[thalur]

I have no probelem with people leaving 1* reviews without reading the book, just like I have no problem with Amazon removing those reviews (and only those reviews). Yes they are annoying, but they are also one of the few visible ways to protest. While "not buying the book" will probably be effective in the long term, an indivudial non-purchase isn't going to be noticed by anyone.

A similar situation to this frequently arises when big games are released on Steam. Amazon then gets flooded by 1* reviews from people who can't get Steam to work properly on release day or something.

I also find the opposite very annoying: when fans rate something as 5* before it's even released.

[tptacek]

They are annoying because they are effectively vandalism.

People here aren't going to like to hear that, and I understand, but dumping stuff on other people's property to make a point isn't less destructive than dumping stuff for no reason at all; it's just destructiveness in the ostensible service of another cause.

[detst]

> I also find the opposite very annoying: when fans rate something as 5* before it's even released.

I've received early copies of books with the hope that I would review it early.

But I don't often look at Amazon reviews so I don't know if this would fully account for what you're talking about.

[thalur]

I was thinking of reviews along the lines of "I'm sure this will be great. 5*" I'm not sure if I've seen any like that on Amazon though, now that I think about it.

[PagingCraig]

Tim Ferriss' new book had some 5* reviews go up with people saying they had only read the first 15 pages, etc etc