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How To Get Paid To Read Books (Plus 5 Legit Companies That Pay for Reviews)

Turn the dream into reality!

If you’ve ever dreamed of a world where someone would pay you to read books, we’ve got good news! There are multiple ways to get paid to read books, whether you make a career out of it or just do it to pick up some extra cash. In fact, these options can be the perfect choice for teachers looking to change careers or those who need to make a little money on the side . Here’s how to live the dream.

Can you really get paid to read books?

Short answer: Yes, you can! Longer answer: You can make money, but you may not be able to make a living. If you’re looking to get paid to read books as a career, you’ll probably need to pursue jobs in publishing, which can be hard to come by. Expect to earn a related degree and work your way up from the very bottom. Penguin Random House has much more information about how to get into publishing here.

It’s much easier to get paid to read books if you’re willing to do some smaller jobs instead. Many companies will pay you to write book reviews, though only small amounts at first. Plus, there are other gigs, like audiobook narrator or book translator, which you might be able to pick up on an as-needed basis.

One note: Many people dream of becoming librarians because they can’t imagine anything better than spending their days surrounded by books. And while there are many rewards to becoming a librarian, getting paid to read isn’t usually one of them. This varies, of course, depending on your position. But in general, how much time does the average librarian spend reading on the job?

“The answer is zero,” shares one former librarian. “Unless you count reading spine labels as you’re shelving.” So if you’re looking to make money just for reading, take a look at one of the jobs below instead.

What types of jobs are available for avid readers?

Lorenzo Cafaro via Pixabay

Whether you’re looking for a career or a side gig, here’s what you’ll want to know about some of the most common reading jobs.

Book Reviewer

Pay range: $5–$50 per review for beginners

This is one of the easiest ways to get paid to read books. There are a variety of companies that will pay you for your thoughtful reviews, though the per-job pay isn’t amazing. If you’re a prolific reader, though, this can be a nice way to pick up some extra money regularly. Check out our list of companies that pay for reviews below.

If you’re an accomplished reviewer, you might consider pitching your reviews to bigger outlets, like newspapers, magazines, or websites. You could receive hundreds of dollars for your reviews—if they’re published. Learn how to pitch an article to a magazine here.

Publishing Acquisitions Editor

Pay range: $47,000–$85,000 per year

Not all jobs in publishing actually require a lot of reading, but acquisitions editors definitely spend their days turning pages. Their main job is to read manuscripts from authors (solicited or unsolicited) and make recommendations about which of them to publish. These jobs aren’t necessarily glamorous, but they’re a bookworm’s dream. And as you might imagine, they can be very hard to land. Find out more about becoming an acquisitions editor here.

Publishing Copy Editor/Proofreader

Pay range: $41,000–$96,000 per year

If you’ve got an eye for detail, these could be the jobs for you. Copy editors work with a book while it’s still in progress, reviewing for consistency, errors, continuity, factuality, and legal liability. They help authors make changes as needed throughout the editing process.

Proofreaders review a final copy of a manuscript before it goes to press. A proofreader compares the edited manuscript with the proof copy, word for word. They catch any last spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors, and fix any awkward word or page breaks. Discover the differences between copy editors and proofreaders here .

Audiobook Narrator

Pay range: $10–$500 per finished hour

Audiobooks are very popular, and those with strong voice-acting skills can make good money by recording them. Some narrators even do their own recording, editing, and more. For fiction books, the process often involves multiple narrators, with a regular audition process. You may work at home if you have the right equipment, or you may need to come into a recording studio.

Note that audiobook narrators are usually paid per “finished hour,” which refers to the length of the audio files you record. For an 18-hour audiobook, you may spend double that or more in preparation, rehearsal, and recording, so figure your salary accordingly. Want to get started working in audiobook narration? Look into ACX, Audible’s audiobook creation marketplace.

Literary Translator

Pay range: $22,000–$100,000 per year

Many books are translated into multiple languages and sold around the globe. If you’ve got strong world language skills, you could make money by translating those books for publishers or authors.

This job involves more than just word-for-word translation, since many words and phrases don’t have direct cognates. Translators have to use their knowledge of language to ensure the translated book retains the same tone as the original, making it a real art form. See tips on becoming a literary translator here.

Companies That Pay You to Read and Review Books

Karolina Grabowska via Pexels

You won’t make a bundle writing book reviews for any of these companies, but it can be a steady way to earn some much-needed extra cash. Some require experience and an application process, while others are easier to get in on. Here are the details.

Pay rate: Not specified

BookBrowse asks that applicants have some experience in writing the types of reviews they’re looking for. Their website says reviewers write about one review a month for “a byline and modest payment.” See if BookBrowse is a good fit for you here.

Pay rate: $15 per review (~150 words)

Libraries depend on publications like Booklist to help them choose new additions to their shelves. The pay is low, but the reviews are also quite short and you’ll receive a byline credit. Learn more about writing for Booklist here.

Kirkus Reviews

Pay rate: $50 per review (~350 words)

Kirkus hires reviewers for Kirkus Indie, the book review magazine’s section dedicated to self-published authors. If you’re interested, find out more here.

Online Book Club

Pay rate: $5–$60 per review

For the first review, OnlineBookClub.org gives you the book for free. After that, you’re eligible for paid opportunities (which also include free books). Learn how the process works and apply to be a reviewer here.

Publishers Weekly

Pay rate: $25 per review (~200 words)

This publishing powerhouse looks for reviewers who can handle books across a wide array of subjects, from cookbooks to psychology, romance to sci-fi. Submit an application via their website to be considered for review gigs.

Do you know of other ways to get paid to read books? Come share your thoughts and ask for advice in the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

Plus, 38 companies that hire former teachers in 2023 ..

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Because we can all use some extra cash now and then. Continue Reading

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Get Paid to Review Books: 5 Book Review Jobs Sites That Pay Reviewers

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Writing book reviews is one of the best ways to get paid to read books online.

As a book reviewer, you’re tasked with reading and reviewing books, which in return can earn you a paycheck.

This blog post will show you five of the top-paying book review sites where you can submit your pitches and get hired for book review jobs.

To review books effectively, having a good education is important. EduBirdie can help you improve your skills and knowledge, making you better at reviewing books.

Book review jobs sites that pay reviewers

So, if you want to get paid to review books online , here is a list of five websites that you can explore to find book review jobs:

1) The US Review of Books

The US Review of Books has fair terms for reviewers, and the pay is usually between $25 and $75. To be accepted you’ll need to submit your resume, samples, and references. You’ll also be asked to do a sample review.

The site doesn’t have tough guidelines, the reviews can be half summary, half commentary. Most of the reviews requested will be around 300 words and you can expect to earn $25 for each. For longer reviews that are around $600 the pay can be as high as $75

The first review you will do will be treated as an application and you are compensated nonetheless, whether you’re hired eventually or not.

The pay might not seem much especially when you factor in the hours it will take you to read a book. However, if you are a faster reader, you can easily lock in $250-$750 doing 10 reviews a month.

Another added benefit of writing reviews for The US Review of Books is that you will be listed in its directory of reviewers that you can use as social proof and also get a backlink to your site.

The site pays via PayPal. US Review of Books encourages readers and authors alike to visit their website.

2) Kirkus Reviews

Kirkus Reviews isn’t transparent with their rates but some people claim that it’s usually $50 per review.

The media company has been in existence since 1933, so it is a legitimate company. That said, the reviews from Glassdoor seem to suggest that the editors will ask you to change your review if it’s negative, thus interfering with your work ethics as a book reviewer.

The reviews are around 350 words long with 2 weeks turnaround time. If you still want to apply, simply head over to this page and contact an editor.

3) OnlineBookClub

Though a popular book review website, many people do not recommend OnlineBookClub because of its tough and demanding guidelines with extremely low pay.

While they claim to pay up to $60 per review, most reviewers earn their lowest rates, which is actually $5 per review.

Reviews are easily rejected and can affect your review score. When you join, your score will be below 35, meaning that you will be bagging home $0 per review as they only begin to pay beyond the 35-point mark.

There are no clear guidelines on improving your score apart from the fact that you will have to engage in a forum and give shoutouts on social media. The editors aren’t as responsive either.

4) Booklist Publications

Booklist Publications is a book review website whose pay is not as appealing. Booklist pays $15 per review and only upon publication. This means that even if your review is accepted, you might have to wait a while

For published reviews, you will get one line credit and you can also be listed as a reviewer on their directory page.

To get started, you will need to fill in an application form answering basic questions and if you are fit the team will get back to you.

5) Women’s Review of Books

Women’s Review of Books is a publication of Wellesley Centers for Women, a part of Wellesley College, and reportedly pays $100 per review.

The publication specifically reviews books about women or written by women.

They expect their reviewers to have journalistic, academic, or strong book review backgrounds.

So if you believe that you can develop thought-provoking reviews you can start pitching your idea to them.

They pay on a review basis. To get started, send in a review pitch proposal about the book you want to review, its publication date, and your angle to the editors. You can find contact details on this page.

