I received a book in the mail. A review copy, from the author. A nonfiction account of one man’s career in aviation, as a bomber pilot in World War II and, after the war, as a crop duster.

I did not request this book. I am not interested in aviation. I don’t like airplanes, noisy machines that pollute the skies. I especially dislike airplanes that drop bombs on people. And I am opposed to crop dusting. So I was not inclined to regard this book favorably.

The book was a class act. Well done, with lots of glossy pictures of airplanes. Easily a 5-star book for an aviation enthusiast. But I was not willing to give it 5 stars. It would be dishonest to suggest that I enjoyed the book.

It would be unfair to trash the book simply because of my personal biases. A book review is supposed to be an objective appraisal. And it would be bad manners to punish the author for sending me a free book at his expense.

So what to do? How to rate this book?

I punted. Recused myself. I posted online an honest description of the book, minus a star rating. What else could I do? I donated the book to a local library, which was delighted to get it.