book reviews examples

book reviews examples

The Art of Writing Persuasive Book Reviews: A Comprehensive Guide

1. Introduction to Book Reviews

Approaching the subject from the reviewer’s point of view seems legitimate due to the many changes, one being the exponential rise of book publications over even a decade or so. One reason for these changes, apart from the need to complete the sale of the book review within a space limited to one to five pages, in a relaxed, assured and efficient manner, lies in academia’s policy of “Publish or perish”. This was strikingly and rudely brought home to me when a letter from a friend accompanied the receipt of the very first issue on which I worked at the brand new CPU.

Beautifully written and persuasive, “The Opinionated Writer” by Larry Woiwode, himself an accomplished author, presents a comprehensive view on book reviews. Given the significant rise of alerts of various kinds on books, and the fact that not all of them are useful, the essay appeared to me to be an important contribution to helping decide which books to read and review. The genre appears to have altered, seems to me to have opened up: the novel form and the biography in particular. Both the review and the essay on the art of reviewing and editing.

2. Key Elements of a Persuasive Book Review

Universal is the need to persuade others of the value of our contributions. One of the forms this education takes is a written evaluation of other authors—the book review. Used universally to describe similar forms of evaluation, ranging from a written assessment to a spoken summary, the term does not, with its connotation of analysis, suit the ordinary pre-class assignment or discussion opening. Instead of “book review” or “book report,” one should say, “What do you recommend?” or “What are you reading?” Just as crucial is the book report’s usefulness as a teaching tool or as an assignment in courses in rhetoric, literature, composition, creative writing, or selected topic and interdisciplinary studies. In general, we see a need for cross-fertilization between pedagogy and the discipline, wherein educators, writing teachers, and scholars should draw upon their academic and life experiences to construct both qualitative literary responses and student writing prompts.

Book reviews are, by definition, critical and, for this reason, a useful tool for writers. Its development encourages the author to supply enough summary so that the reader knows what piece of scholarship will be discussed. At the same time, the book review eases the pressure of the full-blown critical essay, allowing the reviewer to maintain a balance between full coverage and evaluation. It provides an opportunity to concentrate on the quality and clarity of the author’s writing and the potential interest of the book or article’s thesis. Enter personal bias. With the encouragement of personal voice and the kinesthetic experience, which theoretical writing often lacks, the book review provides a fertile ground for high-quality reading and writing activities. Furthermore, the book review is, by nature, less formal than most kinds of critical writing.

– Samuel Johnson, The Rambler (1751)

The practice of strict criticism is necessarily rigid, and when it becomes habitual, it sends the mind back from the loveliness of images and the tenderness of emotions to the choice of words, the arrangement of figures, the construction of sentences, and the consonance of sounds.

3. Structuring Your Book Review

Begin your review by echoing the main controversy surrounding the book. Remember that writing is powerful only when it concentrates on precise points brought home in one, two, or three main sections respectively. To do this, adhere, whenever possible, to ODs: numbering your elements (1. 2. 3.); decorating them with bullet points; and structuring essays or groups of paragraphs coherently and mutually related to the overall topic. When possible, begin and end each paragraph with a clear and strong outline of the train of thought. Use these tactics to facilitate “jump reading” readers who wish just a cursory overview of the book’s content and review. These readers should be able to get what they are looking for quickly.

Having read and analyzed the relevant works by other reviewers, you are now ready to embark on writing your own book review. It is important to remember that you are a critic, and the tone of your review should be courteous yet generally skeptical – not unduly prepossessed by the subject under review. To claim uniqueness for your review, do not merely provide a general summary of the book’s content. Your task is to highlight the book’s strengths and weaknesses, cut through what is most significant – the structure of your review should help reveal key facets of the book, through appropriate elements and their organization.

4. Tips for Writing Engaging and Insightful Book Reviews

Include general information regarding the book being reviewed. Mention the title of the book in italics and the author in sentence case. In addition, indicate that the review is a response to a particular publication, and the type of publication (Newspaper, Journal, Website, Broadcast, Blog post). In the introduction, include a brief statement of the thesis, introduce the author and provide an overall assessment of the value of the book. It may also be a good idea to contextualize the review by including the author’s qualifications and how the book compares with others in the field. This will provide the reader with an idea of what is to come.

Before writing a book review, it is essential to get the book. It is possible to get the book by borrowing it from a library, buying a copy, or asking the publisher for a review copy. After reading the book, it is important to make a note of any immediate reactions or anticipated persuasive strategies that may be used during the writing process. This may include prominent issues, how the arguments are made, and potential consequences. Start the review with an engaging sentence that appeals to the reader, thereby whetting their appetites. Good examples include echoing the thesis, showcasing how the book fills a research gap, and highlighting an anachronism in the book.

5. Examples of Effective Book Reviews

B) Psychology Today describes the book as ‘concise but profoundly important’. Providing bullets for the key points is another effective technique. The Ph.D. reviewer brings out more facets in his review. He called the ‘book concise but packed with analysis’, described it as ‘profound’, and added, ‘(author’s name) shows how gender and sexuality are not only part of our essence but also guide our behavior in every part of our lives (our essence is what Anatole France called our ‘here and now’).

A) “In a review of Why Men Rule by Steven Goldberg, psychologist Bruce Fischer, a contributor to Physiology and Behavior, called it ‘a refreshing and hard-hitting analysis’. Journal of Marriage and Family stated that it is a ‘fascinating and profoundly important book’. Both are strong statements about a book. Fischer’s was even more effective because of his reference to ‘refreshing’ and ‘hard-hitting’ as descriptors of what Goldberg thought (it was not the psychologist’s intent to use contrasting terms—a reviewer would probably avoid doing so). So a reviewer might suggest replacement terms—’thought-provoking’ or ‘very thought-provoking’. One of the activities of a professional reviewer is not only to pass judgment but also to make suggestions.”