Abstract
The book review process for multi-authored volumes such as symposia proceedings and compendia is analysed and discussed. The criteria used in book reviewing as listed by Keddy (1991) as well as a set of new ones have been screened in a selection of 142 multi-authored volumes reviewed in Ecology, Journal of Ecology, Vegetatio, and Journal of Vegetation Science. Too often many important book review criteria have not been taken into account at all. Use of a standard set of book review criteria is suggested to avoid personal bias as much as possible.