Monday, January 28, 2013

Reviews that lie - Do you agree with this guy?

I normally get a few readers who dislike my books and leave 1-star or 2-star reviews.  That's to be expected since you can't please everyone.  On Poverty Prepping there were people who were disappointed that I didn't go into more detail on other subjects, or expand out to include full prepping information, such as cooking when the power is out.

The title of the books says "How to stock up for tomorrow when you can't afford to eat today."  It doesn't say "complete guide to prepping" or "how to use the food storage" or how to cook it, or anything else.  I was specific in my blurb.  I was tired of buying food storage books that either talked on an advanced level about things newbies don't know, or that had whole portions of the book devoted to making bug-out bags or other subjects related to prepping but NOT food storage.

I also got people leaving reviews that said "nothing new here".  If they were an advanced prepper, or anything beyond a beginner, and they still bought this book, they ought to at least take that into account when they leave a review?  It might not be new to them, but to a beginner, a lot of it might be new.  This book is exactly what I represented it as.  I wrote it originally for specific real life friends.  I published it so the rest of you could, maybe, get something out of it.  The more people we help prepare, the better off we'll all be if any sort of SHTF happens. 

I can understand those reviewers though, but I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS.  It's a review someone left on the new book, Preserving meat, dairy, and eggs:

Total waste of time. Entire book was "If I was going to try this here is how I'd do it" Or "I read a web site that said to do it this way." No firsthand experience in doing any tasks for food preservation. Very disappointing.

If you've read the book, do you agree with that? 

The book is nearly ALL first-hand experience.  Dave and I spent the last several weeks doing the things in this book, plus we've both been preserving food for more than 30 years.  Actively preserving food, of many types and methods.  How the heck can he say "No firsthand experience in doing any tasks for food preservation"???

And what's with  "Entire book was 'If I was going to try this I'd...' "?

The only web links or suggested links were one to amazon for canning supplies, and one to this blog to expand on the information in the book.  That is the point of this blog.  To get additional information to those who want it.  In Poverty Prepping I did suggest people do further research, either online or at libraries, for specific things they wanted to learn more about.  But I DID NOT do that in this book.  And I did not just talk about websites.  I did mention different things I had seen on a couple websites but ONLY to make it clear to the reader that that particular things was not first-hand knowledge to me.  I even used a line that something (I don't remember where in the book) was just theory to me because I had never done it myself.  However, whatever it was, I believe David had.  I think it was in brining or smoking.  But if David had done it, that made it first-hand experience because he co-wrote the book.  This review says NONE of it is firsthand, and nearly all of it is.

I'm so shocked, angry, and stunned that I don't even know what to say.  This goes beyond someone just leaving a bad review.  And I'm even more angry because this person is dragging down my co-author, David, who is one of the most dedicated food preservers you could ever hope to meet.  He could have written this book, probably better and bigger than I did, all by himself. 

If you have read this book and you disagree with that reviewer, please go tell Amazon.  There's a place under the review where you can click on "report abuse".  You can also select "no" on the "was this review helpful" thing by the review. 

You can also leave your own review, and I am NOT asking for a 4-star or 5-star review, or anything specific.  If you dislike anything about the book, please say so.  Let me know here on this site, or at the email address, or on a review at Amazon.  But be honest and specific, and make sure you really have read the book. 

21 comments:

  1. Just focus on the upside. Your book has over 100 reviews and over 4 stars average rating. There will always be folks that don't read the description or look inside the book before buying. Keep up the good work! Franz

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    1. Thank you, Franz.

      Yes, Poverty Prepping has enough reviews to average things out. But the new book only has two, and one of them is the one I copied above in this post. It's glaringly 'out there' and it's not true. That's what upsets me.

      If the reviewer had genuine things he didn't like about the book, that's fine. It's life, and it's what a writer has to accept when publishing books.

      But...it's so untrue, and so damaging at this point because it IS a new book with only two reviews. In time it would get buried, but in the meanwhile, it's slander. It's an untruthful statement that will hurt sales.

