Cambridge University Press has created a guide to give a practical introduction to conducting effective peer reviews, especially for those who are new to the process. Below is some information from within, but please download the full guide (available on this page).

Peer review is an integral component of publishing the best quality research. Its purpose is to:

1. Aid in the vetting and selection of research for publication, ensuring that the best work is taken forward.
2. Provide suggestions for improving books that go through review, raising the general quality of the final product.
3. Validate the author's intended audience for the book, informed by disciplinary expertise.

Note: While the information here is generally applicable to all publishers with standard peer review practices, it's important to ensure that you take into account any specific instructions given by the particular editor you are reviewing for.

Why peer review?

As well as contributing to the quality of the research corpus in your field, conducting peer reviews can benefit your own career as a researcher. These benefits include:

1. Learning more about the editorial process.
2. Keeping up to date with novel research in your field.
3. Having an opportunity to demonstrate your expertise in a field.
4. Many publishers provide direct incentives to reviewers, such as payments in the form of discounts on books and access to content.