You will be paid upon review publication and you also get 12 months of subscription to their monthly issues.

You can also find more writing guidelines in this document . Make sure you adhere to them when writing the reviews.

Ready to begin your book reviewer job?

Book reviewing is a lucrative yet demanding career.

However, if it’s something you love doing and have a passion for writing, then book reviewing can be another source of income for you.

If this isn’t the case, I would advise you to look for other ways to earn money online such as freelance services, info products, or affiliate marketing.

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The Work at Home Wife

Helping you work at home and make money online

Get Paid to Read Books: 8 At-Home Jobs for Book Lovers

By Angie Nelson

Last Updated August 4, 2023 . Disclosure: We may receive compensation if you sign up for or purchase products linked below. Details on offers may change, and you should confirm them with the company prior to taking action.

If reading is your great love in life, why not turn it into a side hustle and get paid to read books?

One of the best things about the book publishing business is that thanks to the internet, it adapts well to copy editors, designers, and even editors looking for a home job, as well as voice talent for narrating audiobooks.

And if you’re simply a book lover who gets excited about free copies of new young adult lit or interesting nonfiction, you can turn your passion for reading into pocket change by writing a book review.

So settle in, my excellent bookworms! I’ve got some great ideas that’ll let you read books and make money in a remote job .

Make extra money with book review opportunities

If you aren’t necessarily looking to pay all your bills by reading books, you may be able to find work as a paid book reviewer or at least get a free book in exchange for an online review. Here are some sites where you can provide paid book reviews or get a new book.

• Online Book Club requires your first review to be unpaid, but you’ll still get a free book to review! After your initial review, most projects offer $5 to $60. As you can see, book reviewing really isn’t a gig that compensates well for the time involved. You really need to love to read — and quickly — and consider any compensation a bonus while having fun .
• Kirkus hires freelance reviewers and expects a 350-word review within a 2-week time frame.
• Booklist accepts freelance book reviews – assigned reviews only. Freelance opportunities are limited but pay $12.50 for a blog post and $15 for a full book review.
• The US Review does pay reviews, though their website does not say how much. Reviews must include a short book summary, be turned around within 2-3 weeks, and follow a style guide.
• Bethany House specializes in Christian books and is specifically looking for reviewers who have an existing online platform like a YouTube channel, a book blog, etc. There is no mention of compensation, but you may be able to use your affiliate marketing link within your review on your own website or channel.
• Writerful will allow you to submit an honest review of any book of your choosing. You just won’t get paid as a new reviewer, so expect to put in some time on the site. Paid book reviewer opportunities are offered if you become a trusted, experienced reviewer. These paid opportunities compensate $10 to $50 per review.
• Moody Publishers is another publishing house specializing in Christian titles. They do not pay for your reviews, but you will receive free books.

If you need to earn a living from your side hustle , you’ll probably have to do more than review books. Here are some additional opportunities that pay more and will still have you reading.

Also see: How to make money as an Amazon reviewer

Become a narrator

Audiobook narration is an industry that has been picking up steam in the work-at-home world in recent years. With so many books now being consumed through Audible and similar services, even self-publishers are publishing their works on various platforms.

To become an audiobook narrator , you’ll need a great voice, the ability to perform in different voices (training as a voice actor helps), and editing skills (most narrators do their own post-production file editing). You can mark up the manuscript or printed book with tips to help you avoid problems when narrating.

Audiobook work also requires the right equipment, such as a microphone, a pop screen filter, good-quality headphones, a tablet or e-reader, and recording and editing software. Learn more about becoming an audiobook narrator here .

Copy editing and proofreading jobs

Large and small publishers — not to mention websites, magazines, and corporations — often outsource online proofreading jobs as well as copy editing jobs. If you’d like to copy edit for a traditional publishing house, it will most likely require you to have a professional copy editing certificate, which you can get by completing a copy editing course. Universities often offer these courses, and many can be completed online.

If you aren’t able to get a certificate right now, don’t worry! You can still land a professional proofreader job or copy editing position from someone else, such as a website or corporation. To apply for a copy editing or proofreading job, simply demonstrate your superior grammar and spelling skills! If you are looking at some resources, two that were helpful to me were this free workshop with the basics of getting in the proofreading business and The Copyeditor’s Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate Communications by Amy Einsohn. (Be sure you pick up the latest edition.)

With a little bit of luck, you can score an editing work-from-home job . These opportunities are not that common, but you’ll periodically find websites or online publications looking for assistant editors and even managing editors. A small traditional publisher may also work with remote editors. Bookjobs.com is one great place to keep an eye out for book editor openings; you can also keep a tab on Indeed, and make it a habit to regularly check the Careers page on your favorite websites.

Or you could develop your own freelance editing business , selling your services to authors seeking a professional evaluation and polish of their manuscripts. This will take some time and legwork on your part. You’ll need to build your business from the ground up: decide your rates, design your website, and gather customer testimonials. Then you’ll need to land clients!

You may want to look for editing jobs via other services while you work on your own base of operations as a freelancer. You can find a remote editing job on various low-paying job boards (such as UpWork) or via better-paying Virtual Assistant companies (like Time Etc). This work-while-you-build strategy serves two purposes: First, it brings some money in, and second, it lets you collect testimonials about your performance. Be careful when employing this tactic, however. Make sure you don’t poach customers from another service or violate the terms of your agreement with any virtual assistant platform.

If you are fluent in a second language, you may find online opportunities for translation jobs . These gigs are plentiful on sites like UpWork in addition to translation services and marketplaces such as:

Today Translations

Translators Base

Layout and design

There are a lot of emerging opportunities to work with writers who are self-publishing these books. While these folks may have a great story to share, they may not be as passionate about formatting their book or graphic design needed to create a compelling book cover.

You can learn how to do book layout and editorial or graphic design for free at sites such as The Book Designer . And many great desktop publisher computer programs, such as Adobe InDesign, Quark XPress and Microsoft Publisher, can help you with the actual book layout.

Then just hang out your shingle as a designer or formatter! You can create a website to advertise your book layout and design services, network with authors and publishers on social media, and look for designer gigs in all the usual places.

Some smaller publishing houses even hire freelance book designers, giving you the opportunity to establish a lucrative business relationship. Or you can actively seek out self-publishing authors getting their books ready for print-on-demand and ebook stores like Kindle. (The latter will likely be your primary clientele.)

Become a book publisher

This is the ultimate “get paid to read books” job.

Let’s say you’ve been building all the skills I outlined above. You’ve maximized your opportunities in the book business. You can recognize good writing. You’re a good copy editor and overall editor. You know how to make a book look beautiful on the page and on the screen. So why not start publishing books yourself? Go into business to create your own publishing company!

If you’re a writer, you could start by self-publishing your own work. Once you’re established as someone who can turn out a beautifully designed and cleanly edited product, you can start looking for other authors to publish. You’ll need some start-up capital to land your first author, but you’ll have all the skills and a golden opportunity to create a book that you believe in. And be sure both you and the author make some money, of course!

Marketing and public relations

One of the key tools in your arsenal is knowing how to market yourself, your skills, and your products. Not only is this crucial to making your own freelance editing or publishing business work, but you can also turn book marketing and public relations into its own business! With so many self-published authors new to the field every month and traditionally published authors who are struggling to come up with their own PR strategy, there are tons of opportunities to step in and help them out. You can become their freelance book marketing and publicity pro, who lines up blog tours, plan author interviews, and really gets the word out about their books with viral marketing .

Where can I find these jobs for book lovers?

• Kirkus hires book reviewers as well as several of the positions mentioned above.
• Freelance Writer’s Den offers a job board specifically for writers and editors.
• Publishers Weekly offers several freelance publishing positions, such as book reviewer and editor.

Are you a book lover who’s excited about these opportunities? I’m excited for you! There is so much remote work for you to turn your love of reading into a livelihood, and now you know how to look for it. Whether you’re reviewing books for extra cash or narrating the next best-selling audio book, I’d love to hear from you about any and all jobs you land and businesses you begin from here!

About Angie Nelson

Angie Nelson began working from home in 2007 when she figured out how to take her future into her own hands and escape the corporate cubicle farm. Angie’s goal is sharing her passion for home business, personal finance, telecommuting, and entrepreneurship, and her work has been featured on Recruiter, FlexJobs and Business News Daily..

Angie Nelson began working from home in 2007 when she figured out how to take her future into her own hands and escape the corporate cubicle farm. Angie’s goal is sharing her passion for home business, personal finance, telecommuting, and entrepreneurship, and her work has been featured on Recruiter, FlexJobs and Business News Daily.

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Get Paid To Write Reviews: 14 Top Sites

Get paid to write reviews by reading our guide with all the top sites for you to check out. Earn money and home and increase your skills today!

Before you purchase products or download apps, do you read the reviews? Most consumers do. A study published by Qualtrics showed that 93 percent of customers read online reviews before buying a product. Product reviews are important to people’s purchasing decisions, and review sites are everywhere.

