I reviewed an oreilly book.
The process was well run, and most of my suggestions were acted upon by the editors/authors. Everyone was quite professional.
Compensation was de minmus, plus a copy of the book.
I strongly suspect that tech books do not sell as well as they did 25 years ago, and most tech books make little if any profit. There's an advantage to the publisher in having a wide variety of titles for a subscription service (I loved having a safari subscription), but, at least for me, the days of buying a giant and expensive tech book for just a few relevant chapters are over.
So the addressible market is smaller, and compensation is generally lower, though there are still indirect rewards
I strongly suspect that tech books do not sell as well as they did 25 years ago
I would think that goes without saying, tho I have no data.
though there are still indirect rewards
Yeah..."wrote an O'Reilly book on X" is a good way to move to the front of the interview line when X is a requirement. I've interviewed a couple of O'Reilly authors and currently work with one. Regardless of their other virtues and vices, they knew their topic.
Compensation was de minmus, plus a copy of the book.
I strongly suspect that tech books do not sell as well as they did 25 years ago, and most tech books make little if any profit. There's an advantage to the publisher in having a wide variety of titles for a subscription service (I loved having a safari subscription), but, at least for me, the days of buying a giant and expensive tech book for just a few relevant chapters are over.
So the addressible market is smaller, and compensation is generally lower, though there are still indirect rewards