This document provides guidance on writing book reviews. It discusses the importance and objectives of book reviews, including sharpening analytical skills and practicing disciplined writing. The document outlines the standard format for a book review, including an introduction, historical section on the author, and a criticism section. It describes characteristics of good and bad reviews, emphasizing that good reviews are unbiased, honest, and judge the book on its own merits. The roles and responsibilities of book reviewers are also examined, with the goal of book reviewers being to act as a bridge between authors and readers.

1. The science and art of critical
evaluation: with special
reference to book reviews
Jd.. 1
Prepared by: Meenu choudhary
Assiatant Professor S.G.T.B. College of Education,
khankot, Amritsar
Published on : 31, August, 2015

2. Contents
• Significance of book
reviewing
• What is a book review?
• Information format of a
book
• Composition of a book
review
jd 2

3. ..
• Characteristics of a good
book review
• Characteristics of a bad
book review
• Publication of a book
review
jd 3

4. Objectives
• To sharpen our
analytical skills
• To practice disciplined
writing
• To learn the art and
craft of writing a book
review
jd 4

5. Importance for teachers
• Teachers are already
informally reviewing books all
the time
• A stimulating intellectual
exercise
• Teachers are authors also
• To increase the skills of
analysis and disciplined
writing
jd 5

6. What is a book review?
• A book review, in simple
words, is a critical
evaluation of a book
• It is a creative exercise
• No rigid rules of writing a
book review.
• But there is a standard
format
…continued
jd 6

7. …continued
• There is no single style of
writing a book review. It
can be
-A simple report
-A personal opinion
-An expert’s literary piece
jd 7

8. Who can be a
reviewer?
• Any well informed
person with interest in
books, good writing skills
and expertise in a
subject can become a
book reviewer.
jd 8

9. Role of book reviews
• Inform
• Generate interest
• Feedback
jd 9

10. ..
“Reviewer is a mere taster, who
tastes and says by the evidence of
such palate, such tongue as he has
got, this is good and this is bad.”
- Thomas Carlyle
jd 10

11. ..
• “One great use of a review
is to make men wise in ten
pages- who have no appetite
for a hundred pages, to
condense to nourishment, to
work with pulp and essence
and to guard the stomach
from idle burden and
unmeaning bulk.”
-Sydney
Smith
jd 11

12. ..
• “Certain travelers of the eleventh century relate
that they saw a lofty tree, which from its
immense extent of foliage, collected all vapours
of the atmosphere, to discharge them when its
branches were shaken in a shower of pure and
refreshing water. Author is like this tree and
mission of a reviewer should be to shake the
branches.”
• - Mazzini
jd 12

13. Information format
• Title of the book, edition,
name of the author,
publisher, place of
publication, year of
publication, pages, price.
jd 13

14. For example
• India’s Glorious Scientific
Tradition,
First Edition, Naresh Bansal,
Standard Publishers, Delhi,
2002,
300 pages, Rs. 70.
jd 14

15. Composition
• Introduction
• Historical
Section
• Criticism
proper
jd 15

16. Introduction
• Attractive
• Quotation
• Interesting aspect of the
book
jd 16

17. Historical section
• About the author
• Need to know about the
author
• Occupation/ career
• Experience/ background
• Interests
• Previous writings
jd 17

18. Criticism proper
• Actual plot, theme, topic
• Author’s point of view
• Treatment of the theme/
plot
….continued
jd 18

19. ….continued
• Other features of the book
(Diagram, numericals, tables,
references, index, graphs etc.)
• Physical features of the book
• Comments on style, language
• Appreciation/ criticism/
disagreement
jd 19

20. Other Aspects
• Suitability to the target
readers
• Age group/ purchasing
power
• Relevance/ permanent
worth
• Comparative significance
• Newness
• Plagiarism/originality
jd 20

21. …..continued
• Tone
• Poised/balance
• Restrained/limited
• Sophisticated/excellenc
e
• Not violent/accusing/
quarrelsome
….continued
jd 21

22. ..
•
jd 22

23. …..continued
• Objectivity/ subjectivity
“Reviewer is a mere taster,
who, tastes and says by the
evidence of such palate such
tongue, as he or she has got,
this is good and this is bad.”-
Thomas Carlyle
jd 23

24. A good book review
• Unbiased
• Sincere/ honest
• Does not impose ideology
• Judges on the merit of the
book alone
…continued
jd 24

25. ….continued
• Subtle/quality
• Sensitive to the written
word/ writing process
• Points out short comings
with proof
jd 25

26. A bad book review
• Reviews without going
through the book
• Pretends to be wiser than
the author
• Unnecessarily aggressive
…continued
jd 26

27. …continued
• Lopsided/
unbalanced
• Finds faults only
• Vengeful
jd 27

28. Publication
• Publisher/ author 
News papers 
Book review editor 
Book reviewer 
Published in newspapers
jd 28

29. ….continued
• Significant work 
Professional journals
Experts
Commissioned reviews
Published in professional
journals
jd 29

30. Book reviewer
• A bridge between the author
and the reader
• A quality regulator
• Upholds values
• Enhances love for books
• Spreads academic culture
jd 30

31. ..
“Neither praise nor blame is the
object of criticism, justly to
discriminate, firmly to establish,
wisely to prescribe honestly to
award is the true aim and duties
of criticism.”
-Simms
jd 31

32. ..
• With so many books being
published in so many news
papers, journals, magazines
there is a need for expert
book reviewers who are good
in their subjects as well as
good in writing.
jd 32

33. ..
Happy book reviewing !!!
jd 33

34. jd 34