Companies know that they will make more money if their products have positive reviews, so they’re willing to pay people to write product reviews for money. If you are wondering how to get paid to write reviews and blog articles, try applying to these sites for review writing jobs .

1. Writers Work

2. get paid to write reviews for amazon, 3. get reviewed, 4. crowdtap, 6. listverse, 7. capterra, 8. usertesting, 9. gartner peer insights, 10. harris poll online, 11. g2 crowd, 12. review stream, 13. inboxdollars, 14. swagbucks, final word on where to get paid to write reviews, is it illegal to write fake reviews, where can i write music reviews, how do you make money by giving reviews.

Writers Work connects writers with companies looking for freelancers. With thousands of jobs available, it’s an ideal place for new and experienced freelancer writers to find work. The site has built great relationships with many established companies requiring writing , from general content to blogging to copywriting and reviews; endless opportunities exist. The average earnings on the freelance site are anything from $20 – $65 per hour, making it a lucrative option for writers to get involved in.

Writers Work contains freelance writing opportunities for writers who want to start their career

Many freelancers earn commissions from Amazon by writing product reviews. Amazon pays reviewers who successfully try a product and refer it to new customers. This process is a type of influencer work called affiliate marketing, which can be used through the Amazon Associates program. Whenever a customer uses your affiliate link, you’ll receive a small commission on the sale.

For example, if you were to try a product and then post about it on your blog or social media with an affiliate link, your viewers might then buy the Amazon product, which means you earn a commission. There are many different niches for bloggers to choose from, like food, fashion, beauty, tech, and entertainment.

If you want to write product reviews for money, one of the best places to look is Get Reviewed . The website will pay you cash for sponsored reviews and blog posts. If you want to participate in this program, you need to have a self-hosted website with a strong domain authority of at least 20 or above. To elevate your domain authority, focus on a specific niche.

Then, convince others to provide links that point back to your website. This will position your site as an authority in the field.

If you want to get paid to write a review on this site, submit your blog for consideration. After your blog is accepted, you will display your blog on the marketplace. Then, advertisers can view your blog and order a product review from you. If someone places an order for a review from your website, you will receive an email notification.

Based on the email request, you can either accept or reject their review request. You also negotiate the price of your review with the client. Once you and the client agree on a deadline and rate for the job, you’ll write the review and get paid! Typically, you get paid 14 days after the article has been completed. The site pays a paid reviewer by PayPal.

If you want a fun way to review products from your phone, check out CrowdTap . You can access the program through your smartphone. Then, you can look at their “daily missions,” which products they would like you to review that day. If you review their products, you will be rewarded for leaving a high-quality review.

You get paid in a variety of ways. For example, some companies will reward you with product samples. Other companies will reward you with gift cards. You may also be given merchandise rewards you can redeem at certain brands and establishments.

This is one of the top review apps out there. There are other ways you can earn points as well. For example, you can complete daily polls, fill out surveys, and share your reviews on social media channels. You can get additional points if you share your reviews on your blog.

Another review site you may want to check out is called Ciao . This is a review site based in the UK, but it is open to the international community, including non-English speakers. They have various products listed on the website, some of which are Amazon products.

The website also has a rotating category of focus or high-authority products. These are products that they need reviews for, so they’re willing to pay extra money for writers. The payment for each review varies, but it is directly tied to the amount of traffic that a specific review generates.

You don’t have to make much money to request a payout. As long as you have a balance of five pounds or more, or about $6, you can request to be paid. It might be challenging to generate a lot of traffic with your first review, but you can make significant money online once you get a lot of practice.

If you are more of a long-form paid reviewer, check out ListVerse . This website will pay you money to make a “top 10” list. Often called “listicles,” this is an opportunity to get creative. You have a lot of control over the products you decide to review, and you can make several recommendations in a single article.

You may want to write a paragraph or two on each item before moving forward. After your list has been published, you get paid through PayPal.

Next, you may want to check out Capterra as well. If you have looked for reviews of specific products, including software programs, you have probably come across Capterra. You can also get paid to write reviews for them. Typically, you need to use the product before you write the review, which may require additional work; however, you can also get paid more for each review.

On Capterra, you get paid approximately $10 for each review that is accepted. Because they are one of the largest players in the industry, they vet all of their reviews closely to ensure they meet their requirements. You need to verify your identity using LinkedIn, and you might get asked to send screenshots of the software or product you want to review before they let you write the review. For this reason, they pay more money for each review.

If you are someone who enjoys testing websites and applications, you may want to take a look at a website called UserTesting . During the review process, you need to make a 20-minute video. Then, you’ll be paid $10 for each review you give. Try this website if you would rather talk about a product or service instead of writing about it.

If the platform can download the necessary recording software, you can record it using any device you want. This could include a desktop computer, a laptop, a smartphone, or a tablet. You will also need to record yourself testing the app or website in real-time. Companies will pay a lot for people who record themselves using their products or services.

Therefore, this could be one of the most lucrative ways for you to make money through product reviews.

Another website that will pay you a lot of money for each review is called Gartner. Gartner is a leading technology and software review company. The goal is to help users make educated decisions on the products they use. Even though you can only write ten reviews annually, the company pays you approximately $25 for each successful review.

Caveat: Gartner closely vets every review before it is published to ensure it provides customers with real insights into the product. The more details you can give about your experience, the greater the chance your review gets accepted. You need to know a lot before you write your first review on this platform. So, check out Gartner’s FAQ page to figure out how to take advantage of this opportunity.

You might also want to consider Harris Poll Online . They are one of the oldest research firms in the industry, and they have a sterling reputation. Most of the surveys and reviews you complete for Harris will focus on their current marketing campaigns.

For example, you might be asked to watch a series of marketing videos a company produces. Then, you’ll be asked to share your opinion. You might also be asked to recommend improving their marketing videos to better speak to someone like yourself.

Every time you complete a survey for this company, you’ll be given points to redeem for gift cards. You might also be given a bonus award if you win the raffle. You get an entry into the raffle with every survey or review you complete.

G2 Crowd is a crowdsourcing platform for reviews. The amount of money you can make on this platform can vary widely depending on what you review. The average review pays between $5 and $15, but you could earn up to $25 per review if you review specific types of software. The website has hundreds of thousands of reviews, so it is one of the most popular review websites on the internet.

Similar to other software review websites, there are strict requirements you need to follow to make sure your review is accepted. You’ll also have to verify your identity by tying your LinkedIn account to your review.

Review Stream will allow you to make money by reviewing just about every product. Furthermore, if a user likes your review, you could get paid a bonus. If you get a vote of confidence from a user, this indicates that the person found your review useful.

Even though you can write a review on just about anything, you can look at what is currently trending on social media. Generally, ReviewStream will pay more money for products and services that have become popular. Furthermore, if you write a review that matches the publishing guidelines of the platform, they might pay you more money. These reviews are also more likely to be deemed useful by users.

InboxDollars has an excellent reputation for paying users to take surveys, shop online, and read email newsletters to assess them for clarity and effectiveness. You can get paid to write product reviews and collect rewards easily on this platform.

InboxDollars partners with top research organizations that are looking for feedback and input from the public. All you need to do is sign up and give your opinions on surveys, and you’ll be paid cash when you’ve completed your task.

Swagbucks is one of the most popular loyalty and consumer rewards platforms online. It’s free to join, and members receive gift cards or cash for the everyday activities they complete online. Tasks include web searching, playing games, watching videos, and shopping online. You can also scan your receipts for cash back, making it easy to earn extra cash without completing hundreds of surveys.

If you’re interested in answering surveys and giving reviews for cash, Swagbucks also pays users to take surveys on topics like personal finance, favorite foods, vacations, and more. Swagbucks has already paid its members over 5 million dollars, solidifying it as one of the most reliable online paid review platforms.

These are some useful review sites to apply to if you want to write product reviews, book reviews, and more. Writing legit reviews is also a great way to get free products, as lots of companies will send you new products and samples to write about on a review website. You can also combine writing reviews with other proven methods that will help you get paid to write .

These sites are a good side-hustle choice before applying to the best affiliate marketing programs and publishing review content on your website.

FAQs About How to Get Paid To Write Reviews

Section 5 of the FTC Act 15 U.S. Code 45 makes fake testimonials illegal in the United States. It can also dent your customer’s trust in your business. It should be noted that a man was jailed after posting fake reviews on TripAdvisor.

Many music writers start their careers by launching their blogs. However, several magazines and websites accept freelance reviews. Two Story Melody gives a list of sites that accept music reviews.

There are several ways to make money by giving reviews, depending on the platform or industry you are involved in. Here are a few methods: 1. Sponsored reviews 2. Affiliate marketing 3. Paid survey sites 4. Blogging or YouTube channels 5. Paid review websites

Meet Rachael, the editor at Become a Writer Today. With years of experience in the field, she is passionate about language and dedicated to producing high-quality content that engages and informs readers. When she's not editing or writing, you can find her exploring the great outdoors, finding inspiration for her next project.

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Book reviewer home jobs: how to get paid to read books.

