How to write a review
• Set the book in context. When, where and if
possible why was it written. Tell us a little
about the author and his/her objectives. [It
often helps to read the preface/introduction to
find this information]. Set in the context of
Sociology/Anthropology.
What
kind
of
Sociology is it, how what field does it cover,
and how does in relate to other fields. What is
the purpose of the book? What are the
authors objectives. Authors will try and locate
themselves with reference to schools of
thought, sub-disciplines, and previous works.
How to write a review
• Describe the book, its contents and structure.
Give the reader an idea of the principle points of
the book. It may or may not be a chapter by
chapter description, but try a give the logical of
the organisation of the book as well as the
principle points of each major section. What are
the authors conclusions, how does he/she sum
up the work. What does the author think they
have revealed for the reader in the course of the
book.
How to write a review
• Evaluate the book. Does the book
achieve the author’s objectives. What
have you learnt from the book. What
standing does the book have in the range
of books – a master piece, a classic, a
useful contribution, a book of its time, a
partial or limited insight?
How to write a review
• Internet sources on advice on book
reviews. [both these are about fiction
reviewing but the principles are the same].
• http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/Cri
Nonfiction.html#introducing
• http://www.lavc.edu/Library/bookreview.ht
m
Advice on reviewing 1
• The audience reading your review will be
checking out opinions about the book to see
what other intelligent readers think about that
work.
• Show that you have read the book. A glowing
recommendation or scathing condemnation
means nothing if the reader doesn't believe
you've read the entire book.
Advice on reviewing 1
• Add a critical insight. If the book touches you in
a certain way, be detailed about what that way
was.
• The less specific a review is, the less trustworthy
it is.
Examples:
• BAD: "This book moved me, and touched me, and
told a great story."
• BETTER: "The story of this family's adventure has a
great deal to teach us about togetherness, and solitude.
As an empty-nester dealing with these issues myself, I
found this book very enlightening."
• EVEN BETTER: "The underlying themes of the
novel -- that solitude is necessary even in a tight family
unit, and that togetherness is actually a complex fabric
that weaves both solitude, circumstance, and choice in
the pattern of time's passage -- are what remained with
me, long after I had finished the compelling story and
put down the book."
Another guide to reviewing
• Read the whole book. That is the very least you
owe the author. You can’t make a judgment on
what they have done until you know all of it.
• Review the book in front of you, not the book
you wish they had written. You can and should
point out shortcomings or failures, but don’t
criticize the book for not being something it was
never intended to be.
• Think clearly about who the audience
for the review is. Is this for a librarian
who wants to know if s/he should buy
the book for their collection? Is this
review for students looking for
information on a particular topic, or for
travellers searching for a good read?
• If possible, compare the book to others
in the genre or field of study. That helps
any reader.
• Criticize clearly and specifically but gently. A
bad book takes as long to write as a good
one, and each book is someone’s baby. But a
reviewer is charged to make a critical
judgment, and fails if s/he does not do so.
• Be precise in your language. If this is the
best book you have ever read, say so, and
say why. If it is yet another nice little book on
a nice little topic, say that, too. Find the words
to say what you mean: the author did, and so
should you.
• Don’t be cowed by a famous name. Even
famous writers sometimes do mediocre
books.