The points listed here will help you to start to think critically about the book, but they are not the main aspect of your assignment. They are not what you are expected to write in the assignment. They are here to help you think critically. If you just write on these things you will get a low mark.
What does the title lead you to expect about the book?
Study any sub-headings to understand how the author organized the content.
If there is an abstract read it for a summary of the author’s arguments.
Study the bibliography if there is one and the footnotes or endnotes to determine what research contributed to the author’s arguments. Are the references recent? Do they represent important work in the field? How much did the author rely on original sources or primary source material such as letters, diaries, original documents etc.?
If possible, read about the author to learn what authority he or she has to write about the subject. Has the author made an important contribution to the field of study?
Reading the Book: Points to Consider
Read the book carefully. Make notes and record your impressions and note sections suitable for quoting. Again, this is not the main part of the assignment but looking for answers to the questions below will help you write the critical review. Most books follow a similar structure: (1) an introduction that sets the scene and this often includes a brief review of the relevant literature; (2) thesis statement or main focus of the book–i.e., what it is trying to prove; (3) the argument and supporting information and evidence organized into sections and chapters; and (4) conclusions. A good trick is to read the first couple of chapters, then skip to the conclusions to get a feel for the author’s argument. Then go back and read in detail, noting words and issues you do not understand and noting the main points and supporting information. The important thing is that you understand what the author is trying to say; you can then read the full book and determine for yourself whether he or she has done an adequate job of arguing the point. Feel free to quote selectively from the book, especially if the author has a particularly pithy turn of phrase.
Who is the intended audience?
What is the author’s purpose? To survey and summarize research on a topic? To present an argument that builds on past research? To refute another writer’s argument?
Does the author define important terms?
Is the information in the book fact or opinion? (Facts can be verified, while well supported opinions arise from interpretations of facts.) Does the information seem well-researched or is it unsupported?
What are the author’s central arguments or thesis and conclusions? Are they clearly stated? Are they supported by evidence and analysis?
Are there alternative ways of arguing from the same material? Does the author show awareness of them? In what respects does the author agree or disagree with them?
What exactly does the work contribute to the overall topic of your course?
Is the book lacking information or argumentation that you expected to find?
Is the book organized logically and easy to follow?
Does the writer’s style suit the intended audience? Is the style stilted or unnecessarily complicated?
Is the author’s language objective or charged with emotion and bias? Does he or she noticeably have an axe to grind?
If illustrations or charts are used, are they effective in presenting information?