Doing a non-fiction book review
Before starting a book review, it is important to know what a book review is.
A book review consists of information from or about a book and the reviewer’s reaction to it.
There are many things than can be included in a book review and these can be categorised under
the following 12 headings:
1
DETAILS of the book
7
CONTEXT of the book
2
AUTHOR of the book
8
SCOPE of the book
3
SUMMARY of the book
9
PERSPECTIVE of the author
4
FORMAT of the book
10
MAIN THESIS proposed by the author
5
STYLE of the writing
11
EVIDENCE supporting the main thesis
6
AUDIENCE for the book (and main purpose)
12
CONCLUSION of the book
1. Quickly look through the notes below which provide brief information and useful questions for
each of these 12 categories. This will give you an idea of what to look for and think about when
you read the book.
what to do:
2. Print out the template for collecting information and ideas for a non-fiction book review. You
can find this on the Disability Advisory Service web page under Study Skills.
3. Before reading the book, read about the book. Search for concise information about the
book. Try to find short reviews that have already been written. Make some notes in the
appropriate box in the template. This will prepare you to read the book. It will help because you
will already know the main themes, arguments etc.
4. Read the book. Make relevant and concise notes in the template. These notes should include
some information about the book and your ideas (discussion).
If you don’t have time to read the whole book, skim read it: read the Preface, Introduction,
chapter summaries or conclusions etc. Look for specific details or examples that you can discuss.
You don’t have to make notes in any particular order (in fact, you don’t need to read the book
you are reviewing in any particular order) just put the notes in the most appropriate boxes.
5. Look over your notes periodically and try to identify sections for your book review.
6. When you have finished reading, look at your notes and decide how many sections your book
review is going to have and draw up an outline structure for your book review.
7. Use your notes to write your book review (you don’t have to write it in any particular order).
why this
approach
might be
helpful for
students:
 It gives a clear focus on what to consider before reading a book for review.
 Making notes of information and ideas in a template encourages you to make notes that are
relevant and concise.
 Seeing the notes in boxes will make it easier to structure (order) your review.
A book review is not a book report. A book review needs discussion as well as description. In
fact, discussion is much more important than descriptions about the book.
A book review can be structured (ordered) in different ways. A short (1,000 word) review, for
example, would not have space for long introductions or conclusions. An example structure (for
notes:
a 2,000 word book review) is provided below and you can use this for guidance.
Many book reviews are short (often 1,000 words or less) so it is important to be selective. You do
not have to answer all the questions suggested below. Use them as a guide and try to decide
which ones are most important for your particular book review.
1
Peter Lia Learning Support Tutor King’s College London

Below are the things you might include in a non-fiction book review. They are separated into 12
categories. Some information and questions are given for each category.

Although some of these questions may suggest description of the book, you must always be analytical in
your thinking, so ask questions about the notes you make and write down relevant ideas. Use specific
information or examples from the book to support the points you want to make.

Your book review will have a word limit, so it is important to be selective and address only those
questions you think are most important.

You can make your notes in the template for making notes for a non-fiction book review. You can find
the template on the DAS web page under Study Skills.
DETAILS
of the book





What is the title?
How does the title relate to its topic?
When was the book published? Is this significant?
Where (in which country, region) was the book published? Is this significant?
Who (which institution) published the books? Is this significant?
AUTHOR
(or authors)
of the book





What is the author's name?
What is the status of the author in relation to the topic of the book?
What relevant qualifications does the author have?
Is there any relevant background information about the author?
Has the author published any relevant previous works?
In a short book review, keep any summary very brief (you may decide not to include a
summary and refer to parts of the book throughout your review).
SUMMARY
of book
In a longer review, the summary can give a concise overview of the book, and, if
necessary, can be broken down to reflect the sections or chapters of the book.
Most reviews SHOULD NOT include long, descriptive summaries; book reviews require
discussion, so keep this part as short as possible.
You could consider any of the format (structural) elements of a book:
Preface
Table of Contents
Sections
Chapter headings
Chapter introductions
Chapter conclusions
Chapter summaries
Visual displays of information or ideas (tables, graphs, maps, charts etc.)
Index
FORMAT
of the book
However, it is unlikely that most book reviews will go into such detail.
Only comment on any format elements in order to discuss their value.
You might consider some of the following questions:




2
How is the book organised and does this help the reader understand it?
Is the organisation of the book logical or confusing?
Do the visual elements of the book (e.g. maps) help understanding?
Could the book have been structured or presented in a better way?
Peter Lia Learning Support Tutor King’s College London
You might comment on the author's writing style in order to discuss whether the book is
well written and easy or difficult to understand.
STYLE
of the
writing






AUDIENCE
for the book
(and main
PURPOSE of
the book)



Is the writing style formal or informal?
Is the writing style technical and difficult to understand without knowledge of the subject?
Is the writing style emotional and persuasive?
Is the writing style logical or confusing?
Is the writing pragmatic (realistic and practical) or dogmatic (theoretical and opinionated)?
Is the writing descriptive or analytical (if both, what is the balance)?
What is the author's main purpose for writing the book (e.g. is it a course textbook)?
Does the book have a clearly defined and specific audience in mind? For example, is the
book written for the general public, students at a specific level, academics, experts in the
field, practitioners etc.?
Does the book suit the needs of the audience that it is intended for (e.g. if it is a textbook
will students like it, if it is a book for practitioners will they find it useful)?
CONTEXT
of the book





How does the book relate or compare to other works about the same topic?
How does the book relate or compare to other works about related topics?
What kind of contribution does the book make (or attempt to make) in its field?
Is the book about a current debate (e.g. globalisation, immigration, the use of social media)?
Is the book about a non-current or historical debate (e.g. dualism, the Roman Empire)?
SCOPE
of the book







