Editorial Policy
BookenDeX separates bibliographic data, recommendation logic, original commentary, and commercial relationships so readers can understand what they are seeing.
Catalog data
Titles, author names, publication details, ISBNs, subjects, and cover references may come from Open Library, Google Books, or other clearly identified bibliographic sources. Because editions vary and public records can contain errors, BookenDeX does not treat every imported field as an editorial claim.
Original reading guides
Reading guides are written specifically for BookenDeX. A guide begins with a defined reader need, states how books were chosen, and explains the strengths, tone, or limitations relevant to that need. The commentary is not copied from publisher descriptions, retailer pages, or public reviews.
Recommendation approach
Recommendations may consider the words in a reader's search, genre, tone, pace, length, themes, popularity, and available catalog metadata. Popularity can influence a list but does not automatically determine it. BookenDeX aims to place widely known titles beside less obvious choices.
Independence from commercial links
A book does not earn a better editorial position because a retailer or service may pay a referral commission. Affiliate eligibility, retailer availability, and commission rate are not selection criteria for reading guides. When affiliate links become active, they will be disclosed clearly and will not change the editorial explanation.
Health, spiritual, and sensitive subjects
Books involving mental health, trauma, spirituality, or other personal subjects are presented as reading choices, not diagnoses or professional instructions. Guides identify major tone differences and encourage readers to respect their own capacity and seek qualified help when appropriate.
Corrections
BookenDeX will correct confirmed errors in original editorial content. Catalog errors may also be corrected locally or through the relevant source record. Corrections can be reported through the Contact page or by emailing admin@bookendex.com.
Updates
Guides may be revised as the catalog improves, errors are found, or a clearer recommendation becomes available. Material changes should preserve the guide's original reader-centered purpose rather than silently turning it into an advertisement.