A book review is a critical evaluation of a book. Most importantly, a review makes an argument. A review is a commentary, not merely a summary. Through the review, you enter into dialogue and discussion with the author and with your audience (which is an imagined academic audience of scholars who might be professionally interested to read the selected book). You can offer agreement or disagreement and identify where you find the work exemplary or deficient in its knowledge, judgements, or organisation. State your opinion about the book in question clearly.
A strong book review
1) gives the reader a concise summary of the book. This includes a relevant description of the topic as well as its overall perspective, argument, or purpose.
2) A review offers a critical assessment of the book. This involves 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.
A book review is not a literature review. Bear in mind that you only have 750 words and that most book reviews do not reference other work (including the example provided at the end of this guidance document).
How to structure the book review:
What is the thesis—or main argument—of the book? If the author wanted you to get one idea from the book, what would it be? What has the book accomplished?
What exactly is the subject or topic of the book? Does the author cover the subject adequately? Does the author cover all aspects of the subject in a balanced fashion? What is the approach to the subject (topical, analytical, chronological, descriptive)?
How does the author support her argument? What evidence does the author use to prove her point? Do you find that evidence convincing? Why or why not? Does any of the author’s information (or conclusions) conflict with other books you’ve read, courses you’ve taken or just previous assumptions you had of the subject?
How does the author structure his/her argument? What are the parts that make up the whole? Does the argument make sense? Does it persuade you? Why or why not?
** Use examples from the book and cite the pages used **