Gaurav Jain Last Updated: June 13, 2023 Make Money Online 2 Comments

You can actually get paid to read books online . Sounds like a dream job, right? There are chances to earn extra money with jobs reading books from home . You can also get paid to write book reviews if you have a good writing style and earn from home with book reviewers jobs .

If you love reading and have strong opinions or observations on what you read, this job is right up your street, as you can get paid to review books at home .

• Must Read – How to Start an Editing and Proofreading Business from Home

There are many online sites and companies that offer to pay you for your valuable review of books of different genres. Some companies also ask you to post your reviews on your blog to get added publicity.

Learning Points

• Ways to Get Paid to Write Book Reviews
• How to Become a Paid Book Reviewer
• Sites That’ll Pay You to Read & Review Books

Table of Contents

If you’re new to reviewing books, I’d suggest you do some prep work first just to get the hang of things. Read a few reviews, get some books and publish reviews on Amazon or on Goodreads . Believe me, this will benefit you a great deal. You’ll learn the ropes of professional review writing and you can learn a lot from other reviewers.

With any luck, you could even get people to follow your reviews if you have a flair for writing. This audience could prove invaluable later on, in your attempt to get paid to read books.

Consider all Aspects of this Kind of Work from Home Job:

• Consider genres to get paid to read books.
• Will you do only reviews or author interviews; editing and proof reading; manuscript reader jobs; copyeditors and copyediting jobs if you love reading books.
• Post reviews on your blog as well as on Amazon and Goodreads etc.
• You can accept printed books as well as PDFs and books on Kindle.
• Decide whether you want to write positive reviews or neutral ones when you want to make money online (Many companies would like to pay you for writing positive reviews. It is a matter of personal ethics)
• Check out tips for writing interesting reviews.

Finding a Job – Get Paid to Read Books at Home

You’ve probably heard of a sponsored blog post , where you write about a product or a service and the company pays you to write it. Well, book reviewing is somewhat similar. Companies requiring reviews send you books and you need to review them honestly.

The books get more exposure this way and the company pays you for the service. You will be given a specific timeline for completing the review. Some companies require specifications like the publication date, the price, a summary, author observations, some brief quotes or a deeper analysis. You must follow these requirements.

• Also Read – How to Start Teaching Online as a Home Based Tutor

Many websites post book titles on periodic basis and you can select a title that you are interested in, for getting paid to read.  The site than chooses writers based on whether your profile fits their titles. You may also have to submit a resume and some samples of your review work before you are considered for such work from home jobs .

Start Book Review Blog for Online Jobs

For those who love to read books , consider starting your own blog for reviewing books to earn money online .  Authors of new books on the lookout for reviewers might approach you with brand new books to read.

You can showcase your expertise in your blog and start building strong relationships with authors and publishers. They might even put you on their marketing list and send you emails and catalogs of new releases.

Before starting your own book review blog, check out other book blogs on the Internet and then put your own spin on it.

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Going After Opportunities to Get Paid to Read Books

The time is now ripe for bookworms to go after paid opportunities for book reviews. Check out the best reviews in your blog or portfolio and save them. You can send links to prospective companies or websites to begin such online jobs from home .  Prepare a conventional resume as well to prove your writing abilities, along with a covering letter.

• Check Out Freelance Reading Jobs to get paid online.
• Keep applying wherever you see ‘ Book Reviewer wanted ’ till you pick up some good companies or publications.
• Approach Magazines and newspapers for freelance book review jobs . Pitch directly to the person editing specific sections, rather than a general email. Give a brief summary about yourself, your review work and even send a completed sample.
• Check out opportunities where you get paid to read and rate articles.

Check out these 16 sites offering freelance book reviewer jobs:

• Online Book Club
• Story Cartel
• Any Subject
• The US Review
• Book Browse
• BookLook Bloggers
• Moody Publishers
• Tyndale Blog Network
• Chicago Book Review
• Bethany House

Remember, that you need to keep yourself tuned to current developments in your field if you want to get paid to write book reviews .

• Check out all recent book publications, especially the ones in your chosen genres, when you have decided to earn money reading books .

(Hint:  Amazon and Noble usually have sections where they mention the latest or upcoming publications.)

• Follow publishers and authors on social media and sign up for emails to get the latest book information.

Payment Terms

Some companies hire a book reviewer and pay him/her in cash. Still others don’t make cash payment but offer compensation in the form of free book copies.

As for how much you are going to get paid to read books, it varies depending on various factors:

• The size of the book
• The number of words in the review
• The subject of the book or genre
• Time period or deadline for submission

You could possibly earn anywhere between $5 to around $60 for a book review, depending on the above factors.

While a book reviewer job is an enjoyable one, especially if you are an avid reader, you cannot consider it as your main source of bread and butter.

Moreover, it is important that you read the book before attempting a review. There is easy money to be made here, as you get paid to read books at home .  But you need to put your heart into it.

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My contention is that if you love to read books, what have you got to lose anyway? Some sleep probably, but you’ve already been missing out on it if you’re already into reading, right? So, settle down on your favorite couch, you bookworms and get ready to make some easy money.

Are you excited? I am on your behalf. There are so many opportunities for making money with book reviews. I’d love to hear if you’re able to land any of these jobs and begin your book reviewing business from home.

Book Reviewer Home Jobs: Get Paid to Read Books

Genuineness, ease of making money, awesomeness.

If you love reading books, you can earn money reading books and get freelance book review jobs. This is an easy way to get paid to read books at home.

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'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?

ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form .

I tested Samsung's flagship laptop and it gave my MacBook Pro a run for its money

Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Ultra

Pros and cons.

• Large OLED touchscreen display
• High-performance laptop with discrete GPU
• Fantastic battery life and efficiency
• Useful Samsung features (if you can use them)
• Large, physical trackpad leads to false inputs
• Noticeable amount of bloatware/ads for the price

ZDNET's buying advice

On the tail end of spring-season laptop releases, Samsung's Galaxy Book 4 Ultra shines with one of the best displays on the market -- now available with touchscreen support, performance configuration options that should satisfy content creators, work users, and even gamers, and battery life that will impress everyone.

The Ultra laptop still suffers from similar setbacks as its predecessor, which I tested last year , including the large, physical trackpad that either doesn't register taps at times or becomes too sensitive to inputs (the duality of this trackpad is quite baffling, I know), the lack of a full-size SD card slot, and a few too many Samsung-owned apps (read: bloatware, if you're not a Samsung user) and ad pop-ups that shouldn't be a talking point at this price.

You can expect to pay between $2,400 to $3,000 for the Galaxy Book 4 Ultra, which is a big ask, but the performance and hardware package you're getting in return justifies the price point. My buying advice is to wait for one of Samsung's sales events (usually during major holidays) and take advantage of its trade-in program, which can deduct up to $600 more. Case in point: you can pick up the highest configuration, which comes with an Intel Core Ultra 9, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, and 32GB of RAM, for $500 off at the time of writing.

Specifications

How i tested the samsung galaxy book 4 ultra.

I've used the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Ultra as my daily driver for the past two weeks. My normal usage includes browsing the web, answering emails, writing articles like this, watching videos on YouTube and Netflix, and editing photos and videos for work and leisure. 

The Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Ultra comes in a new Moonstone Gray color that looks very similar to last year's Graphite.

Most of the time, the laptop is either hooked to an external monitor (meaning I try to run as many windows of apps and services at the same time as possible) or used in tandem with my Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra with the help of Quick Share and Second Screen. Both cross-platform features worked very smoothly, though they're mainly compatible with Samsung devices and Samsung devices only.

For performance testing, I ran Cinebench 2024 to calculate the single, multi, and GPU scores of the laptop, while also taking notes on day-to-day aspects like fan speed and loudness, system temperature, frame rate drops, and more.

What are the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Ultra's best features?

Big, touchscreen, OLED display:  Need I say more? When I reviewed last year's Galaxy Book 3 Ultra, I mentioned that "a display that is both touchscreen-enabled and glossy is a recipe for a visual disaster." With the Galaxy Book 4 Ultra, Samsung basically said "Hold my OLED," and gave its 16-inch display touchscreen support and a new anti-reflective cover glass. These two features make interacting with a laptop this powerful one of the most intuitive, visually satisfying experiences I've tested. 

Also:  I tested Dell's most underrated laptop and it has clever features at an accessible price

Stretching out an image in order to erase blemishes in Photoshop just hits different when you can pinch-zoom with your fingers. (Now if only Samsung can add S Pen support.) While the Galaxy Book's new display is not as anti-glare as say, Samsung's S95D TV or Galaxy S24 Ultra , I've had no problem using it beside the biggest window at ZDNET's New York office. Mind you we're situated on the highest floor of the building, so sunlight is the second most prevalent thing after awkward elevator rides.

Spacious keyboard with surprising tactility:  I'm not as passionate about keyboards as my ZDNET colleague Cesar Cadenas , but I type enough every day to have a feel for what's good and what's not. That's to say I rate the Galaxy Book 4 Ultra keyboard a 7/10; it's spacious, with a full-on number pad for the data crunchers, a dedicated Copilot key for quick access to the Windows AI assistant, and quiet yet tactile feedback on each key that invites you to keep typing and typing.

