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It is hardly undisclosed. The review on Amazon is posted under the user name www.pacificbookreview.com, and the website clearly says that they charge $125 to $195 per review link. I am going to assume that samzenpus was high on peyote and having sex with the entire college cheerleading squad when he posted this.

Pacific Book Review, in its profile on amazon.com, describes itself as follows: "We review books for well known authors and emerging authors, and enabling many first time authors to reach the publishers with a recognizable review.

And they say on their web site http://www.pacificbookreview.com/Submit-A-Book.php

Your review will be posted on:

Pacific Book Review
Amazon.com
Barnes and Noble
Google Books
Ezine Articles
PolkaDotBanner.com

a book review service that advertises to authors that "The only wish we have is for your CA$$$H MONEEEYZ."

FTFY.

It's not like the reviewer tried to hide who they are. From the summary, "reviewer Gary R. Sorkin" and the first review on Amazon is by the very same "Gary Sorkin".

Without the review having been posted here, many would never have heard of the book nor found it on amazon

Or been motivated to do some research and find out that the Gary Sorkin who did the review both here and on Amazon is from a book review service that advertises to authors that "The only wish we have is for your success as an author."

A quick search on google also turned up the same review, word for word, on ezinearticles by a Gary R. Sorkin. Following back the links, I found that the review was written by this web site: http://www.pacificbookreview.com/
 
According to their FAQ, you pay them to review your book and they post their review all over the place. I'm sure that they're unbiased.
 
Admins, please get rid of this slashvertisement.

As pointed out by drewhk (1744562), this review appears to be a work for hire by a firm that is paid to write book reviews by authors and publishers. LinkedIn lists Gary Sorkin as Founder/Consultant for Pacific Communication Group, and the whois entry lists Nicole Sorkin as Registrant. There is an identical review on Amazon that is attributed to the firm.

The /. Book Review Guidelines state:

"Important: If you have a relationship (other than as an ordinary reader) to the author or publisher of a book you're reviewing, disclose that relationship. "

I wonder if such a relationship exists, and if so why it is hidden?

The "anonymous author" of this review is http://www.pacificbookreview.com./ From their website:

"Welcome to Pacific Book Review - Our goal is to help authors succeed! Strengthen your credibility with a professional book review."

I haven't read the book, but it sets off enough alarms that I wouldn't spend money on it.

If you want a real book on the subject, read Roger Penrose's "The Road to Reality". I still flip through my copy regularly 5 years after buying it. I wish I had read it before I entered my Ph.D. program, it would have saved me much pain and suffering.

I don't know what's worse, dryly making fun of this kind of thing or even more dryly implicitly making fun the sheer number of folks that won't get the joke.

The review is by these guys: http://www.pacificbookreview.com/About-Us.php

It's a self-published crank book with a hilarious title. The guy might be mentally ill. It's just sad. I know times are tough but still, this Gary Sorkin guy should be ashamed of taking Kemp's money to promote the book.