How do I "officially" complain about a book?

[EmmaJean]

Hi, book lovers out there. I haven't ever posted on this forum before, but I didn't know who else to ask, so here I am!

There are several books that have BAD, OLD, and WRONG information in them regarding home birth and/or vaccinations that I want to write and complain about, b/c I know that there are going to be newer additions made, and I want them to change their FALSE information. Who do I write? The publisher, editor, author, EVERYONE??? How do I get the addresses? I guess I just see my letters being tossed on some secretary's desk and then either getting lost in the shuffle or put in the "circular file". BUT I just remembered that in high school I wrote the editor of a magazine complaining about an article on depression and received a personal letter from the editor! Anyway, any ideas???

Thanks so SO much! Emily

[myrrhmaid]

Wish I had an answer for ya...

I know what you mean! Everytime I see a Dr. Spock book it makes my stomach turn! He actually recommends that if your child wants to crawl out of the crib to come to bed with you that you tie a net over the top of the crib to keep them from reaching their goal!(Amongst other tragedies-I mean-'strategies'!) Everytime I see his book in the thrift stores I can't help it, I rip out the first 40 pages or so to make it unappealing for a buyer! I know that is impotent & pathetic but I just can't help myself! And the one thing my folks say they regret and had done differently-they wish they'd had us kids in bed with them! Go figure! So much for the experts!
Maybe you could send a letter to the publisher with a request for it to be seen by the author? They figure each letter represents so many 1000 people, so it's worth a try. It would be interesting to see how they respond.
edited to say-it's my inner child who has that impulse. It stems from my grief of mis-information that has affected whole generations.

[jenniferB]

hi emmajean,

yes you would write to the publisher and cc the editor and author. usually, you send all letters to the publisher. you should be able to find the addresses on the internet.

you should also write reviews on online bookstores like amazon.com that sell second-hand books. i'm always grateful to people who do that.

i'd like to add tho that i generally believe that mothers who choose to search for more information about raising their children generally have it together. in other words, they know that picking up a book written in the 60s is going to have 1960s advice. i believe that pressure and misinformation from parents, friends, and healthcare professionals to be the main factor in influencing a new mom's decision.

(off topic) i like dr spock. i've never read any of his old stuff. but the first page clearly states that mothers should follow their instincts first and foremost. the book on the whole is alot about tolerance and patience. he is anti-violence and has whole sections devoted to gay and single parenting. very progressive for mainstream, me thinks. dr spock also became a vegan at the end of his life and alot of his writing on nutrition is getting edited away. too bad.

(back to the topic) i liked what Ruth Yaron wrote in "Super Baby Food". she reminds readers to always have the latest edition on hand because no one knows what the new breakthrus in nutrition are going to be. she fully expects that in 10 or 20 years from now her advice might be wrong and it's up to mom's to be responsible enough to get the most updated information. that's far more empowering that trying to find a book with the pages ripped out.

~jen