      Amazon has a witch hunt on reviews by family and friends, and they've removed dozens of 4- and 5-star reviews from hundreds of books, but they've done little to touch on the spam, slander, and untrue reviews.

      My book isn't the first to be subjected to this. I know two other authors who are currently trying to get blatantly untrue reviews removed from their books. I have a wide range of good and bad reviews, and I'm not whining about those. I rewrote parts of one of my fiction books last week because I agreed with a few of the bad reviews that I could have written those parts better. And I made note of it it in the blurb, but I did not ask for the old bad reviews to be removed. I only made note of it so new readers wouldn't wonder what the heck the reviewers were talking about, with the new version!

      Anyway...thanks. I appreciate the encouragement.
      Susan

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  2. I replied to the original blog about liking the book but I will reply secifically to you question. I read the book cover to cover. I sent the link to my mom as I felt it would be beneficial. I do have concerns about untried or approved methods of canning as a mistake can be deadly so I like to read about people that have been doing it for a long period of time and are still alive.

    I believe your book was packed with valuable information about methods that you had personally used, heck you and Dave supplied photo's of before and afters. I really like that. I felt you walked the walk.

    There were some sections that you stated, I have never "done" this because because there are better ways of preserving it, but if I was to try this is the way I would do it. If you ever do a revision I would take that out because it may lead to someone trying something that is not healthy. With that said you stated that you would not do it and this "might" be an acceptable way.

    One thing you might hit a little harder if you do a rewrite is that, as you do mention, our extension service is getting to the point of discouraging all home canning do to "safety reason" e.g. people unable to follow directions and apply common sense to a process. I felt you do an excellent job of explaining the why and not just a recipe. It makes it easy to use that for something else. e.g. if I have red meat in something I am canning I process at xxx because that is what something similar did. Great job and read the reviews but take them wll with a grain of salt.

    I have been exposed to this for a while. My grandmother was one of the first people that held a canning training from the extension service when they were really pushing the farmers to can because it was so much safer that other methods.

    If you keep writing I will keep buying and recommending.

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    1. The reason I chose one way over another to preserve something has to do with convenience and not safety. There is nothing I put in the book that I wouldn't have done myself if I didn't have that more convenient way to preserve food. For example, I dehydrate a lot of things I could can because it saves on jars and storage place, and it gives me the option to store the food out in our unheated barn in this cold northern climate. I can also re-use lids. David had instructions for canning eggs but I find it easy to preserve and use eggs that are dehydrated, so I'm not sure if I'll can eggs except just to try it because I DO tend to try everything at least once. If you've ever gone to the blog links for our personal blogs you'll see that we've experimented with a lot of things we don't incorporate into our daily life. It reduces the learning curve if the "Sh" ever "HTF". I'd rather learn these things now, while my life doesn't depend on it. I'm a full-time off-grid homesteader and my husband & I produce nearly all of our own food and preserve it ourselves.

      David, who co-wrote the book, and his family also produce most of their own food, and even the store-bought stuff is preserved at home.

      You made some good points, but none of it negates what the reviewer said: "No firsthand experience in doing any tasks for food preservation". Note that is says "NO FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE" in doing ANY TASKS FOR FOOD PRESERVATION". Now you KNOW by reading this blog that David and I both do these things and have posted pictures and descriptions here on the blog. If you read the book, you KNOW that we wrote about things we DID FIRSTHAND.

      He didn't say "Not much of it" or "some of it" or "only a little bit of it" wasn't first hand. He said "NONE" of it was firsthand experience.

      Also, you wrote that "I do have concerns about untried or approved methods of canning". Untried by who? Approved or unapproved by who? There is a lot of contradictory recommendations, and I suppose if you want to just follow government guidlines you'll never go wrong. Everything approved by the goveernment is safe for us, and we need to avoid everything they don't recommend. Notice, however, that although some things "aren't recommended', they are still legal in a country where the government, in some places, feels they have to make laws about the size of a soft drink.

