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.
2. If you want to use a prepared template, print out the template for collecting information and
what to do:
ideas for a non-fiction book review (at the end of this document).
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  It gives a clear focus on what to consider before reading a book for review.
approach  Making notes of information and ideas in a template encourages you to make notes
might be that are relevant and concise.
helpful for  If you use a template, seeing the notes in boxes will make it easier to structure (order) your
students: final book 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. Skim through them and use them as a
guide; try to decide which ones are most important for your particular book review (and do this
before you read the book).

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 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 provided (at the end of this document).

 What is the title?

 How does the title relate to its topic?
DETAILS  When was the book published? Is this significant?
of the book  Where (in which country, region) was the book published? Is this significant?
 Who (which institution) published the books? Is this significant?

 What is the author's name?

AUTHOR  What is the status of the author in relation to the topic of the book?
(or authors)  What relevant qualifications does the author have?
 Is there any relevant background information about the author?
of the book
 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 In a longer review, the summary can give a concise overview of the book, and, if
of book 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.)
FORMAT
Index
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:
 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?

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 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  Is the writing style formal or informal?

 Is the writing style technical and difficult to understand without knowledge of the subject?
of the  Is the writing style emotional and persuasive?
writing  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)?
AUDIENCE
 Does the book have a clearly defined and specific audience in mind? For example, is the
for the book book written for the general public, students at a specific level, academics, experts in the
(and main field, practitioners etc.?
PURPOSE of  Does the book suit the needs of the audience that it is intended for (e.g. if it is a textbook
the book) will students like it, if it is a book for practitioners will they find it useful)?

 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?
CONTEXT  What kind of contribution does the book make (or attempt to make) in its field?
of the book  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)?

 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?
SCOPE  Does the book make a comparative analysis (e.g. between different places or time
of the book 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, post-modernism, post-colonialism, feminism, queer theory etc.
You might consider some of the following questions:
PERSPECTIVE  Does the author use a theoretical perspective or theoretical framework?
of the author  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:
 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)?

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  What is the author's main thesis (i.e. main argument)?

The main thesis could be things like:

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)
MAIN THESIS proposing or supporting an idea (e.g. that humans are predisposed to act in certain ways)
proposed by  What method does the author use to put forward the main thesis of the book (i.e. what
the author 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
EVIDENCE recent events
supporting legislation
the main case studies
fictitious scenarios (what if…)
thesis logical reasoning used by the author
 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?

CONCLUSION  Does the book outline and discuss the consequences of the main thesis?
of the book  Does the book point to future developments of the topic?

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 Example structure of a 2,000 word book review

Introduction of the book review

There is no set structure for  the title of the book & how this relates to the topic of the book
writing a book review.  the book’s main aim & its intended audience
Once you have collected  briefly state any perspective used (e.g. a theoretical framework)

150
information and your ideas
about the book, you can order
the book review in a number
of ways.
The structure on the right is an
example of the order of
 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
Summary of the book

200
sections in a book review of  give a summary of the book, but keep description brief & relevant
2,000 words.
Structure of the book (format) and style of the author
It gives some ideas of what can
be discussed in each section of  discuss the structure (format) of the book
200

a review.  discuss the writing style used by the author

 discuss the intended audience & main purpose of the book
Approximate number of words
for each section is also
included as a guide. The book in its field of study
A book review would not  discus the context of the book relevant to other books/sources
200

normally include headings about the same topic

(although longer ones can) so
these are given as a guide.
It may be useful to first decide
how many sections your book
review will have. Most reviews
900
 discuss the scope and focus of the topic covered
The main thesis (argument) & the evidence used to support
it
 discuss the approach used by the author


are unlikely have more than 5- discuss any perspective used by the author
8 sections (including the  discuss main issues addressed by the author
introduction and conclusion).  discuss, in detail, the main thesis/argument
 discuss, with specific examples, the evidence used
It may be useful to write the
introduction of your book
Conclusion of the book
review last (so you know how
200

many words you have left).  discuss the conclusion(s) reached by the author
This should stop you from
making the introduction too Conclusion of the book review
long.
 Is the book is worth reading?
You can write the sections in  Does the book do what it says it is going to do?
150

any order and the put them  Does the book make a valuable contribution to its field of study?
together afterwards.  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)

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 TEMPLATE FOR COLLECTING INFORMATION AND IDEAS FOR A NON-FICTION BOOK REVIEW

DETAILS of the book

AUTHOR of the book

SUMMARY of the book

FORMAT of the book

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STYLE of the writing

AUDIENCE for the book (main PURPOSE of the book)

CONTEXT of the book

SCOPE of the book

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PERSPECTIVE of the author

MAIN THESIS proposed by the author

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EVIDENCE supporting the main thesis

CONCLUSION of the book

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