An ARC, or Advanced Reading Copy, has several uses. For garnering reviews, especially in media intended to create buzz or library sales, a large scale mailing of ARCs is essential. Most ARCs have the last-to-final edit, though rarely an index or TOC, and a plain cover. The emphasis really is on the quality of the writing and/or information.
For all of the attention on the production of the ARC, authors and publishers often forget the most important step: distilling which publications get the ARC, and which get the book.
Go see the Midwest Book Review, and inhale their excellent list of Pre-Publication and Post-Publication advice, and places to get reviews. Make your Excel sheet to carefully denote the submission guidelines.
If you don't believe in the worth of this, instead of wasting your stamps, just send to Mr. Obie Joe.
