How to Write a Book Review

A book review is not a book report or a summary. It is a critical reaction paper in which you point out strengths and faults

of the material, and how it helped, or did not help, you in understanding the content of the course you are taking.

 

Below is a general outline to follow.  If you read the book, follow this outline and take good notes you should be able
to write a good book review.

A. The book's topic, author and the author's history

Questions to think about:

·         Who is this author? Is he or she considered an expert in this field?

·         Does the author's background, time, or place affect the his conclusions?

·         Do you find any obvious biases?

·         What is the author's point of view or frame of reference (usually in the introduction)?

B. The book's thesis and specific examples of the text.

Questions to think about:

·         What is the major hypothesis?

·         Why was this book written?

·         What are the most important pieces of evidence used to support the major hypothesis?

C. Your objections to the book, and your, contrary views.

Questions to think about:

·         Is the quality of the evidence convincing?

·         Is the evidence adequate in volume?

·         Do others recognize the sources in the field?

·         Are there other works on the same or a similar topic?

·         Does any of the author's information or his conclusion conflict with other books you've read, courses
you've taken or previous assumptions you had of the subject?

·         How would you resolve any conflicts?

D. Selection's impact on you and other readers.

Questions to think about:

·         Were any previous ideas you had on this subject changed because you read this book?

·         Where they reinforced?

·         Would you recommend this book others? Why?