Writing Resources: The Book Review

A book review typically evaluates a recently published work by offering a brief (in most cases, a review will not exceed 1,000 words) description of the text’s key points and provides an appraisal of the strengths and weaknesses of the book. It is a critical commentary on the work itself and not merely a summary of the book. While a review may begin by summarizing the book, the most important part  is a critical assessment of the content. It is your job to offer your opinions on the organization and findings of the book and on whether the book achieves its stated purpose.