BOOK / BOOK CHAPTER REVIEW GUIDELINES

A book review is a critical evaluation of a book. A book review does not only tell you
what a book is about, but whether it achieves what it is trying to do by making an
argument. Themostimportantelementofareviewisthatitisa commentary, not merely a
summary. Therefore, a book review is more than a summary of the content (even
though this is an important component), but a critical analysis of the book and your
reactions to it.

While you are reading the book, take notes about the following issues:

- What is the author’s main goal in writing this book? (Convince you of his position
on a controversy? Explain the background of an event?Raise awareness of a
particularissue?)
- What are the author’s mainpoints?
- What kind of evidence does the author provide to make his or her points? How
convincing is thisevidence?
- Is the book well written? (Easily understandable? Goodstyle?)
- What group of readers would find this book most useful (Lay people? Students?
Experts in the area?)

THE COMPONENTS OF A BOOK (CHAPTER) REVIEW:

1) Introduction (one or twoshort paragraphs)

- Bibliographic information (author, title, date of publication, publisher, number

ofpages, type of book)
• Who is the author and where he/she stands in the genre or field of
inquiry.
• Link the title to the subject to show how the title explains the subject
matter.
- The context of the book and /or your review – place it in a framework that makes
sense to the reader
- Brief overview of the theme, purpose and yourthesis about the book

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 2) Summary of the content (about half a page or one page)

- Brief summary of the key points of each chapter or group ofchapters

- Back up your assertions with concrete evidence from the book
- A relevant description of the topic and its overall perspective, argument or purpose
- Paraphrase the information, but use a short quote whenappropriate

3) Critical assessment or evaluation and conclusion (about one page)

- Your reactions to the work under review: what strikes you as noteworthy, whether
or not it was effective or persuasive, and how it enhanced your understanding of the
issues at hand
- Give your opinion about the book. Is the book easy to read or confusing? Is the
book interesting, entertaining, instructive? Does the author support his arguments
well? What are the book’s greatest strengths and weaknesses? Who would you
recommend the bookto?
- In short:
• Identify the positive and/or negative points or discussions or aspects
• Explain why you think they are positive or negative
• Provide evidence for your evaluation

4) Conclusion (half a page)

- Summary of your evaluation: brief opinion of the book and the final judgement
regarding the book
- Do not introduce new evidence for your argument
- You can introduce new ideas that go beyond the book if the extend the logic of your
own thesis
- This paragraph is to balance the book’s strengths and weaknesses

5) Recommendation (a few sentences)

- Suggest whether or not the audience would appreciate it

6) Reference list (separate paper)

- Include a list of the sources, under the heading ‘reference list’ at the end of your
review. You include the list even if you have only one item in the list.

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