A book review is not the same thing as a book report, which simply summarizes the content of a book. When writing a book review, you not only report on the content of the book but also assess its strengths and weaknesses. Students sometimes feel unqualified to write a book review; after all, the author of the book is a professional historian. However, even if you cannot write from the same level of experience and knowledge as the author, you can write an effective review if you understand what the assignment requires.

In writing a review you do not just relate whether or not you liked the book; you also tell your readers why you liked or disliked it. It is not enough to say, “This book is interesting”; you need to explain why it is interesting. Similarly, it is not enough to report that you disliked a book; you must explain your reaction. Did you find the book unconvincing because the author did not supply enough evidence to support his or her assertions? Or did you disagree with the book’s underlying assumptions?

To understand your own reaction to the book, you need to read it carefully and critically.

As a critical reader, you are not passive; you should ask questions of the book and note reactions as you read. Your book review then discusses those questions and reactions Though there is no “correct” way to structure a review, the following is one possible approach.

In first Paragraph of your Top 16 Book Review:

• Summarize the book and relate the author’s main point, or thesis. (Somewhere early in the post, identify the author.) [Two – four sentences]

• Describe the author’s viewpoint and purpose for writing [One - two sentences]

• Is the book’s main idea or viewpoint or argument convincing? If so why, if not, why not. Cite examples from the text. [two – three sentences]

In Second Paragraph of your Top 16 Book Review:

• Compare this book with other books or articles you have read on the same subject. [Two – three sentences]

• Conclude with a final evaluation of the book. You might discuss who would find this book useful and why. [Three sentences]

NOTE: “Critical” does not mean negative; skeptical does not mean cynical. If a book is well written and presents an original thesis supported by convincing evidence, say so. A good book review does not have to be negative; it does have to be fair and analytical.

In her book, Rosenthal writes 200-plus pages of entries, written encyclopedia-style, for words and terms involved in her life: people, ideas, items and objects, anecdotes, her own definitions of words, obsessions.  Some examples from the book appear at the end of this post. Part of her inspiration comes from reading other writers—from ancient China on to modern times—who wrote in essays that didn’t necessarily weave points seamlessly from one to another and instead wrote in separate, discrete entries, or an alphabetical format similar to her own.

The assignment is to write a mini-encyclopedia of your own by writing at least one encyclopedia entry for each of the 26 letters of the alphabet, plus two numbers. These entries can be definitions, short-short stories, zany asides.  Provide at three visual elements within the 28 entries: illustration, chart, photo, sketch. Additionally, cross-reference at least three entries to each other. The entries can be anywhere from 5-500 words each.

Some ideas for entries? A favorite (or hated) word, a family name, an artist you love, or idea or concept that is directly related to your own experience.  Perhaps write about something that triggers a memory from your life.  Movies, books, comics, magazines, celebrities are all fair game.  In other words, write about YOU!!!

Some excerpts from Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life are here.