BookBrowse interviews longtime reviewer and history BookTuber Peggy Kurkowski about the enduring power of thoughtful reviews, how the literary landscape has evolved, and why history remains her greatest teacher.
For access to the full recording as well as live access to future industry insider discussions, become a Book Club+ Member today.
Who Is Peggy Kurkowski?
From BookBrowse Reviewer to Multi-Publication Writer
BB: Peggy, many BookBrowse members already know you from your reviews, but could you tell us a little about your background?
Peggy: I’m a senior content marketing copywriter for a nonprofit higher-ed technology association, and I’ve been with the company about seventeen years. I’ve also been part of the BookBrowse community for quite a while—I came on board as a reviewer back in the days of Davina and I’ve been here ever since. I love what we do as readers, reviewers, and as a community.
BB: And you also write for several national publications, right?
Peggy: Yes! I write for Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Foreword Reviews, Shelf Awareness, the Washington Independent Review of Books, and a few others. I’m also the U.S. Reviews Editor at Historical Novels Review for the Historical Novel Society.
The Rise of The History Shelf on YouTube
BB: Beyond the written word, you’ve built quite a following on YouTube. How did that come about?
Peggy: About six years ago I started my YouTube channel, The History Shelf. I realized there were hundreds of BookTube channels talking about YA or fantasy—but hardly any focusing on history or nonfiction. My partner said, ‘Be the channel you wish you could find,’ so I did. I was nervous at first, but then I found a community of readers who said, ‘Thank you, you’re talking about history books!’
Peggy: I’m around nineteen-thousand subscribers now. That’s small compared to some, but I’ve found my people. I feature new releases, talk about military and historical nonfiction, and share what I’m reading. I always remind viewers: if you want to see my written reviews, follow me on my socials—that’s where I post links to the outlets I write for.
Why Book Reviews Still Matter
The Reviewer’s Perspective
BB: In an era of social media and influencer lists, why do you think book reviews are still important?
Peggy: Book reviews give you a sense of what you can expect from a book—and critically tell you whether you want to spend money on it. There are so many books out there, and we all can’t afford to get the latest one. A good review helps you decide: do I buy the hardcover now, wait for the paperback, or request it from the library?
Peggy: A long-form review, like those at BookBrowse, is an act of reading the book in miniature. You’re getting the main points, the atmosphere, and a sense of the author’s approach.
The Publisher’s Perspective
BB: Have publishers’ attitudes toward reviews changed over the years?
Peggy: Not really—they’re still hungry for reviews. It’s the best mechanism they have for pushing a book and selling a book. Librarians rely on objective reviews to know what to stock, and publicists are constantly looking for new outlets. That hasn’t dimmed at all.
The Reader’s Perspective
BB: And what about readers—why do bylines matter?
Peggy: Having a byline is really important. It gets you recognized, puts your name out there. When I read other reviewers, if I like the way they write and summarize, I carry that name with me. Readers start to trust certain reviewers—just like I do with The New York Review of Books or London Review of Books. If I see a byline I like, I know I have to read that review.
How the Landscape of Reviewing Has Changed
The Rise of Indie Authors and Self-Publishing
BB: How has the landscape evolved in the past decade?
Peggy: We’re seeing an explosion of new voices—different cultures, religions, and experiences that I didn’t grow up reading in America. It’s made me a more educated reader. And with self-publishing, everyone now feels like they can write a book—and that’s not a bad thing. It’s contributed to the larger number of titles being published.
The Role of Social Media and BookTube
Peggy: Publicists still want reviews, but now it’s also about putting those blurbs on blast through social media. I share links and tag the author, the publisher, and the outlet. It’s another way to get the word out. I joke that I might need to hire a twelve-year-old to handle my posts; it takes time but it matters.
The Decline in Pleasure Reading — and Why It Matters
BB: You mentioned fewer people reading for pleasure. What do you make of that trend?
Peggy: It’s such a sad thing. I think attention spans are shorter, everything’s on a screen, always scrolling. Books are the opposite of that; they ask you to slow down. I just try to lose myself in a hard copy every chance I get. Reading makes you a more reflective, grounded person.
Inside Peggy’s Review Process
Annotating, Analyzing, and Revising
BB: Walk us through your process when reviewing a book.
Peggy: For nonfiction I like a physical galley. I underline, use index cards as bookmarks, and jot notes: ‘include in review’ or ‘theme mentioned again.’ The first read is an information dump. Then I go back and decide what’s most valuable for readers. And then I revise—half of the writing is revising.
Peggy: With fiction, I don’t annotate as much. I look for character development, lyricism, and how I felt while reading. Long-form reviews let me quote passages so readers can hear the author’s voice—that’s key.
Balancing Honesty and Kindness in Reviews
BB: How do you handle writing a negative review?
Peggy: It’s hard, because I feel for writers—it takes courage to write a book. My editor at Independent Book Review taught me the ‘sandwich method’: intro and summary, then one good thing, then the critique, and end with something positive again. Positive–negative–positive. No snark. I want to see people succeed.
Beyond the Book: Digging Deeper into Context
BB: You’ve also written many Beyond the Book articles for BookBrowse. How do you approach those?
Peggy: It’s such a unique thing—no other publication I write for does that. While reading, I’m always thinking: what would make a good Beyond the Book topic? Something eye-opening or little-known. For The Covenant of Water, I wrote about the St. Thomas Christians of India—a community I hadn’t known existed. I love that part because it lets me be the nerdy historian who gets to dig deeper.
Lessons from The History Shelf
Building a Community Around Nonfiction
BB: What do you enjoy most about your YouTube work?
Peggy: The discussions! People comment with their own book recommendations, and I learn from them. It’s a wonderful way to make new friends and engage with other readers.
Navigating the YouTube Algorithm (Without Losing Your Soul)
BB: How much do you focus on optimizing your content for youtube’s algorithm?
Peggy: I know to use hashtags and keywords, but honestly I’m not there to go viral or make money. I just want to share good books. I’d rather have a genuine conversation with 50 engaged viewers than chase clicks.
Why History—and Book Reviews—Still Matter
History as the Greatest Teacher
BB: Let’s close with the big one: why history?
Peggy: It’s cliché, but true: history is the greatest teacher. You don’t know where you’re going unless you know where you’ve been. Every time people say, ‘Things have never been this bad,’ I think to myself: let’s look at the 1300s and the Black Plague! Reading history gives perspective and helps bring the temperature down.
Books as Connection and Continuity
Peggy: History is humanity, both macro and micro. It shows how we’re all connected. Reading about what others have lived through makes you a better person. The good and the bad—it’s all there—and books let you engage with it critically and compassionately.
Conclusion
Book reviews, as Peggy Kurkowski reminds us, remain vital threads in the fabric of reading culture. They guide readers, support authors, and preserve a thoughtful conversation about books in a world that moves faster every day.
Explore Peggy’s reviews at BookBrowse.com or visit her YouTube channel, The History Shelf. For access to the full recording as well as live access to future industry insider discussions, become a Book Club+ Member today.