      My times and pressures for canning meat came from the Mirro booklet that came with my pressure canner. I did check several websites to verify that it was the current recommendations. I didn't mention every single time I verified information for this book because it seems to irk readers that I use the internet for research. I did make sure I clarified anything I got from a source other than David and I.
      I also referred to several 'print' books in my personal library, but some are 20 to 30 years old, so it seemed wise to check out newer sources, keeping in mind that not all websites are reliable. Thus I spent hours reading dozens of websites on many of these subjects. We put an incredible amount of time into this, knowing the 'rewards' would be small.

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    2. I apologize for not being more clear in my comments, when I mentioned untried and approved methods I attempted, in a non successful attempt, to state that is why I liked your book as your recipes are tried and approved in my mind because you do it in your regular life and are "living" proof it works as opposed to someone that copies a recipe from the blue ball book and call it good. You do not do that. I also DO NOT agree with the review you mentioned in the least. If I did I would not have my mom buy it. I guess I thought that was implied.

      Let me be clear. I think the original reviewer was an idiot that did not actually read your book nor have a clue what he was talking about. I think that now and I thought it when I replied to his review. I also added my 5 star review, and I don't usually write reviews.

      Based on your reply to my comments I feel that you may have misread what I thought I was saying. That is the problem with me and a written reply. People can not see the mischievous gleam in my eye to know when I am being sarcastic. If we talked I think you would see we are actually trying to say the same thing, I am just not being very effective.

      In closing just know that I loved the book. I know it was well researched and it used tried and true processes that you and Dave actually use when practicing what you preach. You both walk the walk, that is the difference in your book and the many other attempts which simply regurgitate someone else's work. AlasKen

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    3. Yes, I'm sure you're right, I didn't understand what you meant. I'm sorry. I'm really weary and wrung out tonight, and I should have waited until morning to go through the comments and emails.

      I'm off to bed now, and tomorrow will be a better day.

      Thanks, to you and everyone else for your support and encouragement.

      Susan

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  3. Sue, keep your chin up and dont let the comments of one malcontent ruin your day. I'm sure he is one of those people who's total life experience in preserving food(all from the local super store) is to make sure his dry goods are placed in the pantry and his milk goes into the fridge.

    I'm sure that review was made in an effort to boost his ego in light of his failures and shortcomings in his efforts to "stock up". Those types will eventually cease to be a problem when they have to depend on their wits to survive.

    Your knowledge and experience is a motivation for me, some day I hope to be where you are at now.


    Dave...

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    1. Thanks, Dave. You're always there to encourage me and make me smile when I'm down! Thank you. Your friendship has been such a blessing. We have this "mutual admiration" thing going on because I feel like YOUR knowledge and experience is a motivation for me. The only edge I have is that I already live off-grid. You're so resourceful I don't think you'd have much trouble adapting if the SHTF!

      As for the guy who left that review, he calls himself "Master Instructor", which sounds like an ego trip. I'm not sure I'd want an instructor who either is unable to comprehend what he's reading, or carries so much hate in his heart that he would purposefully trash someone or something.

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  4. Don't worry, Susan. There will always be people who get some kind of thrill from dragging other people down (as they say today, "haters"). You've done all you can do to mitigate any damage from the negative review, and I noticed that a number of positive reviews have appeared (I contributed a 5-star one myself). Please keep sharing your experiences with us, and please continue writing your books. I can only speak for myself, but I appreciate them so much. You don't have to share the outcome of your hard work with us, the anonymous masses, but you do, and I am so grateful.

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    1. Thank you. I appreciate your kind words, and I'm glad you've gotten something good from my writing.

      Susan

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  5. I think there are people that can't be positive about anything. I just read the book myself and I was actually quite pleased with it. I thought it was a good approach and even though I have actually put back a fair amount of food storage, I think it offers good solutions for my struggling adult kids in doing some "prepping" of their own. I will probably be buying copies for them. :-)

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  6. I'm glad you enjoyed teh book and that you're already prepping and storing food. I hope you're succesful in helping your kids get started too. We all know someone, either family or friend, who we would like to see get started on prepping. Good luck.