Does the book aim to provide an overview of a larger topic?
Does the book have a clear focus?
Does the book look at a specific individual, idea, place, time period?
Does the book make a comparative analysis (e.g. between different places or time periods)?
Is the scope of the book sufficient to deal with the topic?
Does the book leave anything out that it should have considered?
Does the book acknowledge its own limitations?
A book may base its information, ideas and arguments on a theory (or set of theories).
Perspective can include an almost limitless range of theories such as: liberalism,
socialism, Marxism, structuralism, post-structuralism, psychoanalysis, modernism, postmodernism, post-colonialism, feminism, queer theory etc.
You might consider some of the following questions:
PERSPECTIVE
of the author


Does the author use a theoretical perspective or theoretical framework?
Is the theoretical perspective a useful tool (e.g. does it give new insights in the topic)?
If it is not stated by the author, it may be difficult to identify a specific theoretical
perspective. You might consider some of the following questions:




3
From what point of view is the work written (e.g. economic, political, historical)?
Is the author biased or subjective?
Does the author omit facts, ideas and alternative arguments?
Is the author objective (are alternative views considered)?
Peter Lia Learning Support Tutor King’s College London

What is the author's main thesis (i.e. main argument)?
The main thesis could be things like:
MAIN THESIS
proposed by
the author
cause and effect (e.g. arguing that pollution is causing negative climatic effects)
establishing a relationship (e.g. a relationship between poverty and crime)
comparison (e.g. arguing that one form of society is morally superior to another)
proposing or supporting an idea (e.g. that humans are predisposed to act in certain ways)





What method does the author use to put forward the main thesis of the book (i.e. what
approach is used)? This might be a case study, research or application of a theoretical tool
etc. (this point can also be discussed under Evidence)
Does the author begin with the main thesis or work towards it?
Is the thesis a new idea?
Is the thesis a confirmation of pervious knowledge or does it build on previous knowledge?
Is there more than one main argument (i.e. does the author propose a number of ideas)?
This is one of the most important parts of a non-fiction book review. By discussing the
evidence, you are trying to assess the validity of the author's thesis and therefore, the
authority or value of the book. You might consider some of the following questions:

What types of evidence does the author use to support the thesis or the ideas in the book?
Types of evidence used to support an argument can include:
theories and arguments from other writers in the field
primary research carried out by the author (empirical evidence)
secondary research referred to by the author (empirical evidence)
policy documents
practice examples
recent events
legislation
case studies
scenarios (what if…)
logical reasoning used by the author
EVIDENCE
supporting
the main
thesis






Does the author use primary or secondary evidence, or both?
Does the author use a variety of sources or just a few (or rely too much on a single source)?
Is the evidence clearly referenced and are the sources reliable?
How accurate do you think the evidence is?
Is the evidence strong or weak? For example, do you think the evidence ‘proves’ an
argument (strong) or just supports it (less strong)?
Does the author make assumptions without evidence (weak)?
Does the author make a strong or weak link between the evidence given and the argument
made (i.e. is the argument convincing in an academic sense, not an emotive one)?
Are the sources of evidence used old or new?



Does the book come to any clear conclusions?
Does the book outline and discuss the consequences of the main thesis?
Does the book point to future developments of the topic?


CONCLUSION
of the book
4
Peter Lia Learning Support Tutor King’s College London
Example structure of a 2,000 word book review
Introduction of the book review
It gives some ideas of what can
be discussed in each section of
a review.
You can write the sections in
any order and the put them
together afterwards.



200


give a summary of the book, but keep description brief & relevant
discuss the structure (format) of the book
discuss the writing style used by the author
discuss the intended audience & main purpose of the book
discus the context of the book relevant to other books/sources
about the same topic
discuss the scope and focus of the topic covered
900
The main thesis (argument) & the evidence used to support it





discuss the approach used by the author
discuss any perspective used by the author
discuss main issues addressed by the author
discuss, in detail, the main thesis/argument
discuss, with specific examples, the evidence used
Conclusion of the book
200
It may be useful to write the
introduction of your book
review last (so you know how
many words you have left).
This should stop you from
making the introduction too
long.

The book in its field of study

discuss the conclusion(s) reached by the author
Conclusion of the book review
150
It may be useful to first decide
how many sections your book
review will have. Most reviews
are unlikely have more than 58 sections (including the
introduction and conclusion).
the title of the book & how this relates to the topic of the book
the book’s main aim & its intended audience
briefly state any perspective used (e.g. a theoretical framework)
briefly state the main issues addressed
briefly state the main thesis or argument
state any relevant details about the book (e.g. date it was written)
state any relevant information about the author
Structure of the book (format) and style of the author
Approximate number of words
for each section is also
included as a guide.
A book review would not
normally include headings
(although longer ones can) so
these are given as a guide.







Summary of the book
200
The structure on the right is an
example of the order of
sections in a book review of
2,000 words.
200
Once you have collected
information and your ideas
about the book, you can order
the book review in a number
of ways.
150
There is no set structure for
writing a book review.





Is the book is worth reading?
Does the book do what it says it is going to do?
Does the book make a valuable contribution to its field of study?
What are the particular strengths of the book?
What are the particular weaknesses or limitations of the book?
In your book review:
 do not just summarize the book or just describe details (discuss the value, limitations, consequences etc.)
 do not try to include everything (you will have to meet a word count so be selective)
 do not use too many quotes from the book
 do not present a one sided, subjective view of the book (give a balanced account)
5
Peter Lia Learning Support Tutor King’s College London