The keys are evenly spaced, with a number pad, a Copilot key, and a power button that doubles as a fingerprint sensor.

The one quirk with the laptop is that it takes a worrying amount of time to boot up. I often found myself staring blankly at the screen after pressing and holding the power button, only for the Samsung logo to appear right as I was prepared to search for a charger. 

No, seriously; the charger, which only fields one USB-C port, is massive.

Battery life that lasts and lasts:  That is my flawless segue into charging and battery life, two other aspects I'm a big fan of with the Galaxy Book 4 Ultra. Save for the unwieldy, cheese-slice-sized charger that comes in the box, there's not much for me to complain about when it comes to powering the laptop and its endurance. 

Also: I tested LG's 17-inch Gram Pro and it's the big-screen, lightweight laptop to beat

On average, I got roughly ten hours of usage before needing to top up the device. That's impressive for a 16-inch, 3K OLED laptop that's powered by a discrete graphics card. When I did need to charge, the proprietary power brick gave the Galaxy Book a 55% charge after 30 minutes.

Intel Core Ultra and discrete GPU make all the difference : You're not wrong to chalk up the improved efficiency of the Galaxy Book to the new Intel Core Ultra 7 or 9 chips powering the unit. I'd do the same. When you combine the backend capabilities of Intel's NPU with a discrete Nvidia GeForce 4050/4070 GPU that's no longer the newest on the market but still great, you get a system that runs most apps and services fluidly, including Adobe Premiere Pro, Lightroom, and gaming on Steam. 

Here are the Cinebench scores, compared to competing laptops, for reference. While the Galaxy Book 4 Ultra's scores won't set any records, they're in line with the industry standard and competitive with Apple's flagship MacBook, which is great to see.

What I'd like to see in the next model 

Less bloatware and ads, more features for everyone:  For a near-$3,000 laptop, the amount of pre-installed apps, pop-up ads to download McAfee's antivirus service, and Samsung-exclusive features lessens what would otherwise be a premium user experience. Such things are common on cheaper laptops because they allow manufacturers to offload much of the retail cost. In Samsung's case, it's charging more for a laptop that's not shy about selling you services you may or may not need. That's a no-no for me.

Also: The best laptops of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

A smaller haptic trackpad:  If I could fix anything hardware-related, it would be the trackpad. While the abnormally large trackpad on the Galaxy Book 4 Ultra is useful in theory, the off-centered placement of it meant I'd frequently move the mouse or, worse yet, register a click when my palm was simply resting down. 

The trackpad is also a physical one, meaning it presses down instead of mimicking the feel of it via haptic motors like on the MacBook Pro and Dell XPS . As a result, when I did want to click, drag, or tap on something, I had to find the "sweet spot" on the trackpad to register it properly. Otherwise, pressing too close to the corners and edges would oftentimes not register anything at all.

Final thought  

While it's easy to recommend the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Ultra as the "MacBook Pro for Samsung users," several upgrades this year, including the Intel Core Ultra chip for AI applications, touchscreen display, and improved battery life, make the laptop a formidable pickup for just about every Windows user. Just note that if you're a content creator who relies on full-sized SD cards to transfer photos and videos, you'll want to pick up a dongle or docking station to work with the Galaxy Book. There's also no charging port on the laptop's right side, so you'll want to think twice when situating near an outlet.

Alternatives to consider 

Featured reviews.

As a Discovery reviewer you’ll get exclusive access to hundreds of books and be the first to know about upcoming releases. By providing authors with pre-release book reviews and recommending titles to our community of readers, you’ll become a leading voice in promoting the best indie books.

What does it take to become a Discovery reviewer?

If you’re applying to join our review community , we’ll primarily judge your application by your review style. We’re interested in what you have to say and how you say it.

More specifically, we’re looking for:

• a few example reviews that are 300 words or longer and show a range of ratings;
• a clear and engaging writing style that flows naturally; and
• the ability to make sharp, insightful and original observations about the books you’ve read.

Here’s a typical example of what we’re looking for: MiJa

Or, if you’re a BookTuber, we’re looking for:

• a few video reviews that spend at least 3 minutes discussing each book and show a range of ratings;
• insightful, original observations that include both summary and analysis of the books you’ve read;
• a clear and engaging speaking voice;
• high-quality set-up with appropriate lighting, audio, and resolution.

This video will give you a sense of the type of content we’re after: Hollywood Joyride

So if you’re an avid reader with a few (or many) review examples up your sleeve, who likes to go beyond a mere “I loved this book” or “I hated this book,” we’d love to consider your profile!

Are you new to reviewing books? Find out how to get started as a book reviewer with these tips.

How many books do I need to review?

We understand that some months are busier than others, so there are no review quotas to fill as a Discovery reviewer. You can be as active as you’d like on the site!

What formats are books available in?

All books are provided as ebooks, and are available as PDF, EPUB, or MOBI files. You will be able to download the books directly from your Reviewer Dashboard.

Will I receive compensation for my reviews?

In exchange for reviews, you’ll be given free copies of books that haven’t hit the market yet. There’ll also be the opportunity to earn a little extra money in the form of tips from other users, plus other exclusive member perks.

Can I write my reviews using AI tools?

No, we do not accept any reviews that are written using AI tools such as ChatGPT, Bing, or Bard. We will automatically reject applicants whose reviews are written using AI (we do check!) and remove any AI-written reviews from the site.

How much time do I have to write a review?

Review deadlines are unique to each book and are set by the author or publisher. You’ll usually have at least one month to submit your review.

If you pick up a book and realize that you cannot submit the review in time, you have the option of returning it. Having said that, please return the book as soon as possible so another reviewer has a chance to read it before the review deadline.

Can I post reviews of books that are not on Discovery?

Yes, you can. If you’d like to post a review for a book that is not already on Discovery, simply add the book to your Bookshelf before writing your review.

What is Stripe and how do I use it to receive tips?

Stripe is one of the most popular payment processors and our provider of choice on both Discovery and the Reedsy Marketplace . To receive tips from authors and fellow readers, you’ll need to create a Stripe account and connect it to Discovery. Any tips you receive will then be sent securely to your bank account via Stripe. To check if Stripe is supported in your country, head to this page .

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The Culture Warriors Are Coming for You Smart People

In Lionel Shriver’s new novel, judging intelligence and competence is a form of bigotry.

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By Laura Miller

Laura Miller is a books and culture columnist for Slate and the author of “The Magician’s Book: A Skeptic’s Adventures in Narnia.”

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When you purchase an independently reviewed book through our site, we earn an affiliate commission.

MANIA , by Lionel Shriver

As a novelist, Lionel Shriver has made her strongest impressions selecting some hot issue of the day — school shootings, the American health care system, the ballooning of the U.S. national debt — and working it into a well-paced drama about its effects on one family. When this formula works, as it did best with “We Need to Talk About Kevin” (2003), the result can be riveting and also very popular. The intimacy of domestic politics moderates Shriver’s polemical side, which, when given free rein — as during an infamous 2016 speech she gave on cultural appropriation while wearing a sombrero — usually turns out to be smug, crude and obtuse.

In Shriver’s tiresome new novel, “Mania ,” the balance is off. “Mania” is the story of Pearson Converse, an untenured academic who lives with her tree-surgeon partner and three children in a Pennsylvania college town. Most of the novel takes place during an alternate version of the 2010s, when a social-justice fad has been ignited by a best-selling book titled “The Calumny of I.Q.: Why Discrimination Against ‘Dumb People’ Is the Last Great Civil Rights Fight.”

Pearson’s son gets sent home from school for using “the D-word,” now considered a slur. Lawn signs appear in the neighborhood announcing “We support cognitive neutrality.” Student “predators” haunt the literature course Pearson teaches at the local liberal arts college, hungrily searching for any slip-up suggesting that she thinks some people are smarter than others, so they can report her to the administration and get her sacked. Worst of all, Pearson’s best friend from girlhood, Emory Ruth, boosts her TV career by taping editorials endorsing the new ideology known as Mental Parity.

In real life, partisan rancor typically fuels culture-war initiatives like this; in Shriver’s imaginary America, it barely exists. The new ethos gets rapidly and improbably adopted by everybody in every walk of life, regardless of political affiliation. Mental Parity not only borrows from the left’s obsession with egalitarianism, safetyism and language hygiene but also draws on the right’s mistrust of expertise and credentialism; it could have bipartisan appeal if it weren’t so patently absurd.

Soon, Barack Obama is out of favor for being “outstandingly astute, eloquent and well informed,” and replaced by Joe Biden, who makes a point of installing a Treasury secretary who’s “not only an imbecile but an imbecile who was recognizably an imbecile — someone whose speech and affect were conspicuously vacuous.” Similar incompetents are ordered to take out Osama bin Laden, a failed mission that leaves him free to bomb the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum.

