I do not recommend it.”

Here are some guidelines to help you formulate your critical book review. You should follow them
closely, but make sure you use our own creativity as well. These guidelines are not meant to choke
your skills to death, but simply to channel your energies and your thoughts.
What is the book about? Do not let the title speak for itself. Explain what kind of book it is,
what material or time span is covered, how it is organized, the importance of the subject, etc.
What is the book based on? Who is the author? With what authority does he write? What are
his qualifications for writing this book? Does the author write from secondary or primary
sources? Experience? What is his profession?
What is the major thesis of the book? What was the author trying to do? Most writers try to
prove some point–they try to prove some conclusion they have reached concerning their
subject. Is there anything in the author’s background that might influence his opinions?
Remember that a thesis is a proposition of some truth. not iust a tonic. ‘There will be sub.
theses and themes throughout the book- identity some of these as well.
How is the thesis supported? Does the evidence the author gives support his conclusions to
your satisfaction? In other words, are you convinced? Why? Does the work leave you with
unanswered questions about the subject? What? Remember that the depth of your
understanding of any book is best revealed by the quality of the questions you ask about it.
How has the book contributed to your general understanding of the subject?
What are the book’s strengths? What are its weaknesses? Do not simply say, “This was a
great book. I enjoyed it a lot,” or “This was a boring book. I do not recommend it.” When
you evaluate a book according to its strengths and weaknesses, you must identify specific
things and give specific reasons for your evaluations. If you think it was great, wonderful.
Explain why. If you think it was boring, that is fine, too. Explain why!
As vou write your review, remember that these questions are meant as a guide. Do not let them stitle
vour creativity. Frame vour own questions, too. A good book review is a series of questions asked by
the reader and then probbcied to their fullest extent.