[neilmarr]

The place for such self-promotion, Mish, is not in an arena designated for impartial review.

Quite simply, author and author-circle review, is cheating. It is also amateurish, worthless and devalues all other reviews.

An author has a full book -- tens of thousands of words -- in which to make the point that s/he's worth reading. It's up to non-partisan readers to say whether they feel s/he was right or not. I feel very strongly about this issue.

All my children and grandchildren are the most beautiful and best-behaved in the world, and my cat is the cutest on the planet, by the way. My review. In my company, my family and all friends wholeheartedly agree. Fact! They do ... when I'm listening.

What do other parents and grandparents and pet-owners privately think of my personal assessment when my offspring and moggie are compared to the children and grandchildren and pets of their own or others?

The 'producer' cannot be relied upon for meaningful appraisal of his or her own work to reflect the potential satisfaction of others. And neither can her/his family and friends.

And that is why Satan invented reviewers and critics. It was a good move, Ol' Nick. Neil