From time to time, somebody asks me how on earth or why on earth we published a particular book. The easy thing to say is that I wasn't involved in the decision (which is true in 99% of cases) but that feels like a cop out. Ultimately, if the book carries the Macmillan or Picador (or whatever imprint) name I am responsible to some degree. I try to explain that it seems to me that there are three main criteria for deciding whether to publish a particular book, in no particular order;

It is a good book - well-written, accurate, timely etc;

It is by an author whose career we want to be associated with in the long term;

It might make money.

I don't think all three criteria have to be fulfilled on every occasion but it's usually a good idea if two of them are. I believe the bulk of what we publish passes this test. If none is fulfilled by a particular book, then the only response to a complainant is 'we got it wrong.'

What I hope we never do is make editorial decisions based on internal prejudices. There is a row brewing in the USA as described in this New York Times article. The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy is published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux next month. The article from which it was derived which describes how the Jewish lobby effectively controls US policy was attacked for implied anti-semitism but the team at FSG clearly think the book is important and defensible irrespective of criticism. And all power to their elbow.

Meanwhile, just a few blocks away from FSG (Union Square, New York City), the team at Palgrave Macmillan USA (Flatiron Building) are preparing for the publication of The Deadliest Lies: the Israel lobby and the myth of Jewish control which argues just the opposite as described in the NYT article.

I have no doubt that there are many people who think that one or other of these books should not have been published. Personally, I think they both fulfil all three criteria and I am proud that they are both published by companies within the Holtzbrinck Group of which Macmillan is a part. Freedom to express opinions, however controversial, is part of our role as publishers.