stay open against the odds, to wider international attention.
