Over the years I have had 31 books published, all by mainstream publishing houses. I am grateful to the editors and copy editors for occasionally clarifying my grammar and sometimes making very useful suggestions about restructuring the book. But except for a few lawyers' queries about possibly defamatory passages about persons in my books, I have never been asked to verify any of the other facts in my manuscripts. Far from all critical comments in a book are subject to possible libel suits. Because more and more book publishing firms are being folded into conglomerates, there are many downsized people capable of being rehired and trained to be fact-checkers as conscientious as those at The New Yorker and other magazines.
Readers depend on books to be more accurate than what they feel is transient newspaper reporting.
Book publishers, at last, should begin to merit the trust of their readers. JWR contributor Nat Hentoff is a First Ammendment authority and author of numerous books. Send your comments to him by clicking here.