Pearson’s partner, Wade, is forced to hire an assistant who knows nothing about arboriculture and drops a branch on him. Because medical degrees are “now handed out as carelessly as shopping fliers,” a young surgeon botches the ankle surgery his injuries require. Then Wade nearly dies after untrained nurses administer the wrong medication and is saved only by a doctor in his 50s, a relic from the good old days who has the temerity to know what he’s doing.

It goes on and on. Cars blow up because they’re built by idiots. Shrewd consumers import their food from overseas to avoid poisoning from unsafe American goods. Any word or phrase ever used as a synonym for “intelligent” (“quick,” “deep”) or stupid (“meatball,” “simple,” “dense”) must be purged from daily usage even when denoting a different meaning. If you want to order a wooden board at a hardware store, you have to ask for one that’s “two inches fat.” Mensa is “the kind of cerebral-supremacist organization” deemed “the greatest threat to American civic order” by no less than the F.B.I. Most fantastically, a child protective services investigator arrives at Pearson’s home because her youngest child reported her mother describing her as less intelligent than her siblings. “Use of language of such a derogatory character with minors,” this pious emissary states, “is classified as child abuse” and “potentially grounds for removing a child to foster care.”

As parody goes, this is ham-fisted stuff. Ironically, “Mania” lacks the discernment required to make it work. Satire demands precision, and Shriver applies an ax to a job calling for a scalpel. Although Shriver has made writing unlikable protagonists into a sort of cottage industry, Pearson is something more, a preeningly self-righteous didact swathed in false modesty about her own supposedly mediocre brain. Like many of Shriver’s narrators, Pearson often speaks or narrates with the sort of affected, antiquated vocabulary of a stock character from a 1930s movie, the portly gentleman in a white three-piece suit, up to no good and puffing on a cigar, played by Sidney Greenstreet. She has an odd, unexplained penchant for alliteration: “At the antediluvian argot, I nearly dropped my mask of stony stoicism.” She is not so much unlikable as simply insufferable.

Pearson’s past as an apostate of the Jehovah’s Witnesses makes her the sworn enemy of cant, and the only language she speaks is invective, so inevitably, she runs ruinously afoul of the new dispensation. Meanwhile, Emory’s star rises. She proves herself the ideal apparatchik on camera while privately snickering with Pearson and Wade over the silliness of Mental Parity, at least at first. The most — really the only — intriguing aspect of the novel is the relationship between these two friends and Pearson’s growing realization that Emory lacks a moral center. Emory herself remains a cipher. Is she a sociopath? Or just an opportunist? If only she were the unlikable narrator to tell this story. That would constitute a stretch for Shriver, imagining the interiority of a character who’s not basically an avatar of herself. That would be a truly daring choice, and dare I say it, a smart one.

MANIA | By Lionel Shriver | Harper | 277 pp. | $30

Explore More in Books

Want to know about the best books to read and the latest news start here..

Salman Rushdie’s new memoir, “Knife,” addresses the attack that maimed him  in 2022, and pays tribute to his wife who saw him through .

Recent books by Allen Bratton, Daniel Lefferts and Garrard Conley depict gay Christian characters not usually seen in queer literature.

What can fiction tell us about the apocalypse? The writer Ayana Mathis finds unexpected hope in novels of crisis by Ling Ma, Jenny Offill and Jesmyn Ward .

At 28, the poet Tayi Tibble has been hailed as the funny, fresh and immensely skilled voice of a generation in Māori writing .

Amid a surge in book bans, the most challenged books in the United States in 2023 continued to focus on the experiences of L.G.B.T.Q. people or explore themes of race.

Each week, top authors and critics join the Book Review’s podcast to talk about the latest news in the literary world. Listen here .

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Lifeline for foreign aid package, speaker’s job up to Democrats

Johnson told Republicans Tuesday morning that combining the bills into one package would force the Senate to consider everything the House passes, Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., said. 

“So you can’t cherry-pick it, and say, ‘Yee-haw, there goes Ukraine,’ and the rest of them get the usual sentence of death from the Senate leadership,” Amodei, a senior appropriator, said.  

The process of merging separate bills into one package after each measure has passed the House separately is known in procedural parlance as a “MIRV” rule. Normally, that’s an acronym for multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle, or a ballistic missile that carries multiple warheads.

The effect is similar on the Senate; after House passage of each bill, the rule, if adopted, provides that they all be attached to the same underlying vehicle before being transmitted to the Senate. House leaders have employed this tool at least 14 times since the mid-1990s, such as one notable attempt in 2000 to attach a small-business tax cut measure to legislation that would increase the minimum wage.

Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., who initially appeared to back Johnson’s piecemeal funding strategy on Monday night, later backtracked when it became clear the speaker was contemplating combining the pieces.

“MIRV — the process used to merge the bills — is about as ridiculous as ranked-choice voting,” Biggs wrote on X, formerly Twitter, late Monday. “The least popular option is the one that wins.”

While Republicans have been willing to put bills with larger bipartisan support on the floor under suspension of the rules, doing so requires a two-thirds majority that may not exist for this package. 

It wasn’t immediately clear how Democrats would handle the situation. While it’s not typical for the minority party to help with rule votes, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, R-N.Y., did allow Democrats to support the rule to ensure that the debt limit suspension law could pass last summer. 

“If they want to get it passed, we might need some help, but it’s their call,” House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., said. 

Minority Whip Katherine M. Clark, D-Mass., said Democrats could help with the rule, but would make that decision after finalizing negotiations with Republicans on the bills’ contents.

“Once that is finalized, then we are going to move to the process discussions,” she said. “But it is certainly on the table as a possibility.” 

A handful of Democrats said leaving their caucus meeting that they would have to see the bill text before deciding whether they would support the rule.

“If they keep them fairly clean. I think a rule would be just fine,” Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., said. “I want to vote for Ukraine aid. I want to make sure we have conditions on offensive weapons in Israel if they’re going to use them with any invasion of Rafah. I support humanitarian aid. So it’s like, how they do all these is really going to matter.”

Johnson said he expects Republicans to finish drafting the bills as soon as Tuesday, which could pave the way for a late Friday vote. The speaker intends to give his members 72 hours to review the legislation before the vote, which would lead to either late Friday night votes or, more likely, votes early Saturday, Amodei said. 

Motion to vacate

Greene set the table for her effort to remove Johnson shortly after the House passed the final fiscal 2024 appropriations package in March, introducing her resolution but not invoking the procedure that would force its consideration.

After Friday, Greene would need just one additional Republican to get on board to remove Johnson if Democrats handle the situation the way they did when Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was removed, declining to throw him a lifeline.

Massie’s Tuesday announcement increased the risk Johnson is facing. Massie wrote on X that Johnson should announce his resignation so House Republicans can select a new speaker without having a gap between House leaders. 

Johnson said at a Tuesday press conference he would not resign, and called the motion to vacate “absurd.” 

“It’s not helpful to the cause,” he said. “It’s not helpful to the country. It does not help Republicans advance our agenda, which is in the best interest of the American people.” 

Once again, the speaker’s fate appears likely to fall to Democrats. Former House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md., said Democrats need to see what Johnson decides to do on the supplemental before making any decisions. 

“I certainly think we ought to not be directed in our House activity by Ms. Greene and Mr. Massie,” Hoyer said. 

Democrats are making decisions one step at a time, Clark said. 

“Leader Jeffries has been very clear — let’s put the substance of this before the process,” Clark said. “We’re going to take this one step at a time. We are out of time and excuses from the Republican Party for ignoring this national security package, and we hope we can get to agreement today on exactly what is going to be in it, and then we’ll move forward and make decisions from there.” 

If Johnson is able to muster the votes for a rule and send the combo package to the Senate, Democrats in that chamber aren’t ruling out taking it up. 

On the floor Tuesday morning, Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., said he is “reserving judgment” on Johnson’s foreign aid package “until we see more about the substance of the proposal and the process by which the proposal will proceed.” 

Schumer called for bipartisan support for Ukraine and Israel funding: “The time for delay is over.”

The White House signaled Tuesday that President Joe Biden is not opposed to House Republican leaders’ piecemeal approach to emergency aid funding for Israel, Ukraine and other allies.

Biden and top aides are “waiting to see the speaker’s plan in detail” and will determine a “best path forward” in consultation with House and Senate Democratic leaders, an administration official said.

Caitlin Reilly, Peter Cohn, Nina Heller, Michael Teitelbaum and John T. Bennett contributed to this report.

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May 9, 2024

Current Issue

The Passion of Martha Graham

May 9, 2024 issue

Martha Graham and Erick Hawkins; illustration by James McMullan

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Errand into the Maze: The Life and Works of Martha Graham

The job of the biographer who sets out to write about a great artist lies in part in resolving the tug-of-war between the life and the work. The two are intimately connected, but a body of work is never fully explained by the experiences, psychology, love affairs, or cultural setting of the person who created it.

