You'll find several types of book reviews: reviews for a public audience (like those in Newspapers), reviews for librarians and collectors (Choice and Library Journal) and reviews for academics (most often in peer-reviewed publications). Any of these sources can have critical or descriptive reviews.
Questions to ask about the review:
- Is it descriptive or critical?
- Who wrote this review? (a historian, a journalist)
- Who is this review intended for? (academics, librarians, general public)
- Does the author include sufficient information for their audience?
- Is the review balanced or biased? How does the author of the review feel about the book?
- Does the author just list the contents of the book or do they talk about how it contributes to the field?
- Does the review include outside research? How does it use that research?
- Do you think the review will make people want to purchase the book? Why or why not?
More information can be found at Emerald Group Publishing
