Book Review: Though nothing can bring back the hour

Abstract

Purpose

This viewpoint paper aims to give a brief exploration into the problems facing the humanities in getting scholarly work “published” in a world where academic publishers are reducing their number of books published annually.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an extended review of the book, Planned Obsolescence, by Kathleen Fitzpatrick.

Findings

The humanities are changing as the electronic world opens new possibilities for both scholarly research and “publishing” in traditional and new forms. An obsessive concern with traditional publications for validating researchers is potentially limiting opportunities and increasing uncertainty in a world which is focused on science, technology and mathematics.

Originality/value

The humanities are poised on the edge of change. They can attempt to repeat the past, take a chance on the emerging alternatives or slip over the edge.

Citation

Abeles, T.P. (2012), "Book Review: Though nothing can bring back the hour", On the Horizon, Vol. 20 No. 2, pp. 145-147. https://doi.org/10.1108/10748121211235804