Book Reviews

Professors in Government and International Politics often assign book reviews in their classes. Most likely you will be required to complete one or more during your undergraduate studies. Professors assign book reviews because they want to make sure you carefully read important sources, and they seek a reliable way to judge your understanding of the material.

Knowing how to do a good book review can serve you well in many career fields. Employers value workers who can quickly identify and analyze the most essential elements of what they read, be it a memo, report or full-length book. So it’s important to learn the basics of completing a good book review now, not when you are on the job.

While each professor has her or his own expectations and grading criteria, there are some basic principles involving book reviews that you should keep in mind.

At their most basic, successful book reviews should answer three questions.

What is the author's main thesis or claim?

How does the author support his or her thesis?

Does the author succeed in making his or her case?

Because political science professors usually assign nonfiction books, they are generally less interested in an author's writing style and more interested in the book’s content and methods. Thus, an essential part of a good book review is a concise synopsis of the author's main thesis or argument. In identifying the main point, try to avoid getting caught up in side arguments or themes. Usually a good writer will say up front (usually in the introduction) what her thesis or main argument is.

Once you explain what the author is attempting to do, it's now time to focus on whether the author succeeds in her project. The following questions, derived from Gregory M. Scott's and Stephen M. Garrison's The Political Science Student Writer's Manual (New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1998, p165) can help you evaluate an author's project.

How complete or thorough is the author's coverage of the subject?

How carefully is the author's analysis conducted?

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the author's methodology?

How does this book compare with other books on the subject?

What contribution does this book make to political science?

What did you learn from reading this book?

In answering these questions keep in mind that your reader may or may not have read the book. So it's important for you to provide a fair assessment of the work. Don't be overly generous for a mediocre book or overly critical for a good faith attempt at a difficult project. In addition, try to be honest and clear about your own biases that may influence your judgment.