How to Become a Good Book Critic
When reviewing books, it is important not to have any preconceived notions about the author's personality or his work before reading the book. As such, it is best not to read too many reviews that have already been done on the book you're about to review. Also, write the book review from an analytical perspective so readers can get a detailed, but fair assessment of the book.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Mention both strengths and weaknesses of the book. This is especially beneficial if the author is arguing for a certain claim in the book. For example, if an author claims that America was not founded on Judeo-Christian values, you may say that there were elements of secularism in the founding of America, but it is still true that some of the early colonists considered religion an important part of America's founding.
-
2
Discuss the main points of the book. You don't want to spend too much time focusing on the minor details when critiquing books. Readers want to know the main topics of the book. This is why it's important to take notes when reading books for review.
-
-
3
Review books on topics that may be outside your comfort zone. While you don't want to review books on topics in which you have little interest, you might be able to offer a fresh perspective on books that do not fall into your prime area of interest. For example, if your area of interest is gender issues in contemporary Europe, you can review some books that deal with gender issues in Latin America or Africa.
-
4
Discuss the author's style. Point out the intended target audience, whether the book is written in a formal or informal tone, and if the author makes the concepts clear to the reader.
-
5
Discuss the author's research methods. Explain whether or not you agree with the research subjects who were chosen for the interviews in the book. Also discuss if the research is current or outdated, and compare the author's research methods to other authors who have written on the same topic.
-
1