    Susan

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  7. Reviews are tough. It's easy to say something blunt about a crappy spatula or a horrible coat ... but books? I try not to write bad reviews of books. I always beleive in karma and the saying "if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all."

    I have a lot of HORRIBLe cookbooks that were bestsellers that I would sooner use for starting a fire than for reference. I won't leave a cut throat review. I think most people really do post bad reviews because they are honestly trying to help someone else from purchasing something they might hate. Its a complicated thing. You should try your best to not take it personally. Its hard when you put so much work into something.

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  8. For the record your book opened up my eyes to a whole new way of shopping and storing/preserving food. I purchased the book on Amazon and left a positive review. I just purchased some food grade buckets and filled the first one with flour (yeah!). Glad to be starting somewhere and getting away from the processed junk. Glad I also found this blog. Keep up the good work!

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    1. Thanks for your comment. It's wonderful to hear from someone who is really doing these things, like buying buckets and filling them! Good job! I'm glad the book and this blog are helping you.

      Susan

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  9. Hi Susan, it sounds to me as if the internet trolls are branching out into book reviewing?! That is so sad. Some folks are just not happy being negative, theywant to spread their misery around.

    I have not read your new book, largely because we are vegan, but at some point in time I think it would be an interesting read. (we are vegan for Health reasons only) That being said, I commend you for the way you are handling this problem. I am reading poverty prepping, and anyone who has tried any kind of prepping could tell from that book and your blog that you are hands on and experienced.

    Keep fighting for your book, but try not to take it personal. People like that reviewer get their kicks out of throwing their "sh" around, and they love nothing better than when it accidentally hits a fan and splatters everywhere. Disgusting, I say! If they were busy actually prepping, they wouldnt have time to meddle.

    Please be encouraged, keep prepping, and keep writing!
    Blessings. MC

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  10. Dear Susan, Just got your book in the mail today and read the whole thing in one sitting. I am not a beginner prepper but I enjoyed being reminded about the basics. You can get so overwhelmed by all the information out there. For me, this is a book I will keep until I find someone wanting to start prepping. I will then pass it on. Easy read and helps you know where to start. Thanks for sharing, Paula

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    1. Paula, thank you for letting me know that even though you're not a beginner prepper, you didn't find my book a waste of time. I appreciate that. Helping others start prepping is a worthy goal. I hope you find someone to loan or pass the book on to.

      Susan

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  11. I am interested in several of your books, especially the no fridge book (the home we are moving to is too far to hook up to electric and is a 1000'+ walk-in from the main road). I generally give some weight to 5 star reviews, no attention to any 1 or 2 star reviews (unless there are many), but I do pay most attention to 3 and 4 star reviews. If a review is particularly harsh, I also check the comments the review got. Your comment on one of the reviews had the website posted, so I have been here for quite awhile now. Anyhow, actually coming to this site has convinced me that, as soon as I have the available funds, I will be purchasing the books. I greatly appreciate that you have been so open and honest about the experimenting and recipes. I believe it will save me loads of time and unnecessary financial hardship. Basically, a review that states, "waste of time" is one review I don't waste my time reading. And I am pretty sure, judging by your website, that your books will be much better than what the reviewer thought.

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    1. I'm excited about your move! I'd love to hear more about it. I hope it goes well and that you love living out there! :)

      Susan

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    2. Thanks Susan. I'm sure I will have some odd stories to share. I am so glad that the hospital is only a few miles away from our new home, although I hope we never need it desperately. Learning how to live without electricity and without easy driveway access makes me appreciate how brave some folks are that move far into the boonies.
      Oh yes, and I did get to purchase a few of your books on amazon. They haven't shipped yet, and I may need to put them away for the kids to give me as holiday gifts, but I am sooo looking forward to reading them. I will check back on your blog every few weeks, when I can get on a computer with internet access (gotta love public libraries!), since I still have a lot to read on your blog and you seem to put up a post at least every month. Thanks for the advice on here! ~Tiffany

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