As a result, the biographies of choreographers and dancers, like those of any other artist, tend to favor either the person or the creation. Jennifer Homans’s account of George Balanchine, Mr. B (2022), delves far deeper into his emotional life and romantic proclivities than any had before, creating a very different backdrop for the ballets than, say, the classic Bernard Taper biography. Amanda Vaill’s biography of Jerome Robbins, Somewhere (2006), offered a more vivid portrayal of his demons and insecurities than did Deborah Jowitt’s Jerome Robbins: His Life, His Theater, His Dance (2004), which tilted its attention toward the creative process and the dances themselves.

Jowitt’s approach in her new book, Errand into the Maze: The Life and Works of Martha Graham , is similar to the one she took in her Robbins biography. For her, it’s all about the dances; she comes to her subject through her long experience as a critic. After starting out as a dancer and choreographer in the 1950s, Jowitt was the principal dance critic for The Village Voice from 1967 to 2011. She has published several books of criticism, including The Dance in Mind (1985) and Time and the Dancing Image (1988).

So it is no surprise that Errand into the Maze —perhaps Jowitt’s last book, published just a week before her ninetieth birthday—is both thorough and conscientious. The dances are meticulously described, their sources and themes closely analyzed. Graham’s biography, too, is explored in careful detail. But around Graham’s turbulent love life and the emphatic importance she ascribed to sex, sexual pleasure, and her relationships with men, Jowitt exhibits a certain reticence. It is a noble approach, but one sometimes at odds with the fervid content of the dances. The dramas Graham lived out onstage were her own. As she wrote in her memoir, Blood Memory (1991):

Whether it was a dance of consuming jealousy, I Medea and he Jason, or one of tender love like Appalachian Spring , he the Husbandman, I the Bride, it came so close to real life that at times it made me ill.

(The “he” she was referring to was her partner and, briefly, husband, Erick Hawkins.)

Jowitt’s book is the latest entry in a looming tower of Graham literature that includes Neil Baldwin’s lively and engaging but oddly truncated Martha Graham: When Dance Became Modern (2022); Mark Franko’s political and psychological analysis Martha Graham in Love and War: The Life in the Work (2012); Graham’s own memoir; Don McDonagh’s rather dry Martha Graham: A Biography (1974); and various accounts by Graham dancers from different periods, some collected in Goddess: Martha Graham’s Dancers Remember (1997).

The fullest and most spirited portrait of Martha Graham as a woman and an artist is still Martha (1992) by Agnes de Mille, a fellow choreographer and friend who kept close watch as Graham’s life and dances were unfolding, though she never studied with Graham or danced in her company. The two met in 1929, when Graham was thirty-five and de Mille twenty-four, but de Mille had seen her dance even earlier, when Graham was still a student at the school of her teacher and guru Ruth St. Denis, a forerunner of American modern dance. De Mille was certainly not impartial, and knowledgeable readers have pointed out inaccuracies in her account, but she knew Graham intimately. And she writes about her subject with a confidence and verve that are hard to match.

Graham’s name has become synonymous with American modern dance, even though she was not the first to do what she did—Isadora Duncan, Loie Fuller, Rudolf von Laban, and St. Denis paved the way for the revolutionary idea that dance should turn its back on the vocabulary and aesthetics of Western concert dance, i.e., ballet. Nor was Graham the only modern dance innovator of her generation; choreographers in the US and in Europe were creating new forms of expression through movement, including her colleagues and sometime competitors Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman, Lester Horton, and Katherine Dunham, whose choreographic language incorporated her research into Caribbean and African dance. In Germany and Eastern Europe there were others, including Mary Wigman, whose expressionist solos transformed the body into a vessel of emotion bordering on possession.

What set Graham apart from her contemporaries was her success at creating a vocabulary and a style so original, so recognizably hers, that they became embedded in the story of American modern art. As de Mille writes in Martha , she “had to spin this new technique out of her own entrails: a way of moving the arms, a way of moving the legs with the torso, a way of breathing.” It is impossible to mistake Graham dances like Appalachian Spring (1944) and the solo Lamentation (1930) for dances by anyone else, both because of the technique they are built upon—taut, muscular, coiled, and explosive—and because of their tone; even the few lighthearted works are fashioned out of strong, emphatic stuff. (So much so that it is easy to parody their air of importance and heavy-handed symbolism. Danny Kaye, for example, did a hilarious and not inaccurate spoof, “Choreography,” in the 1954 movie White Christmas .) The way she placed the female body and mind at the center of her dances, recognizing her sexual desires as an integral part of her artistic persona—decades before the sexual revolution—was one of her most striking innovations.

There is no pianissimo in Graham. The work’s sense of accentuation and importance, like a series of exclamation points, has helped it survive for almost one hundred years. The Martha Graham Dance Company, based in Greenwich Village, is kicking off its centenary celebrations this spring, two years early, performing works spanning her career, including Appalachian Spring and The Rite of Spring (1984). Dance schools all over the world still teach her technique, which is considered foundational vocabulary for any modern dancer. And yet her company’s performances can have an almost ritualized air: dutiful, flawlessly executed, presented as if through a microscope, but somehow lacking in the electricity that emerges from old films and accounts of performances when Graham was in her prime, in the 1930s and 1940s. “Perhaps,” as the New Yorker dance critic Arlene Croce put it in 1977, “there’s a statute of limitations on how long a work can be depended upon to force itself through the bodies of those who dance it.”

This may be especially true of Graham’s work, connected as it was to her own body and mind. “I choreographed for myself,” she writes in Blood Memory . “I never choreographed what I could not do.” What she could do was in part a function of the specifications of her body, described by Elizabeth Kendall in her book on the birth of American modern dance, Where She Danced (1979): “She was small, with a long torso, short legs, and a longish, serious face.” Graham was strong and flexible. She could kick her leg up high without effort. She could jump straight into the air without visible preparation. As Jowitt describes, she could lower herself backward to the floor in what she called a “back fall” in a single beat, bending her knees so deeply in the process that a normal person would have ended up in the emergency room. She could stand on one leg and fold it beneath her so that the rest of her body descended toward the floor as if riding an elevator, and then rise back up, without shaking or falling over. She could sit on the floor with her legs splayed in front and behind and twist and bend her torso in every direction; she could dive into a deep arabesque headfirst while turning on the other leg. She could do these things despite having begun her training in dance at the impossibly late age of twenty-two. And she was implacable when it came to molding her body and the bodies of her dancers to execute whatever perilous, difficult movements she asked of them.

The technique Graham taught in class came out of the dances she was in the process of creating. As Jowitt explains, “Her physical skills and choices were developing to suit her themes and the times she lived in.” In the late 1920s she was starting to develop the radical works that brought her to the attention of the dance world. They made the bodies of her dancers look like architectural or even geological structures—“bound up,” “iron,” “rock-hewn,” in de Mille’s words. It was during this period that she came upon an idea that would become central to her movement language and to the intense emotions it could express. “Contraction and release,” as it came to be known, isn’t about the legs or the arms but the very center of the body, what we now habitually refer to as the core—the abdominal and pelvic muscles, the diaphragm. The phrase described not just a movement but the thing that keeps us alive and reflects our state of mind: breath.

None of the handful of books about Graham I’ve read explains where the idea of contraction and release came from, probably because she destroyed as much of her writing and correspondence as she could. But it can be boiled down to a way of using the exhalation and intake of breath to create extreme contrasts in the body. Jowitt describes it like this:

As if socked in the solar plexus, the dancer expelled air so deeply that her body became concave, pulling deeper into itself (or she might gasp—the kind of gasp so pulled in and up that the air didn’t fill her lungs.) The inevitable intake of breath restored the body to erectness, the dancer to a waiting Apollonian calm.

And here is de Mille:

The spasm of the diaphragm, the muscles used in coughing and laughing, were used to spark gesture…. The arms and legs moved as a result of this spasm of percussive force, like a cough, much as the thong of a whip moves because of the crack of the handle. The force of the movement passes from the pelvis and diaphragm to the extremities, neck and head.

The result is movement that communicates a heightened state of emotion. It is the difference between the serenity and harmony of a Botticelli and the tension of a Schiele or a Giacometti. Graham told her students, “There is a moment between contraction and a release that must say something either of joy or of sorrow.” In other words, it’s not neutral, like fifth position in ballet or a tap of the heel in Irish dance. “You can take her or leave her,” one of her early reviewers, Mary F. Watkins, wrote in 1931, “but you cannot divert that fixed gaze which looks so intently ahead into a world which is completely hers to explore.”

Though Graham collaborated with a small group of dancers, the technique she developed was meant to facilitate her own expression above all. She remained at the center of the dances, in the role of protagonist, until she was so crippled by arthritis that she could barely get around the stage. “I cannot go on without dancing,” she told a dancer who beseeched her to retire after a catastrophic performance at the age of seventy-six. “The love I receive from the faceless audience I cannot live without.”

