How to Use the New York Times Book Review

After a quick glance at the book review section of the New York Times, you might be tempted to recycle it with the rest of the paper. Mistake! There are a multitude of ways in which this part of the Sunday paper can serve you, so hang on to it.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

How to Use the New York Times Book Review

1. Read through the bestseller lists so that you are aware of what people are reading. What are the latest mysteries everyone seems to be talking about? You’ll find their titles and a one-sentence summary for each. You’ll also find the newest diet fads, how-to trends and celebrity bios. Take a quick look at the bestseller list and you will be ready for the next dinner-party book conversation without opening a cover.

2. As you come across titles in the book review section, keep a couple of running lists of books you would like to read. Make one list for works of fiction, noting the names of authors as well as the individual titles. For your non-fiction list, keep a list of titles as well as information on the subject matter. This way, if you decide to look for a particular book at the library or to buy a book online, you’ll be able to easily search others by the same author or on the same subject. For example, perhaps you can’t get John Grisham’s newest novel, but you might come across another one of his books you haven’t read. You might not find the newest book you were looking for on the Industrial Revolution, but you might come across other titles you hadn’t known about.

3. Scour the section for gift ideas. Between the book reviews and the advertisements, almost any issue will be full of ideas for everyone on your gift list. You will even usually find books among those children’s books reviewed suitable for kids of all ages.

4. Make a gift list for yourself. When Aunt Sally asks what you want for your birthday, you might just say, “Actually, there is a book I’ve read about recently that I think I would enjoy reading,” People appreciate being able to buy others something they particularly would like to have—and new books are usually fairly easy to purchase.

5. Clip reviews of books to mail (or scan and e-mail). As you come across something newly published that you think would be of interest to a friend or relative, send it along with a note letting the person know you are thinking of them.

6. Tuck a copy of the New York Times book review in your travel bag. You’ll find that small as it is to pack, it will be filled with dense interesting and educational reading. (And you’re sure to impress the traveler in the next seat.)