Her technique was also built around her subject matter, weighty with ideas. Heretic (1929), one of the first works to reflect the new movement vocabulary she was developing, is about a woman who dares to challenge puritanical convention, represented by an unyielding wall of women clad in stretchy long black dresses that made them look like an art deco frieze. (Evocative costume design was another of her talents.) Twelve women crowd around the figure of Graham, who is dressed in white. They stomp their heels, arms rigidly at their sides or crossed before them. She breaks through their ranks, reaching upward, as if calling upon a higher power. Again they surround her, implacable. She faces them again, now on her knees. Again she is repelled. In the end her confidence is broken, and she collapses backward to the floor. “I felt at the time that I was a heretic,” Graham explained. “I did not dance the way other people danced.”

The music for Heretic , a Breton folk song selected and adapted for the dance by Graham’s first consequential lover and mentor, Louis Horst, a versatile musician who spurred her intellect and helped to round out her musical education, was spare and left long gaps for the dance to proceed in silence. The elimination of dance’s dependence on music was another tenet of Graham’s artistic philosophy. She applied this rule even on the few occasions, like Appalachian Spring , when she was using a truly great score. Graham often choreographed in silence, adding the music later. This idea—that dance and sound should remain independent—marked a definitive break in tradition that would alter the course of avant-garde dance and be expanded upon by choreographers like Merce Cunningham (who danced for a time in Graham’s company) and Trisha Brown.

In Lamentation , Graham turned herself into a moving sculpture as she twisted and bent her body inside a tubelike cotton robe. Her contorted limbs and the stretch lines in the fabric formed a striking illustration of female sorrow. Primitive Mysteries (1931), which Jowitt calls Graham’s first masterpiece, drew on ceremonial Native American dances and processionals by the Penitentes, a Christian confraternity based in the American Southwest, which she visited with Horst as her guide. Graham, again dressed in white, fluttered across the stage, her movements contained by lines, circles, and wedges of women who alternated between gestures of protection, prayer, praise, and horror at their vision of Christ on the Cross. She was the Virgin Mary, and they were her acolytes. Near the end, one of the women created a halo of fingers around Graham’s head, as if prefiguring the Assumption. The music, a simple composition for flute, oboe, and piano, was by Horst, and was added later.

In the 1930s, as fascism rose in Europe and the Spanish Civil War raged, Graham’s work became more political, acquiring gestures of protest ( Chronicle , 1936) and words ( American Document , 1938). But in all these dances, and the ones that followed, a woman—Graham—stood at the center. The dances were about women and offered one woman’s—Graham’s—point of view. The image Graham projected was heroic, often tragic. “I think the Chosen One is the artist,” she said, after dancing in a version of The Rite of Spring in 1930. In her dances, she was always the Chosen One. In Letter to the World (1940) she was Emily Dickinson; in Deaths and Entrances (1943) one of the Brontë sisters; in Appalachian Spring the bride.

As her interest in Greek mythology and Jungian analysis grew—she was a voracious reader and took copious notes before beginning a dance—her range of roles expanded even further, from the embodiment of her own unconscious in Dark Meadow (1946) to Medea, Ariadne, Jocasta, and Phaedra. For these dances she collaborated with the sculptor and designer Isamu Noguchi, whose elemental and organic style suggested the shapes of the subterranean mind. Even in the works in which Graham did not dance, such as Seraphic Dialogue (1955), inspired by the visions of Joan of Arc, the heroine represented a version (or in this case, versions) of her. Over the course of each work, the heroine acquired self-knowledge. As Croce wrote, “No Graham heroine dies unillumined.”

What her post-1939 dances had in common, too, was the inclusion of men, and in particular of one man, Erick Hawkins, a dancer and choreographer fifteen years her junior. In 1938 he first danced with her company, and in 1939 he was officially incorporated into the troupe as its first male dancer. In short order Hawkins became Graham’s lover, partner, and, in 1948, her husband.

Hawkins was tall, handsome, and a good if somewhat stiff dancer. He was a thinker. He also had a temper. De Mille writes, “There was a roughness and a brutality, even savagery, in his nature that spoke to Martha.” Graham immediately saw him as her counterpart in the dances: he became the Husbandman to her Bride, the Jason to her Medea, the Oedipus to her Jocasta. Their separation in 1950 sent her into a spiral of depression and was one of the causes of her alcoholism, which grew ever more severe over the years and led to a health crisis in 1970. (She eventually weaned herself off drinking and died at ninety-six in 1991. Horst, who left the company in exasperation in 1948 but with whom she was able to mend fences, died in 1964.) The end of her relationship with Hawkins was the end of an important chapter for Graham. “There was never anyone after Erick,” she wrote in Blood Memory .

Their love affair was turbulent. Hawkins was presumptuous, high-handed, and the inferior artist. Graham was manipulative, painfully aware of his inferiority, and sometimes cruel. He managed the company for her, and she used him for all sorts of menial tasks. More importantly, she was fundamentally unwilling to share her starring place in the company and in the dances, which Hawkins could not accept. “I want to be able to perform completely on my own and as an equal in M’s company,” he wrote in his journal. He wanted these things despite the fact that his dances were generally poorly received and that the dancers and audience were there because of her work, not his.

Hawkins thought that marrying Graham would elevate him in her eyes and the eyes of the company. Fearing exactly this—she had seen a similar dynamic destroy St. Denis—Graham had always avoided tying herself to a man. She married Hawkins in a moment of weakness after a quarrel and two years before their definitive separation. But she was fundamentally opposed to the institution of marriage. As Mark Franko writes in Martha Graham in Love and War , “Graham saw all women as trapped in the patriarchal prison of marriage leading to childbirth. Her resistance to marriage was a life and death struggle for her own artistic identity.”

“Their relationship affected the life of the company and occasionally tested her authority,” Jowitt writes. (An understatement if ever there was one.) All Graham’s biographers deal at length with her fraught relation with Hawkins, but Jowitt is perhaps the least interested in its Sturm und Drang and how it molded the dances. In Martha Graham: When Dance Became Modern (2022), Neil Baldwin places perhaps too much importance on it, ending his otherwise engaging portrait of Graham just after their separation and relegating four decades of dances to a couple of sentences. (Baldwin is more generous toward Hawkins than most and does him the favor of taking his artistic ideas and aspirations seriously.) De Mille seethes with contempt for him, and she dwells with the most fervor and antipathy on the effects of the Graham–Hawkins entanglement on the company’s morale and eventually on Graham’s self-confidence. She is perhaps a touch unfair. Helen McGehee, who joined the company in the 1940s and stayed for decades, defended Hawkins in a review of de Mille’s book, to a point: “I came to realise that Martha was transferring a lot of the blame for actions that fretted the company from herself to Erick, all the while defending him tooth and claw.”

What is inarguable is that this conflicted sexual passion was poured into the bloodred heart of Graham’s dances. After Hawkins entered her life and company, the heroines were no longer lonesome warriors; their triumphs and dramas became contingent on their relations, fulfilling or destructive, with a male figure. “Her dancing became fraught with sexuality and passion,” de Mille writes. Sex mattered, and was alluded to with a frankness that is still bracing today. Joan Acocella wrote, “It wasn’t just Greek mythology; it was Graham’s life. The treatment varied. In Appalachian Spring , Graham showed us happy sex; in Night Journey tragic sex; in Letter to the World sex refused. Graham never had much fear of sex.” This was not subtext. In Night Journey , a dance in which Jocasta remembers her sexual passion for a man who turns out to be her son, Graham crossed her knees daintily, opened them, closed them, and opened them again. She later called this gesture an invitation “into the privacy of her body…a gesture of invitation for him to come between her legs.” At another moment in the same dance, her torso contracted at Oedipus’s touch; she described this as “the cry from her vagina.” Graham was known to tell her dancers to “dance from the vagina,” a demand that even the male dancers were expected to follow.

The preoccupation with the sexual forces that bind men and women together extended to her use of the other male dancers in her company as well, though with less intensity. In the lighthearted Every Soul Is a Circus (1939), she acted out her attraction to two very different male figures danced by Hawkins and the young Merce Cunningham, who had recently joined the company and who, as a gay man, was beyond her reach. The men often wore very little, and their roles lacked the psychological complexity of the women’s. (The latter was one of Hawkins’s complaints.) The choreographer Paul Taylor, who danced for Graham in the 1950s and early 1960s, joked about the objectification he felt as a male member of the company:

With Martha, the men were the equivalent of a male Barbie doll…. We were sticklike figures who were basically sex objects. We didn’t dare say anything. In fact, I think we kind of liked it.

Take that, men. Graham’s dances were the manifestation of the female gaze in its purest form. The strength required to be a woman artist, the banishment of doubt needed to keep going in the face of incomprehension, the place of desire in the creative act, the need, too, for love—all this is the material of her dances. In Errand into the Maze Jowitt explains them to us with the clarity of a critic experienced in looking intently at dance. But if you want to get a sense of what it was like to be around Graham, to sit at her feet and learn her movement language even as she tore it out of her gut, to suffer her rages, and to see the tumultuous effect of her passions, you might want to look at de Mille’s Martha as well.

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Marina Harss is a dance critic and the author of The Boy from Kyiv: Alexei Ratmansky’s Life in Ballet , which was published last year. (May 2024)

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